The Newtown bee., 1898-12-09

Editorial Notes.
One characteristic of many worthy
people In rural communities, and sad to
say Newtown is not exempt in this par
ticular, Ia lack of public spirit. Here
is an instance at hand right at home. Thu
annual meeting Of the worthy Library
association was held the other night, and
although we'll ADVERTISED, scarcely a quo
rum to do business were present. And
yet the sidewalks were not blockaded, or
the sky overcast. My brethren, and
sisters too, this thing ought not 80 to be.
When such gathering as the annual
meeting OF the Library association is an.
nounced, the people on the Street at least.
ought to turn out and show their inter
est. And yet II move was made to
move the library to Hawleyville or Sandy
Hook, the Library room would be crowd
ed, and we all would be excited over the
proposition. And this same thing is true
Of most all worthy movements, OF phil
Anthropic and charitable nature. What
we need is an awakening OF public spirit.
We need to remember that no man liveth
to himself; that we are our brothers
keeper. The writer pens these thoughts
with no self-riGhteous feeling. but with
the hope that we as citizens of Newtown,
OF Sandy Hook, of HawleyAille, or Bethel
or Southbury or Washington, or any
town where this paper goes, might
all rise to the realization of our
duty to the public In the matter OF sup,
porting worthy Institutions.
In describing the present pitiable con-
dition OF the Cuban poor, in an interview
published In the New York Sun of Nov.
ember 90, 1898, the Hon Charles A.
Schieren, Treasurer OF the Cuban Central
Relief Committee, which was appointed
by President Mckinley last winter to
give temporary relief to the starving re-
concentrates In Cuba, very strongly In.
dorsed the new movement to give perma-
nent relief to the Cubans on an industri-
al basis. In the course OF the interview
Mr. SchIeren said There is a movement
on foot among the members of the Rev
DR. Lyman Abbott's church in Brooklyn
to which want to call the attention of
all people who are Interested in the re-
construction Of Cuba and the placing OF
the people of the island on their feet
again. Mr. William Willard Howard,
who did such noble work In Armenia
to employ the distressed people of that
unfortunate country, is at the head Of
the movement, which Is to establish
farms all over Cuba and give the starv. |
Ing inhabitants a chance to do something
for themselves. The Idea is to provide
those who own farms, but are as destitute
ms those who do not, with proper nipple.
ments to work their land and with seeds.
IL Ia also intended to purchase large
tracts of land in the impoverished dis
tricts and sec the thousands of labo rers
on the island at work tilling the soil.
The crops that they raise are to be sold
for their benefit, and everything that
they need to start them will be provided
gratis. This great work should be help
cd. The best charity that know of is
to help people to help themselves. Give
q man work and you benefit him more
than you could In any other way. be-
lieve this movement that has started in
DR. Abbott's church, IL it can be carried
IN, will make the solution Of the Cuban
question comparatively easy. / cannot
'ay too much In favor of this work, and
recommend 1t to all who feel inclined
70 do something to help the people of
hat unfortunate Island to get on their
nea-,ol