Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-09-09
The COURT GREEN.

(Richmond Dispatch editorial, Jtly %. 1897
The people of the ninth circuit
owe debt of gratitude to Judge II.
X. b. Wright, of Essex. He is not
only one of the beat allround Judges
in the state, but he has found time
to interest the people of his circuit
in their local history. This he has
done by encouraging them to have
portraits made of their distinguished
dead, and these he has placed upon
the walls of the court-rooms. This
scheme Of his has been successfully
inaugurated in several Of the coun-
ties, and will be followed, we doubt
not, by citizens of other counties.
The portraits are usually presented
with speech-makings aud other cere-
monies, and thus the occasion is
made social and educational. OF
course, family pride rs we'll as local
pride, lends itself to the success of
the scheme, but the fact remains
that it is chiefly due to Judge
Wright's personal influence and in
telligent aid to the work that so
much has been done, and that so
much is certain to be done hereafter
in the same direction.
In most Virginia counties the
courthouse holds u high place in the
estimation of the people. True, it is
not so much a news centre as it was
before newspapers became so widely
circulated; yet from it radiates a vast
amount of gossip which is of surpass.
ing interest, and which no paper can
got hold of. The courthouse also
holds it's place as a market; a local
market, where on ''court days." a
good deal of small trading is done
And, from time to time, when a
great trial is on, everybody wants
to be there to see the big men, and to
discuss Developments" as they occur
Again the courthouse is used for
many public gatherings aside from
those pertaining to law and politics.
Thus it is that, when q portrait ia
placed upon the walls of the court.
room, it is in position where, sooner
or later, every man in the county
will view it. In time we expect that
the course which has been so wisely
promoted by Judge Wright will be
followed by every Virginia county.
so, we may make ourselves satisfied
that the courtroom walls are TO he
embellished. But who is GOING to
care for the courthouse green?
In many places, We regret to saw
the greens are not green, and are not
clean. In some instances, indeed
hogs are allowed to invade them and
root about at will. Horses, too. are
allowed to stand at racks and stamn
and otherwise disfigure the ground
Where there are wells and npmns
the drainage is not always what II
should be. Again, We may see trash
paper carried about the green bv the
wind. And, as for the grass. eScent
in the early summer, it can be called
"green" only by mistaken courtesy
Its name is green; it ought to be
green, and the law, which ALWAYS spn-
poses that public authorities do what
the law requires them to do. permits
court green to be referred to as If
1t really were a bona fide "cote
green"
Would that there could be a pen-
eral movement In this state in favor
OF improving and beautifying our
court greensl We cannot think verv
highly of county which permits q
ramshackles fence around its conrt-
house yard, and which, uncomplain-
lngly, submits to "green" which is
6urlesque on the name.
TldIness about a Courthouse and
about the green can be secured at
small expense of labor and trouble
Where this tidiness is absent the
public will attribute it to the want
OF energy, or taste, upon the part of
the persons responsible for the de-
linquency.
III, at each county seat, there were
an organization of ladies, who might
have charge of the green, we sbo9id
soon see a vast improvement. They
would have green grass. They
would make war upon trash paper.
They would protest against unneces-
sary duck puddles. They wonId
plant flower beds, and would make
beautiful spots that are now eyesores
Nor would their work be thrown
away. 1t would have refining in
huence throughout the village. We
should soon see cleaner streets, and
more attractive front yards. Thus
each countryman would have his
county pride increased. Thus each
stranger coming to the courthouse
village, or town, would be inspired to
say: "This is clean, thrifty, self
people, and should like
10 live among them.o