The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-09-05
WOMAN'S INFLUENCE.
Changes II Wrought IN Improving Z
Village.

never been known TO fail when once
they started in. A case in point is
the transformation OF Oxford, an old
town in the interior of New York.
Three parks We're set apart by the
pioneers originally, but after 100 years
they were little regarded by the peo-
pie then living within sight of them.
They were overrun with weeds and
brush. Trees began to grow promis-
cuously in one, while the lines of an
other were broken down, and it be-
came a mud hole.
One afterno DON two women were
looking out on the plot called Lafay
cite square. A little stream was stag
mating through its center. Drivers
and pedestrians had no consideration
for the struggling grass.
The two talked with other women,
and meeting OF women was called
to devise ways and means of improv-
ing the village. A permanent organ
ization was formed, and president,
vice-president, treasurer and secre-
tary were elected. A board of direc-
tors and an executive committee were
elected, and constitution and by
laws were adopted.
Organization was perfected in Sep
TENDER, the objects of the society
urora moda Epo,vD +brourbAr+ +ba
community, and the work of improv-
ing the village began at the home of
each of the 20 members. The major
ity of the people said, You can never
accomplish anything" But the wo-
men entered enthusiastically upon
their enterprise. They wrought
changes in their own dooryards. They
exchanged slips" of hardy plants,
purchased the roots of inexpensive
but pretty shrubs. By ordering to-
gether and purchasing at wholesale
they were able to save much. All or
ders were shipped to the president of
the society, and the expressage on
individual packages was saved for the
purchase of more shrubs.
1t was an aggressive campaign.
The rubbish which had accumulated
in the corners of the fences was
cleared away. Old fences were re-
placed by new ones or repaired or re-
moved entirely. The women made
beautiful lawns about their homes
and planted vines to spread over
walls and fences. Ornamental shrub
berry was set ont; pretty evergreen or
declduous trees were procured from
the forest near by and set in rows
where the crumbling fences once
stood. New sidewalks were laid. As
the village was noted for its deposit
of bluestone, handsome stone walks
were procured cheaply. As soon as
these were laid it was seen to be es-
sential that wide cutters should be
made, and with the cutters came
grading the streets and removing
weeds and stones. Attention was
given to back door yards that faced
the railroad. Weeds and brush had
oyerrun them, and they had become
dumping ground. Back doors and
barns which had never known coat
of color were painted, and the weather
beaten, tumble down board fences
were replaced by neat white pickets.
A subscription was finally started
for funds to restore the parks. Peo-
pie were asked to give anything from
cent up. A New England supper
was given, and it proved to be so
pleasant and successful that it has
been repeated annually. The society
was able to swell the contributions
by the proceeds from series of enter
tainments, embracing concerts, the
atricals and lectures, which found
ready favor. These also were found
so profitable in every sense that they
have been continued.
The money having finally been
Tdls6u, d COlILlIulee Vi Three was dD-
pointed to arrange for grading and
curbing Lafayette square, the dimen-
sions of which were $50 by 81 feet. A
handsome fountain was given as a
memorial to former resident by his
sons at cost of $1,000 and was for
mally dedicated to the village. The
expense of the grading, curblng, set
ting the fountain and the village.
Washington park was then made
delightful. Graveled walks were
wound through it, in place of aggres-
sive weeds lawn grass seed was sown,
ground was spaded up and cultivated
plants set out; mountain ash. weep
ing willow and balsam trees were
placed here and there, and wild Gle
mats and ampelopsis were so planted
that they would in time overrun the
tops of these trees. Hollyhock trees
were secured, and asters, hydrangeas
and wild roses were arranged in pretty
vistas. Finally fallen and decayed
timber, stumps, weeds and rubbish
were taken from Fort Hill park, which
was covered over with rich soil and