New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
THE CITY-CoUNTRY CLUB.
How Village Residents and Visitors Are
Brought Together.

One Of the most notable characteristics OF the
present-day urbants IS his interest in the coun-
try and his desire TO get back to nature as much
possible. eft is sigT hcant thing, and we may
believe a hopeful sign. that the professional man
in his city study Office feels the need Of broader
view from hilltop, that the counting house
cannot hold man from the scenes Of his child
hoods home. and that the SCOT OF the city must be
feshened by contact with the freshness and purity
Of nature" says Walter 5. Newell in The New
England Magazine" While the intermingling Of
city and country people is beneficial TO both there
is a Of responsibility which charsctertzes
too frequently the sojourn OF the city guests in
rural community which gives the country people
the impression that they are selfshly lazy rather
than healthfully restfuL
In order give and receive the greatest possible
amount of benefit from country life an experiment.
has been tried in the little hill town Of Mddlefeld
country club plan has been in operation it has
drawn to itself considerable attention and favor
ridge Of hills four miles from the railroad. and is
Those Who first became Interested in this little
town as restful place for summer & colony oI17. IN
confer with them. and a city-country club was
ideal held up was to bring the city visitors and
local country people into close and friendly touch
work for the permanent betterment Of the com
In the membership and board of officers of the
club, Mr.. Newell says, the local residents and
city people are represented as equally as possible.
For example. either the president or the vice-pres
dent must be a permanent resident OF Mddlefeld,
and In committee work the college student who Is
spending his vacation in the town is associated
with the young man whose opportunities and duties
have been circuTnscrbed by the farm the village
life The aim OF the club. expressed in a paper
social life OF the village: second, to encourage
such literary and entertaining features shall be
helpful and attractive: third to direct and pro-
vide athletic diversion and fourth TO lead village
Improvement and TO make the premises enhance
and the scenic effect OF the hills which
nature had made attractive. The club has q
village Improvement committee. enteTt tanment
committee. athletic committee. a social COM
mttee, natural history committee and az his
interesting task in its study of the local town
history. The old roads and farm boundaries
being studied. the foundations of the old homes
being located and the history Of Individual
houses. giving far available the names
owners and residents. is being recorded and pre-
served.
Among the accomplishments of the first two
years the establishment of golf links opening
OF q lawn tennis court, little beauty spot made
placed in the town hall for free public use cabinet
placed IN the town library and a natural history
collection well started, Old Home Week celebra-
ton arranged and carried out. being OF the
first observances Of the kind held in state
connection established with the outside world by
means OF telephone and the development Of dra-
matte. literary and musical talent IN the village
The club has been valuable TO the village in dollars
and cents for a good class Of people coming
paid for farm products. There is also a growing
demand for summer homes for city people who
desire comfort in a community where social as
well natural conditions inviting