Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-06-22
BEAUTIFY THE TOWN
THIS is A WORK THAT is BEST
UNDERTAKEN BY WOMEN.
What Can be Accomplished by
ArousinR Interest In This Most Inn
pOrtant Mattcr-Thcrc Is No Town
That Cannot he Improved.

Inat tannOt lie improved.
The later years of the nineteenth
century have given us an indication of
advancing civilization that is destined
TO have much greater influence on the
artistic tendency of the coming gcncr
ations than Is generally realized, says
Nclma G. Melville in The HouSckccper.
l refer to the town and village asSocia
tiOns that are being rapidly organized
in various parts of the country and
which are bound to increase more rap
idly rs the results already obtained
awaken interest among people. 1t is
very evident that the work of bcautify-
ing the smaller places must be under
taken by women. Weeds and rubbish
must be cleared away and unsightly
places made beautiful. Already local
clubs have taken up the matter, and ii
seems that the movement only lacks
the adoption by the great federation to
make it universal. When 4.OOO,O 900 in
tclligent women scattered throughout
every city, town and hamlet in the
United States shall become interested
predict grand victory.
There Is no town, however small or
poor, but may be benefited by the aSso-
Ciated efforts of its residents. The
streets can be kept free from weeds
the walks mcnded and mudholcs filled
up. Rubbish rcccptaclcS can he pro-
Nided and merchants persuaded not to
use the sidewalks for StOrcrOOmS.
Then, whether there is an association
or not, the women of every town
should make it their business to look
after the advertisements that are per-
pctually flauntcd in the faces of them
selves and their children. What Is
more distressing than to see the side of
building or some shOwbOard covered
week In and week out with the latter
ed remains of highly colorcd clowns,
horses and other circus attractions if
nothing worse?
One evening the wOman'S relief corps
of Il certain village had the use of the
city hall for some charitable gathering.
Toward night they spied a man pasting
Gandbills of n cheap show in cOnspicu-
Gus places about the halls and building
and promptly ordered him to take them
all down again. OF course he protest
ed, but they soon convinced him that
for that day and night the city hall
was theirs. There are many women as
bright and determined as these who
would never have taken that stand
simply because the matter had never
been presented to them in the right
light. Even one person can create pub
lie sentiment. Don't let us urge that
we have no influence, for we cannot so
easily escape responsibility. 1t is diff.
cult to estimate the influence of any
one person and equally impossible to
Overestimate the silent influence of
village or town that is kept neat and
beautiful
y prominent member of a most cner-
getic improvement association in Mont
clair, n. j., says: "One of the first ben
etits derived by women from public
work is that they gradually lose sight
of the narrow, personal views of life
and find themselves on the higher, al
truistic plane. In forming such an as
soclation as ours we must remember
that our aim Is to offer assistance and
give suggestions and not to direct the
local authorities"
In later paper this same woman
writes: Under the supervision of the
street commission galvanized iron bar
rcls were placed at intervals along our
main thOroughfarcs for the reception
of rubbish. Shopkccpcrs were begged
to keep their premises in good order,
and If they failed to comply with the
request the association sent man with
n wheelbarrow, broom and hoe to clean
up for them. 1t was seldom that the
same shopkeeper compelled us to do
this more than once"
Here, as elsewhere, the different COM
mittees have their tasks for which they
are responsible. The children's auxil-
iary numbers over LOO school chill
dren, all of whom have pledged them
selves to do what they can to make
their town beautiful. The humane
committee sees that neither children
nor animals are abused and that there
are proper sanitary conditions at the
police station. In this town especial
angles at the functions of the streets,
some of which are exceedingly attrac-
tive.
Already we find business companies
taking up this work. Some six years
ago manufacturing company in Day
ton, o., inaugurated reform along
this line about their shops and prem
tscs which ought TO be advertised all
over the country for the benefit of less
progressive business men. At one time
the location of their shops was known
as SlidertOwn, and it was famous for
fighting and bad characters. The men
would not live near the works, for they
could not afford to raise their families
there, and this set the president of the
company to studying the situation with
Il view to bettering it. lie began by in
viting the men to state their grievances
against the shops and premises and Of
fer suggestions for Improvement.
I'he results which have sprung from
condolences are most gratify-
ill.,, An Improvement association has
been formed among the members. and
the name has been changed from Slid
ertown to South Park. Very small
children in South Park are well up in
landscape gardening and are quite
ready with their information that "the
first principle of landscape gardening
Is to preserve open lawn centers; the
second, plant in masses, not isolated;
Ia, ;r,1 I'll,