Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1889-04-25
The Village Improvement Society

4 How many citizens Of our little city can
/ say they are proud 10 own they live il,
/ Ellsworth. How many would like to be
I proud to own it: Nature has done much
/ u make the place picturesque and attrac-
: tive and we ought to do something to aid
her We have our mountain rock" our
graceful and diguiilcd clm~, our luxuriant
and gay naples, our tortuous tranquil
uion river whose banks you glide up
"r down on il current seem almost to
touch each other and which are covered
with foliage TO the rivers brink We
have lovely drives in all directions within
four miles i the magnificent view from
Mcfarland, hill taking in mountains hills
forests. islands and bay In the opposite
direction the ride to Surry Of six miles AT.
fur,l~ delightful views Of Union river, the
hay ana Mount Desert hills Tie drive to
I.amonc j. picturesque beyond description
and the Bar Iiarbor ride i nearly equal
lib attrartiycnc>s. In the early spring and
fall nothing can be loyciier than ride on
the oil Bangor road, and thus has kindly
nature endowed u>
And i, there anythIn. we as citizens can
do 10 enhance the natural beauties, Clcanit-
ness and attractiycucSs of the place TO
max. it more desirable home for our
selves, and one which will draw persons
lnokin. for cons homc!ikc place 10 settle
In The ladies Village Improvement SO
cicty think can, and have tried, and
wish 10 continue our efforts in tina, direc-
tiun.
This they cannot do To any great advan-
tagc without more cooperation Of the citi-
1cns. The business meetings are narrow
ed down to Il few ladIe, who may be term
ia the remnant" OF quite large body
when it started and they strongly desire
not only the aid, but the sympathy in their
work Of every woman in Ellsworth, and
also Of the gentlemen The desire i to
make Til, "A union movement IN which
every woman, no matter how poor or low
Is in station. Shall have an opiuion and
voice All meetings are open To every
body and If any persons in any part Of the
town think they have been overlooked or
neglected in the attempted improvements
.'as has been said aforrtimt," II they will
come to the meetings aud state their case
and make suggestions they VIII be gladly
heard aud needed a. gladly, If possible.
All that j. needed i, hearty cooperation
and harmony Of movement This organi-
cation has moved feehly and In measure
ignorantly. being new in the work and
hoping to evolve ideas and ways Of help a.
they went on, but if there is not more in
tc"cst shown by larger number Of people
it may have to 20 down a many another
organization has done before IT, But of
that there is really no need II we can be
led to throw aside our love of personal
ease, dread Of taking responsibility and
selti>hnes> and think of the good of the
whole.
The ethics of living well is to be self
forgetfu and thoughtful for mankind's
needs, moral, physical, spiritual and also
aesthetic; why not: i not any refining in
tuence moral: The Village Improvement
Society believe it and as that is the true mo-
tive at the bottom Of their movement, they
wish to improve the moral tone well as
the outward appearance of this place.
They wish they could eliminate the ter 7
ribe subtle and peruicious influence of the
gambling which is growing to such ire
mendous proportions here, from children
up to the gray heade men, Sundays as
well as week days.
They would gladly Danish the influence
of ntoxicants and the intoXicants them
selves, that the weak might never more be
tempted by the example of those better
able to Withstand the baleful effects of the
bottled plantations.
They would, oh, how thankfully, quick
en- the interest in the life of the churches,
which despite the difference in their theo
logy, have for their main aim the uplift
ing of humanity, and which, if taken en-
tirely out of the life of the city, would
nccesstate the enlargement of the police.
And, by the way why do people, who
never contribute to the support of the
churches, who never enter them and who
if they speak of them, sheer at their inhu-
ence and quote Ingersoll when one of their
family is given in marriage, or one from
their number passes away, come to some
bodys minister for assistance? Is it not a
bit selfish for them to expect somebody
else to furnish them ministerial aid?
This is not an aside, it is to the point
that something is needed to change the
moral tone of this community.
The Village Improvement Society know
they cannot at a bound do anything that is
permanent and only by steady, persistent
endeavor with the heartfelt interest of the
city can they exert an influence to bring
about high, moral and refined tone to our
naturally beautiful city of Ellsworth.
Spring is upon US and work needed to
be done. Shall we not supplement the
citys work with new impulse and endea
yor toward outward improvement and
shall we not go on and on until we
shall surprise ourselves and each and every
one by what we have done? Answer We all.
ONE OF THE V. |. S.