The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-06-16
TOWN IMPROVEMENT
SOME VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS BY
THE REV. FRANCIS e. CLARK.

What He Saw on n Recent Trfp-l1Ow
Unsightly Towns and Villages Might
he Benutihed Marking Historic
Spots In IA Community
In a recent Issue of the Christian En-
denvor World the Rev. Francis Il. Clark
contributes an article on village i'm
provcment and civic pride that con-
ta1ns many valuable suggestions. He
says in part:
on one Of the great trunk railway lines
Of our country. and I am Disguised
with some Of the ramshackle, filthy,
unkempt towns through which l am
passing. At tho last stopping place o
big dump heap Of refuse and garbage
graced the approach to the railway
station. A shallow stream, crossed by
several bridges near the center Of the
town. was beyond expression unpleas-
ant to look al. Broken barrels and
shattered crockery and defunct cats
and battered tin cans strewed the sides
and bottom Of the stream. A purling
brook which might have been the most
DcuNIlAu III anu hSNFc lcdLulc u tAC
landscape was transformed by care
lessness and Indifference into a foul
open eewer. and I began to wonder
whether what foreigners say of us is
true-that America Is the most untidy
nation Of the world"
Yet side by side with these insight
sores were fine public buildings; cheek
by jowl with tu%mbledown cabins were
elegant mansions. evidently the abode
of wealth and perhaps Of culture.
Then the thought came to me, as 1t
often did before: Have not Christian
Endeavorers something to do with clean
Ing up the physically unclean as well
rs the morally uncleanf Can we not
start a crusade for tdiness, for village
improvement for the identifying Of
our streets and squares and vacant lots,
our highways and byways and hedges?
Not all parts Of the country are
equally untidy. Many New England
Villages are as nea as a Dutch house,
wife could desire. Some places In all
parts Of the country have learned that
cleanliness Is next to thrift and pros
perity al we'll as next to goodness, but
much Is left to be desired.
Why not make It one of our good
citizenship efforts to beautify and
cleanse the outside rs we'll US the In.
side Of the municipal cup and plutter2
Why not also arouse civic pride and
keep 1t alive by marking historic spots,
even though they be OF only local In
%terest. and by holding a meeting once
in awhile to hear their story md kim
die the fires of local patriotism?
I was reminded Of this phase of my
subject by Il visit to Guilforl, Conn, a
few weeks ago. when I attended o
capital meeting OF the Guilford Chris
tan Endeavor union. Gullford Is one
OF the most charming Of New England
villages. Broad streets lined with mag
niflcent elms and comfortable resi-,
dences and fertile farms abound every.
where. Here. too. Is a town OF tho
most intense historic interest. full OF
landmarks Of the Revolutionary and
nti-Revolutionary days. and yet. with
a single exception. not n OF them Ia
marked. and as a stranger / should
never have known bow rich Guilford Is
In memories OF other days II my kind
host, Mr.. Knowles. the president OF the
Christian Endeayor union. had not
been particularly we'll posted and
pointed them all out to me.
Search your town records. Take
pride in your OWE history. Mark the
places which are only OF local interest
II your society Dr. union cannot do It
alone call a meeting Of citizens to So
cure their interest and financial help.
See that the work is done neatly even
If inexpensiYely. Keep records Of what
is done for those who come after you.
Have an occasional public meeting for
recounting and emphasizing the history
Of the past.
II you want an example Of the best
way Of marking historic sites go to
Concord and Lexington. Mass, where
every road and every old house is made
to speak in eloquent language of heroic
deeds OF yore. But In less elaborate
and less expensive ways much may
be done to preserve the memories of
he past.
Christian Endeavor itself has some
memorials Of its own. The birthplace
Of the first society in Portland is al
ready marked by a beautiful bronze
tablet, The second society, that in the
Old North church Of Newburyport, I
hope will some time have its memorial.
The lrst societies In all the different
states and countries and counties even
might well mark tho fact IN some way,
Christian Eadeavor. however. Is young
and has bad but little time to make
history. but 1t can mark history and
thus preserve the traditions OF the cid.
ers. hand down their good deeds to fu.
ture generations and lead the young
people everywhere to emulate their
virtues.
All such Efforts for good citizenship
will be recognized at Baltimore, 1905"
with a beautiful certificate and honor
able mention in the Recognition Book"
II ts none too soon for societies and
unions to consider, record and mark the
interesting spots and events IN the his
tory Of their communittas.
AT least we can clean up u waste
corners, remove our dumps from the