n motion. The city of Boston
can borrow the money, and buy the land, for these parks, more cheaply
now than ever again; and the men are ready to do the work. I know of
nothing more that I can say. I am glad to see this hall filled to-night.
There are men here to-night who have at heart the interests and
prosperity of the city of Boston. That is what we are acting for; and I
trust that that hundred men will go up to City Hall, and, if the city
government will move in the matter, every true man will deem it his duty
to stand behind and encourage them.

THE PRESIDENT. My friends, the best things and the most enthusiastic
meetings must come to an end; but those who wait till the last generally
get the best. I have now the pleasure of introducing to you the closing
speaker, the Hon. P. A. COLLINS.

SPEECH OF THE HON. P. A. COLLINS.

I know that no word of mine can add to the force of this movement. I am
neither great tax-payer nor eminent sanitarist. I cannot hope to equal
others who have discussed the moral, aesthetic, sanitary, and economic
phases of the question before us. But, happily, there is no need of such
discussion now. The question of public parks has been submitted, in all
its forms and probable effects, to the ablest, keenest, wisest, of our
citizens; and there is but one answer. The answer is, that we need more
out-door life than our sedentary race enjoys, and that public grounds,
accessible to all, are not only desirable, but necessary to the moral
and physical health of our crowded population.

This is the verdict; and, granted this, there remain but two
questions,--"Is this the time?" "Can we afford it?" To some, the present
is never the time for any thing. Their motto seems to be, "Don't do
to-day what you can put off till to-morrow, because you may not live
till to-morrow, and then you won't have to do it at all." This principle
has been acted upon by short-sighted Boston too long; and the result is
a melancholy looking-back to the time when improvements could have been
made for a tenth or a fifteenth of the present cost. We are told of our
beautiful suburbs, as if they can be suburbs forever. Even now, they are
but for the rich. Beware of trespassing in the fields and woods: they
are private property. The roads seem to belong to blood-horses and their
owners. If you wish to know the future, look at the past. Look back, you
aged men, to the fields and gardens of Tremont and Boylston Streets.