Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-09-15
TbeDtrmont 9Benit.
BRATTLEBoRo:
FRIDAY EVENING, SEPT. Is, 1876.


In an article on the above subject in
Scribner for September, DIR. Holland says
There are just about four months in the
year in which an ordinary country village
is pleasant place to dwell in, viz I: from
May TO September. The muddy streets
aud sidewalks Of autumn and spriug, aud
the icy and snowy ways Of winter, render
it uncomfortable for walking or driving.
The foliage and heritage Of summer cover
up the ugly spots, and the greenery OF the
growing months transforms the homeliest
details into the pleasant and picturesque.
The moment the greenery disappears, di-
lapidated fences, brok en-down sheds, un-
kept commons, neglected trees, and all the
tolerated ugliness OF the village assert
themselves. The village is beautiful no
longer. There are thousands of villages
scattered over the country in which there
has never been a public spirited attempt
made TO reduce their disorder 10 order,
their ugliness to beauty, their discomforts
TO comfort. Every man takes care, or does
not take care of his own. There is no or
ganic or sympathetic unity, and the viii
lagos, instead Of being beautiful wholes,
dIt dEEItBdllOuSs OOih0
paint and some do not paint. Some keep
their grounds well, and others do not keep
their grounds at all. Unsightly wrecks of
vehicles, offensive piles Of rubbish, are ex-
posed here and there, and every man APP
parently feels at liberty 10 make his be-
longings as unpleasant TO his neighbors as
1t pleases him. No public sentiment of or
der is developed; no local pride is foster
ed there is apparently no desire for beauty
or convenience that goes one step beyond
ones home in any case.
1t is, therefore, with great qualification
that we notice here and there the organiza-
ton of Village Improvement Societies, and
the beautiful work which they are accom-
plishiDg. Wherever they have been in ex-
istence long enough 10 accomplish any,
thing, shade trees are planted by the side Of
the highways; old, neglected commons are
fenced in, graded and planted; sidewalks
are laid in all the streets, and public in
terest In order and beauty developed,
which makes every man more careful of
his own. Two villages, Of which we hap
pened to know, have been quite trans
formed within two or three years by the
operations of these organizations; and their
beneficent and beautiful work, already
done, will insure TO their localities GER
tain amount of beauty and convenience
for the next hundred years. They have
not been met by the public apathy that they
anticipated, and they have been enabled by
subscriptions, fairs and festivals, 10 raise
sufficient money for the work they have in
stituted, while individual citizens have CO.
operated with them in their schemes.
There is no good reason why-every con-
siderable village of the country should not
be made convenient, healthful, and beauti-
full, by the operations of such societies as
these. There is no good reason why pub
lie feeling OF pride should not be engen-
dered by them, and an earnest purpose de-
veloped TO make each village more attrac-
tive than its neigbbor. Selfish interest is
on the side of the societies for improve
IN ent in beauty and comfort means i'm
provement in value. Emulation between
neighbors and between villages is excited
and niggardly property holders are sbamed
into efforts 10 contribute TO the popular de.
sire for harmony. This is not theory; il
is experience; for, wherever they have
been tried, these societies have done the
work and exercised the influence we have
stated.
Again, these societies are agencies Of cul-
ture. Developing public spirit and q
feeling of local pride, they cannot fail tc
bear fruit in other and higher directions
Public and domestic architecture will bt
the first TO feel the effect of the new senti-
ment. Men will build pretty houses, il
tone with the new order of things. New
ambition will be developed with relation Il
public buildings and their surroundings
The new town hall will be better than The
old. The new church will be an ornam en-
and a glory, which the old one was not
Lyceums, reading clubs, and libraries, arr
just as natural an outgrowth of public
spirit engendered by these societies, and
public culture nourished by them, as they
are, themselves, the outgrowth Of a publ,
necessity.