Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-11-20
PUBLIC SPIRIT.

There Is nothing that helps place along
so rapidly as proper exhibition of public
spirit on the part Of its citizeus-espeeially
Of that portion Of them who, from their
wealth or the magnitude Of their business
operations, are in position TO make their
influence felt for good or i'll IN the eommuui-
fv A man may be born, grow up, and pas
through life and die in place, and yet that
place never received one particle OF benefit
from his existence. He might as well new
CT have lived. 4 turnip ora cabbage would
exert just as favorable an influence on the
plblic mind as he does lie exists,
hrsathes. vegetaHs-makes money, per
laps. invests it where it will pay the best
ard dies at last, and leaves his wealth, and
that is an. to remind ans one that he ever
lived. He did nothing to build up the place
he called his home, he suggested no I'M
prorements, nor made any himself. and only
thought how he could add dollar to hi,
baBl. account, or make bis investments pay
hstter than they bad done before.
4 On the other hand. are men Who realize
ttbat life is given for some better purpose
THAN the mere boarding. of money. They
believe that they have public as well as pri
vate duties to perform, and a portion, at
lleast. of the wealth which they accumulate
belongs, in some sense, to the community
lamong whom it is accumulated With this
lend in view, they seek investments at home
instead Of going abroad; they purchase land
aud improve It; they erect dwelling houses
and thus encourage immigration from other
places: they enlarge their own business as
+ fast as good judgement would seem to die
tate, and give employment to as many me-
chanics as possible, they encourage others
to enlarge their operations by loaniGE them
means or furnishing increased accommoda-
tions. in the way Of buildings or machinery.
1 In these and many other ways they contribute
to the growth aud prosperity Of the commu'
/ nifty to which they form part. They give
/ literally in aid Of the charitable and relig
ious organizations Of the place, and do it
cheerfully, as though it were a pleasure
rather than mere duty. Such men are :
blessing in the community. Their influence
Is Ike that of the sun and rain upon vege
tation. Everything seems to smile all about
them: their path is marked with beauty anc
flowers seem to spring up beneath theii
very fret.
Aud the influence Of such men Is not con
/ fined merely to what they do themselves
Man is an initiative creature. He is alway
seeking for models, and apt to follow them
be thev good or bad. Genuine original mel
are scarce. Therefore he who sets gooC
example not only benefits his race by Wha
he does himself but be stimulates others t
do good likewise, aud the influence thus Sc
+ in notion goes on extending until it com
I passes the whole earth, perhaps No ma
can tell when or where his inauene
will end. nor what form it will eventual
put On. Now a public spirited man b
, comes motive power, TO propel thOs
around him who are capable Of any motto
at al.
some men arc not. They are born to f
2 a snail circle, aud they cannot fill a lars
D one. Public spirit is not to be expected
! such. They are mile-stones on the road