The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1901-02-26

dark rainy night, for gates on even
the rustiest hinges seem to get a
move on themselves at such times
1t is said the wise thing to do
is TO make the best of bad situa
ton SO far the contractors alone
seem to have pro6ted by this >ug-
gestion; but am not here to rep
resent the mud singers, or repri-
mand the mud daubers, but gent
, " intimate that contractors and
street commissioner are not ais
together responsible fol the un-
kempt appearance of our town.
A small modicum of civic pride
diligently and intelligently applied
to the betterment Of our local hab
itations, fuller understanding OF
our duties and responsibilities,
with prompt dismissal Of the un
worthy desire to have some
one else do what is our own
work, would be a starter in the
right dire ction.
1t is easier, however, to rail than
to make them-to criticise than
construct. Most men know when
they are sick and many like to dis
cuss their ailments, but mere talk
about our condition never cures
any ills, either real or imaginary.
The proper thing to do is to locate
the weak spot and to study how
best TO apply the remedy, but we
have so many weak spots in our
hody polite that / sometimes think
our only chance is to be made over
again; to be renovated by some
powerful steam process after the
manner of old feather beds. Yet
this might only result in furnish
ing softer places for the Office seek
er, for like the poor he is always
with US and though he does not of
ten come in goOdly apparel and
with a ring upon his finger he
soon finds one that will fit him,
for rings seem as indispensable in
the colduct Of our town affairs as
they do in high church wedding.
What we need now is fewer parts
ans and more patriots, men who
are willing to work for you rather
than work you, who place the gen
eral good above mere personal
greed, men who are willing to put
their own house in order and to see
to the abatement of nuisances in
their own neighborhood. When all
will be on the defensive against
the offensive what a lessening of
unsightly scenes and unendurable
smells will follow.
A great deal of our trouble comes
from a misrepresentation of the pur.
pose of our streets, for so much
money has been buried in them,
such vast quantities of rock, good
and bad, principally bad, have here
found an early grave, that many
come to the conclusion that they
are really gravevards, and when /
see piles of refuse lying in the
streets in front of the houses of
such people, | can almost imagine
that hear them as they empty the
wheeibarTow or the ASH pan. CRYING:
Earth to earth" "ashes to ashes"
"dust to dust" Others seem to
think that the streets, like public
roads, go some where, and hope
when they go they will take the
garbage with them. l had often
heard the expression "everything
goes" but never fully understood
its meaning till making tour of
inspection down our alleys and side
streets l found that pretty much
everything did go--into them, from
tin cans to dead cats and cast-off
wearing appeared. have known a
number of ugly people who do not
have very high appreciation Of
beauty, they say it is but skin
deep and too ephemt raj to deserve
serious consideration. Real beau
ty includes both soul and body and
only a sound healthy body con-
tanning a rational soul can be truly
beautiful.