Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-09-04
"R,t,iniH0 q VilidOe."

who hears birds in the morning instead
OF mi'k-msn, flashed in his eyes IS he re-
piled, "Nobpd1
"Ahl thon you don't have Philharmonic
concerts"
"No, Sir" was The lofty reply; "and
no other rural community has Philhar-
monte concerts"
There's whore you're mistaken" was
the li7ely answer; "and it comes of liy-
lug in village that is not properly
run"
When the other gentleman asked if
running" was indispensable to Phiihar-
moac concerts, ho was answered that in
every lille community there must be
some leader in every direction OF activity
or interest. or nothing would be done. -
Thero is a certain amount OF running"
power latent in every rural neighbor-
hood. This may run" away with the
neighborhood into all kinds OF iolhes and
abuses, or it may stimulate and lead il to
the most desirable and d, ,lightiul results
But the running" power must DO more
or less highly developed in sOmo few per
sons. or, good lack qnoIh the earnest
gentleman, you'll not only not run, but
you'll stagnatc.
The earnest gentleman, whose name
was Ruslicus, proceeded TO say that his
neighborhood had suffered good deal
from some Of the more familiar and un-
pleasant results OF this spirit OF center
prise, as it is called. 1t was perpelually
designing boulevards and spacious ave-
nues, and bent upon enhancing the value
of every body's property by making it a
corner lot by al infinite multiplication ol
streets. Ii was always striving 10 "attract
capital" to the neighbOrhood, TO "s,imu-
late activity" and to draw population.
Il planned to dispose OF quagmires and
bleak hill-tops under salyos OF Cham
pagne corks and the hospitality oil iroe
lunches and bands OF music. Mysterious
allusions to The charms OF that vicinity,
TO its ease OF access. and 10 its freedom
from all the heats. mosquitoes, and chills
and fevers that usually infest suburban
communities, appeared FROM time 10
time in the columns of city newspapers.
Meanwhile this form Of tho running"
power ran the neighborhOod into debt,
and lefl it toiIing through deep aud dire
ful mud in the spring. and was RESPONSE
be Tor such swearing rs had not been
heard since the army was in Flanders.
There were jlbs OF every Kind on ali
sides, and tue public welfare WAS main-
tanned only 10y a constant fight with the
spirit lh.t was trying to run The viz
lage.
Now, said Rnsticus, behold The diverse
Of the medal Behold the advantage OF
the same spirit directed to the most de-
lish,iu results. Il is true that in sil
communities and enterprises some one
mus, lead .hc way. Sam Adams directs
the Boston Mohawks 70 The tea ships.
John Adams is the Colossus Of hide
pendencc. Columbus sticks fast TO his
new rou,c to India, and reveals cont
tinent. lt,now. in your village, continued
Rus,icus, addressing his friend, there
we're some generous and intelligent mu-
steal enthusiast, for instance. who had
such faith in his own faculty that he
scorned enterprises tha, "do not pay )"
who saw around him plenty Of people
willing TO enjoy il the way could but be
opened, but no ono Of whom would open
it: some ono who had energy, resolution.
ard organizing powerfully, you would
have Philharmonic concerts in your
sleepy old village, and you aud your
friends would all be on the committee,
and you yourself would be selling tick
ets, and turning out in the evening in a
white cravat, and putting On white
gloves, and handing beautiful PRIME
donne up to the platform, aud clapplng
and oncorinG vociicrously, and plying
the unenterprising villages that have no
Philharmonic concerts.
The listener beamed approvingly, as il
the picture pleased his mental eye.
Then, Sir, you would have the most
exquisite chamber music, duets, quartets,
quintets. sestets. octets; you would have
tho music of Beethoven. Handel. Haydn,
Bach, Mozart, Weber, MeDdelssohn. Wag'
ner, Schubert. Chopin, Meyerbeer-the
old masters of the orchestra and the new
virtuosi upon the piano. the violin, and
the violincelo. Instead Of making
Journey to the city and passing the night,
and putting yourself to such trouble and
expense that the prospect would dismay
and deter you. you would merely take
pleasant walk after your domestic dinner,
and with your neighbors and friends
hear the most delightful music, and re-
turn quietly to your own fireside.
A man who "runs village" in this
way is public benefactor. he is an in'
valuable citizen in his community. For
he sees that all the conditions of success
in enjoyment are present in it except the
cardinal one of impulse. and be supplies
the impulse. The particles are all ready