The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-11-09
Town BettcrInent.

The fall NEE log OF the Massachusetts
Conference for Town and Village Better
ment has been held at Worcester this
week and the main thing that seemed to
be shown by lis deliberations was that II
should &c more comprehensive aud repre-
sentative than it is, According to the re-
port OF the secretary and treasurer, there
are Io1 village improvement societies In
the STATE, but OF these only 80 belong TO
the conference. But there are many al
lied societies in addition, aiming at civic
i'm provement and having Certain inter-
ests 10 common with the others. Taking
The total of these, village improvement
societies, arts and craft societies, educa-
tonal societies, women's clubs doing be-
lerment work, boys and giils' clubs.
charity societies, library clubs, Old
Home week organizations and granges-
The number fooiS up 077.
This is an average oil abou, two and
hall 10 every cry and town in The
state through its bears a smaller ratio TO
the numbet of villages. Sul it would
seem, if all these organizations lived up
to then names and pr tensions as though
the, ought to be able TO work a fansfor-
nation in social conditions and in public
taste and the improvement oil Natural and
unditectt d arrangement.
The womens clubs, for beuerment work,
alone number more han q quarter OF the
whole. and il would be difficult 10 mud
society having general CIVIC and social
improvement tor its object 10 which the
women were not prominent and generally
The more enthusiastic factors. That has
been shown by he practical uses They
make OF Albor day. by the interest and
energy the, have manifested IN combat
ting the ravsges OF destructive intefes S
in efforts 10 save the song birds and 10
many other ways.
But the womeD cannot CARY the whole
burden OF this kind Of public service. nor
can they maintain their natural enthusl-
asm d its height unless they are sup
ported and encouraged by The other sex,
whose responsibility is certainly just as
grea,-in fact even greater, because II Is
easier for it 10 Obtain the necessary au-
thofity 10 put desirable plans lie TO execu-
non. Could all these societies be sffllld-
ted through general federation it would
be likely 10 have an accusing effect upon
the public spirit Of great many commun-
ilies 10 this state. Such step would
dlffu>e knowledge and awaken whole
sale at fruitful spirit Of emulation. As
one OF The speakers at this conference
said, concerning the work of civic better
mepl; There is only one virtue, enshusi-
asm; and only one vice, Inertia
Any alert, INTEL gent and progressive
village Improvement society is mission
afy source aud GENRE. It's influence will
son be seen to advance beyond It's i'm
mediate juiisdic ion 1t is ultimately re-
h-cted III the outskirts, aud II passes
from neighbor to neighbor until the be-
ne soenl germs OF beueIm have found
Judgement in a whole township The eff
feet Is then seen not only IN buildings,
sreets, grounds and tree and flower AZ
angem-ul, but it extends 10 the very
quality OF those whom the people select
10 look after their offaits. They have
more al stake and they have raised their
social and service standards. Arts aud
Graf societies, library societies and 80
forth are all ed to the Others, and where
VIZ find one fully developed we are likely
to fud The rest If Old Home week viii
h. } along these movements it will not be
the east ol It's good achievements.