Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-04-27

cow 1t tends to fraternize com
munity when all classes meet on com
mon ground and work for common
: objects, where differences of rank
wealth, sect or party are forgotten
To give an illustration: In town
with a polyglot population (and there
fore hard to unify), engaged in ex-
tensive quarrying and manufacturing
ON a given day the mills and quar-
ries were all :'shut down. stone and
teams were furnished free and own
ers and operatives joined with the
citizens in big "bee," where many
hands made light work and all had a
good time. From that day they have
thought more of one another, more
of their town, and best of all, more
of their homes, which richly shared
in these improvements, as did the
sidewalks, roadsides, cemeteries and
other public grounds. This hearty
cooperation of all classes promoted
good-fellowship and made the hum
blest workman proud Of the achieve
ments of that memorable day. Kin
dred examples ought to be multiplied,
for such a "bee" helps to cOunteract
the tendency Of rural life to isolation
and separation by classes, and lifts
out of the ruts of plodding monotO-
ny. After a day of united work, a
collation. served by the ladies, whose
cooperation is always hearty and eff
ficient in village improvements, pro-
notes good cheer and fosters social
amenities. The escutcheon of the
Swiss Confederacy, Zone for all and
all for one," suggests the true motto
for every village improvement associ-
alton. The home should always be
the objective point. It has long
been my desire to help in bettering
the homes and hOme-life of the Amer
lean people, for the privilege and duty
of life is the creation of tasteful, hap
py Christian homes. When such is
ones ideal, and his home becomes
his pride, life has higher significance,
value and sacredness.
The homes of any people tell their
state and traits The Indians wig
wan shows how little he cares for the
rich acres around tor the rich mines
that may lie beneath it. Christianity
has ever marked its triumphs over
paganism by improving the homes of
its converts. The multiplied minis
tries of nature, providence and relig-
ion center in the maintenance of hap
py homes. "The hope of America
is the homes of America"
The results of village improvement
already observed in this direction am
ply compensate for the cost and work
involved and invite more general eff
4 forts to extend this beneficent agen-
cy. One good example often makes
many others. Their manifold results
in so many states give culminative
force to this movement, warranting
the hope that instead of hundreds
there will be thousands of these sOci.
eties for bettering homes, as we'll as
towns. Few communities can afford
to continue without some organized
efforts for public improvements, for
they pay in many ways. They help
to retain in town its wealthy and pub
lie spirited citizens and attract desir-
able residents from abroad. A pc
nurious policy is penny-wise and
pound-foolish. 1t defeats its own
aim of saving and results in deterior-
alton and loss. Men of culture shun
a narrow-m minded community. A good
name tends to enrich town, as we'll
as an individual, while bad repute
may impoverish both.
A village improvement society Of
ten starts with specific plans and
does its work in regard to local needs
and then disbands. This is not ''a
fall from grace" for its results con-
tinue for generations as ideals and
object-lessons to old and young. The
active interest of an entire communi-
ty is not easily held to any single
work, however valuable, nor is it
necessary, if the right sentiment and
inspiration have become general; for
when this movement is individualized
it goes of itself, and the well-being
of each is seen to depend on the we'll
doing of all. But many of these as
sociations are permanent in their life
and work
The patriotic sentiment which cher
ishes ones town is noble and emo
bling. The man who cares not for
his native town, nor that of his adop-
ton, has no heart in his bosom. An
example is found in an American
railway king, a millionaire, taking no
interest either in his adopted or his
native town, leaving his old home
stead neglected and forlorn. Such a
fact suggests a selfish soul, sterile in
all heroic virtues.
B. G.. NORTHROP, Clinton, Conn.
How's This ?-We offer One Hundred Dollars
reward for any of catarrh that be cured
| by taking Halls Catarrh Cure. F. j. Cheney &