The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-06-22
suMrER's GREATEST NEED.
The Timely Suggestion Of a Friendly
But Critical Visitor.

Editor Item: The writer is too fre-
quent contri butor to the columns of
the press not to know the value of
space, especially when one is seeking
room in daily journal, but despite
this he wants to use the Item as a
medium to say something ABOUT your
thriving little city, which, by the
way is not quite so little after all, as
the writer found when he had to ride
mile from the Court House to find
some of his friends.
The growth of Sumter during the
past two years was very noticeable
and unless it has some backset some
the beautiful residences on Main
street will have to be torn down to
make room for business houses, and
this, in some respects, would be very
regretable, as these elegant houses,
with their well kept grounds, are a
great ornament to the city. But,
however much the writer could and
would like to say about Sumter, ne
must stop because the main object of
this article is to call attention to
something that the city needs, and the
lack of which detracts very much from
its beauty and attractiveness. This
need is public park where the people
can resort in warm weather and find
some relief from the heat and dust
of the streets. Some writer has very
aptly called the parks the lungs of the
city, and the expression is very. true
and forcible one, for outside of the
pleasure they give, they add very
much to the health of the city.
Then, too, as people advance in
culture and refinement it is but natu-
raj that they Should feel a longing to
surround themselves with beautiful
things. In fact, without the love and
culture of the beautiful, civilization
could not exist. Whatever is useful,
as has been truly and beautifully
said, will encourage itself, but we
should all do our utmost to encourage
the beautiful, for this is one, almost
the only one, of the visible signs that IL
lustrate, or show our attalnments in
civilization. The ignorant man may not
be able to appreciate beautiful things,
but to the Intelligent man they are
not only a great help, but at the same
time source of inestimable pleasure
Some time ago when the writer saw
that the grounds Of the Sumter Insti-
tute were to be sold, the thought oc
Cured to him that the city ought to
purchase it and convert it into park.
These things, of course, cost good
deal of money, but the mere fact that
q city, Sumter for good illustration,
is growing in wealth and population
lis pretty strong evidence that the cost
lis not, by any means, an insurmount-
able obstacle. AS has already been
said, there are many beautiful homes
in Sumter, and these furnish unmis-
taxable evidence of the refinement of
those who own them; but while it is
only right that the culture of the
beautiful, like charity, should begin
at home, it also, like charity, should
not end there.
In this connection, the writer begs
to suggest to the cultured ladies of
Sumter that they might add very
much to the beauty of their city by
Identifying the ground around the
Court House. If the town of Sumter
had, say twenty y-6ve years ago, estab-
lished park on the outskirts, the
city of Sumter would now surround it.
1t would hardly take twenty-five years
for this now, at Sumter's present
rate of growth.
While on his way to the depot the
writer noticed some beautiful little
trees that had been used for hitching
Iosts and as natural consequence
lad been badly damaged. Such mex
cusable vandalism should subject the
offender to a very heavy fine. When a
tree becomes establishd it is very val
liable and whoever injures it should
be severely punished.
W. D. Woods.
Darlington, S. c., June IL.