Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1902-02-28

Again can you recollect how many times
during the past twelve months you have
walked after P. NJ on the north side of the
street, say between Reislnger's and Warfeld's,
without ii being partially blocked to travel
by boisterous crowds Of colored folks, some
not knowing Of that Of which they talk.
Sill this is forbidden by town ordinance
number 81. am sure we all ought to be
proud to have Rock vile selected for any SORT
Of meeting, convention or association, and
still who would point with pride to the Ia ST
| State Medical Association which met in Rock
vile in early winter, when the Town Hall was
so poorly heated that the meeting had to ad-
journ to convene somewhere else
In closing this argument, will say en-
phatically that Rock vile is lacking in pu5lic
spirit and il is the fault OF each individual re-
siding in the town. and although the Woman's
Club is small in number, we can make it
great In power, and by our influence help
make our town what it should be, the first in
the grand old State of Maryland.
Mrs. Spencer, president of the club, took
the negative Of the proposition and replied
as follows:
Mrs. President: Being what the Beers call
an outlander, not native born, but a stranger
in the outer circle of social and political life
In Rockville, my argument must be that of
one on the outside
The Good Book says, "By their works We
shall know them, >" aud all the world judges
largely by what II sees. Now what does the
stranger see as he rides 10 on the cars of either
the steam or electric railways from our Cap
ilal City The first thing that greets his eyes
as the train slows up and the conductor calls
out Rockville" is a lofty tower, and If he
could look over the hills into valley to the
north OF the town he would see brick build
ing with tall chimney from which smoke
0eched forth, and II his eyes could penetrate
still further he would discover an artesian
well. All this is then to force pure aud de-
licious water from the dark cool depths of
the earth in alth-giving streams, fret TO the
town, thence to the homes in the remotest
parts Of Rockville Then If he was an OBJ.
serving persen he would notice electric wires
threading the town, and bulbs for electric
lights.
Now the question is, IL Rockville is want
ing in public spirit, how did these things get
here2 They did not grow, and they cannot
perform their work themselves without aid.
There must be human power behind the whole
system, and only the will OF the people of
Rockville could put these luxures where they
are
For years lived In very near suburb of
Washington where the Inhabitants were per-
with only such light AS Nature affords in her
smiling mood and csterns or wells were the
nearest we got TO plentiful supply of water,
although the water system of Washington
was but mile away.
When my husband and were looking for
q home In the country, af er a long and pro-
lracted search, during which we visited near
ly every suburb of Washington, we decided
to come 10 Rockville because of the superior
advantages we would have here II was far
Their from The city than we desired, but the
convenienees and comforts Il had Overhaul
anced this objection. All other rural towns
were dependent upon wells or windmills,
kerosene or the light of heaven. These ere
ated comforts seemed to us TO evince energy
and public spirit
There is another institution, purely Rock
vile creation, which once year is a social
centre for Maryanders from many miles away.
Here they gather TO meet each other and view
the works OF art, the productions of nature
and the dainties and CONNECTIONS made by the
fair hands OF our fine hOusekeepers on exhi-
billion there, and for which TO foster healthy
competition prizes are awarded My hearers
will probably guess 1t is the Rockville Fair.
Then our young peoples societies have in
siituted courses OF lectures this winter to fur
nish food for the Rockville mind, and last,
out lhT lIOm OelnR least, tue lhuleB are Du9y
with schemes for the betterment OF the people,
The W. U I. U. are instructing the young in
temperance ideas; large circle Of Kings
Daughters Is active in relieving the suffer-
ings Of the poor, and our own Woman's Club
Is trying 10 elevate the intellectual tone
We do not argue that we are perfect, that
there is no room for improvement, but that
there is good deal Of public spirit here. and
here perhaps is our mission, and that Of wo-
men generally, that by wisdom aud stead
fastness we may be able to arouse a greater
degree OF civic pride
In The course OF The general discussion u
few additional Instances Of pubic spirit were
brought forward.
To few women, whose work is labor Of
love, the town OF Rockville is indebted for u
cemetery that is kept 10 good condition, and
that is AS hitting resting place for our loved
ones as will be found in any city The Gem
etery has been improved only by the patient,
earnest and persistent effort OF these ladies,
aud s memo rial to their ability.
The industrial and night schools are Gu
tirely new enterprises which should give TO
the promoters OF the institutions a reat deal
OF satisfaction, as they place advantages in
reach OF number OF deserving young people
willing to CO operate
SO 1t seems Rock vile is no, lacking ia pub
lie spirit, for II ii were these facts would not
be- evident.