THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PARKS. The people who live in farming communities can usually live out of doors as much as they choose. But in cities, where the houses are built close together, the government sets apart certain open spaces for parks, in order that the people may secure rest and recreation free from the noise and dust and dangers of the streets. These parks are usually laid out with paths and grass plots; trees and flowers are planted; and monuments and fountains are erected. They not only add much to the appearance of the city but are also of great benefit to the inhabitants, especially during the hot months of the summer. Occasionally the government even provides band concerts for the pleasure of the people who use the parks.

In recent years some cities have undertaken to provide special playgrounds for the children of the city. Children ought to play out of doors as much as possible, and it is well recognized that the streets are not the proper place for numbers of children to gather for their play. These playgrounds are arranged so that various games may be played and are otherwise equipped for the amusement and athletic development of the young people of the community. Sometimes also the government provides for such playgrounds an instructor or director who supervises and assists the children in organizing their play.

1.

CLASS EXERCISES

What means are afforded in your community for your getting to and from school? Describe the condition of the roads and streets over which you travel. Is your school building attractive? Are there any trees, shrubs, or flowers in the yard? Are the pupils careful to keep the building and yard clean? Can you think of some things that could easily be done to make your school more attractive?

2. If you live in a farming community, describe the condition of the various roads that you know about. Of what are they constructed? Are they in need of repair? Find out who is responsible for repairing the roads. Do you know of any road that has recently been repaired? How was it done?

3. Are there any toll roads in your community? Who owns them? Why was the method of having farmers work on the roads two days in the year given up?

4. Has the state appropriated any money for road-building in your community? Has it furnished a supervising engineer? Has it furnished convicts from the state penitentiary? If the roads in your community are in need of repair, find out who is responsible for not securing this assistance which the state offers. Are the people of your community unwilling to pay their share of the expense?

5. Select certain typical roads in your community and tell what you think could be done to improve their appearance and comfort? Are your schoolhouse and grounds an ornament or an eyesore to the community?

6. If you live in a city or town, describe how the sidewalks are paved. Who paved them? Are they kept in good repair? Are the roadbeds of the streets paved? If so, what are they paved with and who paved them? 7. What kind of trees are set out along the streets of your city? Are they satisfactory as shade trees? Are they ornamental? What can you do to improve the appearance of the streets?

8. What are the names of the several parks in your city and where are they located? Draw a map of one of them that you are familiar with. Are the parks well kept? Why does the government establish and main-tain parks in cities? What use do the people make of them?

9. What uses are made of the streets of your city in addition to their use for walking and driving? Can you place any obstruction that you choose in the streets? If you are injured as a result of some unnecessary obstruction or defect in the streets, have you any right against the gov-ernment?

SECOND PART

ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE AND LOCAL GOV

ERNMENTS

CHAPTER IX

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE

THE MEANING OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION. During the period of our history before the Revolutionary War, each of the thirteen colonies in America was under the control of the government of England. The colonies exercised only those rights and powers which the English government permitted. That government also determined very largely how the colonial laws should be made and in most of the colonies appointed the governor. Under this system the colonists actually enjoyed a large degree of self-government, for they were allowed to make most of the laws by which they were governed and to choose most of their governmental officers.

When the Revolutionary War broke out, Virginia was governed in this manner. The war, however, freed the colonies from the control of the mother country; and the people of each colony were forced to provide some other form of government. Lord Dunmore, the colonial Governor of Virginia, fled for his life; the House of Burgesses, the lawmaking body of the colony, dissolved itself; and the old government passed away. Something had to be done, for the people could not exist without any government. And this is what happened. In May, 1776, a convention composed of

two delegates from each county in Virginia met at Williamsburg and drew up a document providing for a form of government very similar to that which had existed during the colonial period. This written document declared what officers should be chosen and how they should be chosen, what powers these officers should have, and who should make and administer the laws. This is what we mean by a constitution. It is a written document framed by delegates representing the people of the state and providing in outline the organization of the government.

THE HISTORY OF VIRGINIA'S CONSTITUTIONS. There were naturally many defects in this first constitution of Virginia, framed as it was in great haste at the outbreak of our war for independence. It is marvelous indeed that it was strong enough to last fifty-four years. There were two chief defects in this constitution. In the first place, only men of considerable property could vote or hold office. As Thomas Jefferson ironically remarked, the government of Virginia was in the hands of those who were "distinguished by the luxury and ostentation of their establishments." In the second place, the people in the different parts of the state were not equally represented in the law-making body. In consequence, they did not enjoy an equal share in the management of their own government.

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Soon after the Revolutionary War adventurers began to push in large numbers across the Alleghany Mountains into what is now West Virginia, but was then an unsettled part of Virginia. This movement of population during the early years of the nineteenth century was very rapid. By 1815 two-fifths of the white population of Virginia lived on the other side of the mountains. They were for the most part poor pioneers. Few of them owned enough property to vote. There were few large plantations and few slaves. In fact, the whole character of these people differed from that of the land-owning inhabitants of the eastern part of the state.

Under the constitution of 1776 they had little share in the government. They were allowed to hold almost no offices, and they did not have a fair representation in the body which made laws for the state.

For years the people of this western part of Virginia clamored for changes in the state constitution. But it was only after a long and bitter struggle that a convention finally met at Richmond in the winter of 1829-30 and drew up a new constitution. This second constitution did not prove very satisfactory, however, and in 1850-51 a third constitution was framed by a convention representing the people of the state.

The constitution of 1851 lasted throughout the period of the War Between the States. It was during the terrible period of reconstruction, in December, 1867, that our fourth constitutional convention came together. It did not represent the people of Virginia. Its membership was composed almost entirely of Northerners and of recently freed negroes. The constitution which they adopted was known as the "Underwood Constitution," taking its name from the president of the convention. It was by no means wholly bad, however, and the people of Virginia lived under it, with a few changes, for a period of more than thirty years.

THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION OF VIRGINIA. In 1901-02 our fifth and last convention met and framed the constitution under which our government is at present organized. The chief reforms which the people felt it was necessary to make were, first, a reduction in the number of officers in the state, and consequently in the expenses of the government; and second, the placing of new restrictions upon the right to vote. However, many other changes were also made.

Our present constitution is a long document, covering many printed pages. The convention which framed it sat for twelve months fully and carefully considering the great work before them. The constitution provides in detail how the govern