The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1902-09-18
AN ORGANIZATION FOR THE IN
PROYEMENT OF OUR CITY.


its influence is felt in every field
of endeavor.
Cooperation is the .watchword
of progress and by united efforts
stupendous results are daily ac-
complished. Of the different So
cietles that have been organized
for the purpose of beneftting this
beautiful little city, of which
every citizen is justly proud, none
has grander object in view and
none the prospect of more fully
realizing the consummation of
of this object than would an or
ganization for the improvement of
our city, as suggested in your edi-
torial columns. A society of this
kind would come under the head
of Civics. The civic spirit which
for generation past has worked
such extraordinary results in
many European cities, is only be-
ginning to evidence itself in AmerI-
can communities, where hitherto
the commercial and the partisan
spirits, rather than the civic, have
dominated the situation. The
cause of this growing interest in
the improvement of our towns is
due to the different organizations.
These SOCIETIES foster that town
pride and public spirit which sug-
gests liberal plans and prompt to
generous gifts, impressively put
ting to every citizen the question,
"What is my duty or privilege to
do for my town?
If the city council would coop
crate these broad minded and
progressive women who are seek
ing a society for the adornment
and improvement of our town
they would soon see results that
must flow from future endeavor.
Mrs. Herbert Reed is chairman
of the section on Civics Of the At
lanta Woman's Club, and is one
Of the best informed women on
civic law and government in this
country She has awakened the
Club Women of Atlanta and they
are studying all these civic and
municipal questions. The village
and town improvement idea is
taking hold everywhere these days.
The women and children become
interested in the idea of beautify-
ing their neighborhood and they
canvass different streets for con
tributions in the way of money
or trees themselves, and then they
plant avenues of trees in the va
rious bare places, Many florists
and hortlculturists contribute to
these organizations, being willing
to do so for the sake of the adver-
tisement which comes from con-
tributions to any public enter
prise. The societies also have
fairs and prizes for the best
kept flowers and vegetable gardens
and lawns, The idea is splen-
did one with which to inculcate
children. They learn not only to
take all interest in their own
homes, but in their city it.
self. 1t makes them good and in
telligent and broad-minded citi-
zens and inculcates strong inter
est in the beauty and health OF
their community.
A sketch of the Laurel Hill
Association, of Stockbrldge Mas.
sachusetts, the first Incorporated
village improvement society IL
the United States, is suggestive
1t was originated by Miss Mary
Hopkins, now Mrs. L. Goodrich
Her interesting efforts to arouse
the people resulted in a public
meeting where the subject was dis
cussed and a society was organic
ed AS d result, the Stockbridgt
of to-day stands out in marked
contrast with the Stockbridge al
it appeared to me in the past
The main street, irregularly laic
out and unevenly graded, with
deep pools of standing water, with
few trees and fewer sidewalks
the"green" without trees or any
semblahce of ornament, loaded
wagons making deep ruts almost
to the church door, the cemetery
with broken down fence, anc
full of brambles and weeds. To
day streets are graded and linec
with shade trees.
At the first annual meeting
the treasurer reported that the
amount paid i'll, in labor or cash
was 81 1906. At the meeting Cy
rus w. Fields and E. w. Pomeroy
gave $3.50 TO be used for prizes
Fifty cents were given fer ever,