The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-02-16
FROM
Eaton Viewed by a Visitor from
HOosierdOm.-Our Mineral
tSprings--TERe duty of %
citizenss-SOIne few s-
ya q de remarks. 4r %

sIIDIANAPoLIs, IND, Feb. II, 1882.
Mr.. iEDIToR-Since l visited your town
| have been thinking / would write a few
lines calling the attention of your citi-
zens to the manifest natural advantages
to which it seems to me they are too in
sensible, and something about this city.
There is a popularity to which the cit
liens of your place are no exception.
When 1 was there mingling with them,
| heard more than one complain of the
~monotonous dullness of life in a small
town, and wish they lived in a larger
place like this city, famous as a railroad
center and for its belt railroad, its muir
der cases, its highway robbers its growth,
its famous men and beautiful women, but
ii they were here as citizens, with what
delight they would pass a few days in
the neat, cosy, healthy town of Eaton.
Every pilgrims shrine is always afar
off. Our Meccas are never at home. and
never will be l fear, unless the mellow
ing influences of tTiuieesfIalf craatss3sal
strong local attachment which are char
acteristic of all civilizations. Citizens of
Eaton, men of Preble county, and moth
ers and daughters too, you can allow a
citizen of another State and a city nearly
a hundred miles away from you to talk
to you plainly and candidly-for where
no personal interest colors his thoughts,
other than the general interest which
all, as lovers of a common country, must
feel in every city, town and hamlet in
our land, you will listen more kindly
than you would to home voices in these
matters. a
Let me tell you what you deserve much
credit for. The administration of your
local affairs must, as a whole, have been
good, for / was informed your city has no
heavy burden of indebtedness, your pub
lie edifces are neat and in good repair,
your streets wide and clean, your side
walks extensive and in good order, your
homes, many of them inviting, your
shade trees, bordering your streets,
evince a healthy public spirit in that di-
~rection. There are some little jealousies
which incline some of your people to
spend too much time in unkindly gossip
and a carping criticism of their neigh
bors; but that is one OF the characteris-
tics of little men, doing a little business
in a little town. Such souls, like Christ's
poor, are always with us, in small towns
and / might add, everywhere else, but
in large places their feeble pipings are
drowned in the roar of the multitude.
Let me whisper in your ear a senti-
nent, which as Col. Sellers would say,
has millions in it." If you really de-
sire your town to grow, if you wish more
homes of refinement and culture, cult
vate a spirit of local harmony and local
pride. 1t neither entertains a stranger
nor creates a favorable impression of a
town to hear one part of its citizens COM
planning of others in their midst. 1t is a
mistaken, short-sighted policy. When a
stranger visits your town either speak
well of it and its citizens, or preserve a
wise silence. Never labor under the false
impression that general fault-inding is
any evidence of superior wisdom OF your
part-it only discloses il~l-breeding.
l throw out these few hints to some
men who talked to me while wasthere.
l say to you, that you have a good town,
and one Of which you all may be proud
and | say further that you have men
: there of public spirit, anxious 10 ndraaee
its interests, citizens you cannot afford to
. spare. And l say further that in my opln-
1 ion, Eaton may become a town of much
larger population, if she will, through the
t energy of her people develop the resour-
ces within her grasp. | cannot in one
letter point all the elements of growth
l and prosperity within her easy reach
When ! promised to write to you on my
return home, I only agreed to write 8
brief letter, but my subject grows upor
my hands. l speak of the elements
within HER grasp. All towns. if they
ever develop, do so through HOME inhu
ence and enterprise. When the wagon
ner prayed to Jupiter to help him out
: the God of strength replied, put you
. own shoulder to the wheel" If Eatol
has a bright future in store for her, sHl
d MUST REALIZE HER OPE THROUGH TIL
EFFORTS OF THOSE WHO DWELL WITH!
HER LIMITS OR ARE INTERESTED IN HEl
WELFARE AS THEIR COUNTY SEAT. Max
IS her an inviting resort, and in summe
IS time, from the dusty hot pavements anC
the sultry air of cities, men, women AM
children will come by hundreds to catcl
new life and vigor.
y Why, if we had out here, within tel
minutes drive, such springs as are in pos
: session of the new Company formed t
develop them into a watering place, W
De would gladly lavish thousands upo,
< thousands of dollars upon them. On
trouble with all of us is, that unless W
keep ourselves thoroughly posted as t
the general growth and development {
!. our country, we have little conception {
d the almost marvellous expansion of il
to wants and needs. The experience of tn
7e past few years proves one propositio
of clearly. Wherever Nature has provide
: valuable medicinal waters, THE PATROL
;" AGE OF PLACES Is ONLY LIMITE
lBY THE EXTENT OF THEIR ACcoMMoD.