The Monitor., 1891-08-21

On cloudy evening recently when a
| party oil five of US were returning from the
home of one of our well-known families
we thought it safest to return by way of
| Woodstowu, the road being more familiar
Before reaching Woodstown we thought
the road very dark, although by the assis-
tance of the continuous lightning flashes
we proceeded with safety, congratulating
| ourselves that when we entered Woods
town we would for little distance be able
| to see our horses again. But what was our
| dismay upon reaching this beautiful day
| time town to have to be compelled to be-
| lieve there was not street light visible
Upon nearer approach to the railroad
| bridge, which WAS then being repaired
| and one-half of which was not passa Bile
we did discover two danger lights, but in
| stead OF these being an assistance to the
| traveller, they only seemed to cast a lurid
glare into the eyes of man and beast that
| made the situation yet more foreboding.
After halting for a sufficient length Of
| time to screw the optic nerve up to the
greatest degree of acceptability OF vision
we finally decided whether to drive TO the
right or left of those dangerous lights
| and the bridge was crossed in safety.
| Then we plunged into darkest w Gods
town whore the horses and almost our
''hands before us" were lost sight of, and
| the question arose: Is this a civilized town,
| with such utter darkness enveloping it?
| Indeed we were utterly surprised to think
that our apparently wide-awake borough
was so far In the lurch upon its street light
system as was herein shown, il anything
\ is shown in the woody darkness. Where
were the kerosene lamps? The moon may
have been depended upon, or possibly the
stars, hardly possible the lightning, but
| during this period of the year when elec-
trical disturbances so often surprise us,
| the rays Of the heavenly orbs are hardly to
| be depended upon.
After this little experience which happily
ended safely for we who were concerned,
we were forced to the opinion that if some
of the wealth of Woodstown we're to have
occasion to be called from their beau tifully
furnished. we'll lighted, and closely cur
tanned parlors (for not ray of light es-
capped from these homes into the murky
| streets) into some distant part OF the town,
| they would most likely hesitate to accept
the summons without lighted guard, and
| would the more clearly realize in what
shameful need darkest" Woodstswn is OF
an electric lighting system.
| With such darkness reigning, is it any
wonder indeed, that evil disposed persons
| with unfurnished rooms pick up the porch
chairs and carry them home with them?
Is it any wonder that the haunts of iniqui-
| ty spill their victims, with clouded brains,
out through the streets, thus often making
| night hideous? Is it not a wonder there are
not more collisions than there are between
! passing vehicles: 1t can scarcely be won-
dered at, indeed, that Council SO far forgot
! itself as to almost award the contract to
disinterested parties to ilIumine these thor
| oughfares with electrical appliances.
Rap, rap, rap Woodstown awake Come
out of thy state of utter darkness and cast
abroad thy light of shining coins through
| the agent of electrical ingenuity.
| Knock. knock, knock Woodstown,.
| Where art thou? Arise from thy Rip
Van Winkie righteousness, rub thine eyes
and look at thy neighboring towns of Salem,
Bridgetol, Millville and Woodbury., and
then ask thyself why thou "lovest dark
ness rather than light?"
| Why hast thou so long deferred the
erection of such Improvements as will be a
| benefit to thyself, dear old home town, and
blessing to thy every resident, as well
| as source of safety and satisfaction to
those who dwell outside thy limits, but
who come often to thy marts of trade, and
to thy places of mind and soul improve
ment?
God said: Let there be light and there
was light. And God saw the light that it
was good. Gen. l, 8.
God is light aad in him there is no dark
ness at all. l John 1, 5.
| Opportunity often offering us chances TO
| pass over long stretches of beautiful coun-
| try roads in Salem and Gloucester counties
(which chances are seldom declined as
| Lady" and Ned could both testify
could they speak land in this land OF
plenty. which President Burroughs, of the
| State Board of Agriculture said, last week
| at the picnic of the Pomona Grange, is
part of belt Of the ''best agricultural
country in the world" there seems to be
scarcely blemish to mar the beautiful
landscape as far as the eye can reach.
| All nature seems to be teeming with full
and plenty for the material wants of the
people. And these drives seem to be pro-
ductive of much thought also, for with the
| varying landscape of bountiful vegetation
and fluitage, of a ripping brook, OF a
| village below us in the valley, beyond
which we can see the old familiar haunts
of childhood, or having reached the home
of our youth beyond the village, where we
| gaze with tear dimmed eyes upon 8
4 otiChSu VI capifhS hSfSo 1hd hiitoiAC ANho-
scape through which passes the creek
| dividing the counties that used to, in other
days. thrill every semblance OF anything
that may have been poetic or esthetic in
our nature. With these things TO fill mind
and heart, is it any wonder that anything
| which is of a questionable character or in-
| fluence finds no room in our appreciatiye
powers? Is it any wonder that our christ
ian leaders lamont the influences which
these handbills-posted here and there on
q fence slat announce as follows:
Races at Woodstown, August 25th,
26th and 27th." Does this represent the
old Agricultural Fair of years ago when
races" were an unmentionable feature
and were almost smuggled In as an at
| traction for certain class? How often
have we overheard that plea in behalf OF
''the races" they were to attract certain
class. Time moves, usages change, and
the fear Of condemnation vanishes. The
races are not announced as side issue
now, but as one may read who runs, are
put forward as the principal attraction to
draw in the people, the certain class
having multiplied, Judging from what We
| observe. What is the effect of this change
upon the community, or upon the inhabi-
tants thereof, and what reflections are
cast upon the town that allows and fosters
these things? Is it surprising that these
bills, placed at every pastable corner, have