Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-10-11
Alexander Wayfarer on the
Ice Harbor Lot.

ftor OF the Bull Creek Herald, was re-
Gently in Marietta. A representative
of the Leader obtained the following
interview:
"How do you like Marietta, Mr..
Wayfarer?"
Very much, indeed he replied.
THE people | have met are delightful
and the city is beautiful-or it would
be were it not for certain dlshgure-
ment. A young lady may have perfect
features, but if she has wart on the
end of her nose 1t bars her from the
beauty contest. She can't even COM
pete with the others"
What do you consider to be the
war, on Marleb,h's nose?"
That disease breeding plague spot
on Front street."
you refer to the Ice Harbor LOTT"
Yes, believe that is the name Civ
en- to it for the sake of decency."
"You will be interested, then, to
know that the ladies have taken hold
of the matter and are going to beautify
...e let, said the reporter.
Marietta is to be congratulated
I'm sure it will be accomplished if the
ladies undertake it,"
"You are a ladies's man, them"
Well, l have great faith in what
the ladies undertake. If it had not
been for them l would still be in hea-
ven playing the trombone. l never
would have come down to this slave
market for any body else"
81 don't blame you" said the report
er; "but now that you are here you
want to make this place as near heav-
en- as possible Is that the idea?'
you are quite right. 1t is a duty
we owe to ourselves. To transform
the barren spots of the earth into
places of beauty is one of the nobles
works of man. To refine and elevate
our ideals should be the aim of every
one"
THAT is truly a noble sentiment, but
is 1t practical?"
1T is to any one who wishes to
make it so. Great movements come
from great ideas; great ideas come
from few persons. Individualism is
then, the great factor in our existence.
But the individual must be backed up
by the many. A few Norsemen
merely adventurers, discovered Amer
lea in the eleventh century, but their
discovery amounted to nothing, and ii
was not until four centuries later when
Columbus, with governmental authority
came that the discovery was invested
with permanency. To give weight to
the Ice Harbor improvements, the
Indies ought to have the backing of the
city officials.
"Such is their inteneion, | believe"
Then Marietta will grow. The pub
lie garden proposed will attract atten-
ton and be a good advertisement for
the city-and good advertising always
pays. But aside from its being good
business investment, it ought to be
a matter Of pride with the city.
wish to be known and loved, not be-
cause | am a friend of the Rev. DR.
Storrs, or the nephew of senator, or
because royal blood flows through my
veins, but because I'm myself and no
one else. In saying this, | express
the wish of every self-respecting indi-
yidual So we can say we want this
city, Marietta, to be known and loved,
not because it is on the Ohio and
Muskingum rivers, or because it is in
the great state of Ohio, or yet in these
still greater United States, but because
it is our city and because it is Mariet-
ia. The character of a church is
known by the character of its members
and a city is known by its inhabitants.
If we care nothing for the beauty and
nobleness of life and are content or
absorbed with its grOsser elements,
our city VIII show 1t; but II we Wish TO
attract others we must make ourselves
Then you think Marietta can new
er be attractive so long as the Ice Har-
Dor lot remains in its present condl-
tlon?'
did not say that. But the i'm
preston strangers get when they see
it is decidedly unfavorable, and they
Immediately imagine that the Marietta
housekeepers never sweep behind the
door, and the young ladies never wash
the backs of their necKs, nor the men
blacKen the heels of their shoes. 1t
would be worth dollars 10 the reputa-
dion of the city, and dollars in the
pockets of the merchants to make a
public garden there as proposed
hope when | visit the city again that
snail find Marietta's wart removed"
Inc reporter extended a cordial in
yltation to Mr.. Wayfarer to visit the
city frequently and then withdrew.
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