The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-03-26
Written for The Spirit of Democracy.l
Our Common Interest.

CITIZENS OF WooDsFIELD Our homes
are our enjoyments,a and we are promised
nothing more even in the resurrection
Our earthly tahernacles are those which
we are to beauufy and adorn, while our
home in eternity belongs to the powers
above, and those now which concern our
individual and united concern, call the
attention of all as the balmy air Of bright
Spring comes smiling on.
Who loves the ivy -vined tressels, the
dower-decked walks, the stately spruce
with its minstrelsy Of birds. the scene of
mounds, rockeries and fefnsi
Who lives those homes adorned with
shruhhery and thatched with howery
chaplets2
Who admires that yelling where neat
ness and order prevail in high degree? ?
The answer comes, You and l. The
echo says, "Let us hare IL ss'' A fine
dwelling without beautiful yard is like
a wigwam with marble fronts.
There stands brick building, the
common interest Of all. Scarcely any
shrnbbery or leafy shadow decorate the
yard; the ground is partially bare; ashes
and coal Jumps lie scattered around /;
men and children saunter around only to
gsze on nakedness and barrenness; and
yet what structure have l described !?
the County Infrmary or the Union
School Building2 The truth is, both gil
very closely the description But no
one is to blame; no, not any one except
all ~
That building Ia the common home Of
225 representatives OF this village, who
will before lorg become SO accustomed
to The wealher.beaten objects there, that
any other would he an offense to them.
While we as teachers endeavor to do our
part within the school walls, shall we
have only pauper's privilege without ?
Aye, we beg for more. 1t would be a
just merit il an arch should be spread
above the gate and in il should be en-.
twinesl the word Shamei
Talk and well wishes will accomplish
nothing without some execution in the
shape of mattock and the pine bush to
gether with willing hearts and willing
hands. E 8 p
+ You ask. how shall you help the mat
ter We answer, Give your boy or girl
some memorial for the yard, that it may
be cherished recollection: let them un-
ders,and that they have not only an in
terest there, but right also, and as you
chance TO pass by, look over, not to pity
(for that has been done, until everybody
has been pitied into the earth but to adj
mire; not to wonder, (for the wonder is
on the part of the locker OF but to con
slider; not to envy but to enjoy the
scene and little by little might abe added
until it would be place of sttraction and
recreation. 1t requires little by little on
ly, as, on the Allegheny Mountains there
is small spring which an OK could drink
dry; yet that is the beginning of the
beautiful Ohio River. Thus let Us be-
gin on that park, only lately enclosed but
formerly the parade of cows, pigs and
boys, and make it a place worthy of the
village and of visitors; ard above all,
give q welcome TO the robin, the blue
bird and the sparrow, instead of the
crows lowering over it with their noisy
solos, or the cat-birds whining out their
plaintiye mimicry and then the surround
ings of our fine school building can be
said to be at par with it. W. M.