The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-08-07
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win il help the town. This is die
, touch-stone test 10 which great many
/ projects are being brought among village
dwellers, as The season reyIves their aoily.
tiles. Wen, Il depends, friends, npou
what yon call helping the town.
Some men think u helps a towuto have
plenty Of grog shops they keep The mon.
ey changing hands 30 very lively, attract,
! people 10 trade, make IL pleasant for trav-
elers, prevents the grass from growing in
the streets especially IN front Of the bar
rooms and the loekup) aud all that sort
OF thing, That they directly promote
drunkenness, with all us attendant train
Of waste, and sin and misery, aud are the
notorious cause Of nine-lenths Of all pau.
perism aud crime, goes for nothing with
those wko think that the enrichment OF
few grog sellers Is an Indispensable help
TO a town.
Others think tbau nothing helps town
so much as a reputation for low taxes;
and where they prevail the mold Of decay
spreads over everything public concern.
The roads and walks are neglected. the
streets are dirty and unighted; the chill
dren are schooled 10 The dismal aud OUT
grown novels OF a past generation; aud
finished or gone to seed seems TO be writ.
ten on every side. Occasionally some
rheumatic barnaclc crawls in from the
ncighboring farm that he has starved to
death and skinned before selling, and
takes his place with those who think as
he does, that the chief end OF man Is 10
avoid paying taxes, and sees at how little
expense he can keep bis useless body on
top OF the earth. But to all ntenls and
purposes Of this land and century, the
town is as dead as Thebee.
At the other extreme are the men who
think that nothing helps town 80 much
as a splurge OF some sort; gorgeona
town hail, utterly out OF keeping witb oil
the other buildingsa snowy fountain Of
sbsurdly isolated statrne "A preleulioua
pdlh NltHiH HSNlhk VI thD ~" h9"t"
fowls Of the rural districts close al hand
---or some such aping OF city accessories,
is their idea Of giving distinction 10 a
village. They have learned to their cost,
In many mushroom towns that II uIggard.
illness and lack of public spirit do not
help community, neither do big debts,
foollshly incurred, nor public monuments
OF private vanity and individual bad
taste.
The ideal American village has been
we'll defined to be, IN Us outward appear
ance, wholesome, clcanly, tidy, simple,
modest collection OF homes, With all oi
It's parts aud appliances adapted 70 the
pleasantest and most Satisfactory lyIpg
Of It's people. 10 this should be sdded a
healthlul and controlling moral continent
among The Inhabitants; lively interest
In the intellectual life aud social and fe.
ligious progress Of timesj and business
honor, thrift aud prosperity This latter
condition cannot always be COMMANDED,
but the other may be and when they eE.
list in conjunction The village has al the
helps which come from IT, being 40 a..
tractlve aud desirable place Of residence
for the class Of citizens that give all towns
whatever Is enyiable TO their reputation.
AZ an aid to this oDd the village i'm
provement societies deserve Wide mul-
tiplleation. They are only another name
for organized public spirit aud crystilIzsd
and efficient good taste. Under their d.
section, upcoBtb villages have been tran
formed into model rural communities
Sidewalks and foadways have been co.'s
slructed upon uniform aud correct pfiuel
pies general waier supply has been
secured founisins aud drinking lsonghs
have been erected public sqaares have
been appropriately adorned sanitary
drainage has been introduced, aad streets
hitherto neglected, are cleaned and light
ed tree planting has nourished ceme.
ttrios have been reclaimed from more tLsn
heaihcnish neglect, and bY toe iorceofex-
ample and The emulation Of citizens the
dooryards and private grounds baye par.
taken Of tie general advance N good
taste and refinement.
IN thinking over what will heip your
town, is there not hlut 10 this for your
We have known villages destilate Of any
organization Of this character, 10 take
rapid strides ahead under the inspiration
and guidance Of single citizen who was
a village improvement society sll by
ownseif, As Daudreary would saY. 4
committee Of one, thsl meaus business,
Il sometimes better than a bulky body.