Connecticut western news., 1906-12-27
LOYALTY ID HOME.
VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT HINTS

Items of Interest Regarding Village
 Improvement Societies-lnterest in
 Village Beautifying on the Increase
 Either run a town with a vim, or just sell out and loaf One thing must be done-run the town for all that 1t Is worth, get up steam and keep 1t up. Do you want trade? Bid for 1t. Do you want business to come to your town? Encourage what you have. Do you want a prosperous town? Then never permit the jeal- ousies to rule your action but work together for common prosperity and mutual benefit
 The best way to build up a town :s for each and every man in it not to strive to rend and tear down. Whenever man in the town Is doing we'll do not try to tear him down. All the residents of town are partners, not opponents. In all likelihood the more business done by your rival the more you will do. Every gentleman who treats his customer honestly, oouTteousfy and fairly, will get his share, and the more business that can be secured by united effort, the bet ter 1t will be for all When a town ceases to grow 1t commences to die, and the more the people try to kill of each other in their business and good name, the more rapidly will utser ruin come to all. Stand togeth- CT for the advancement of every cit izen + man shows ability to pros per do not pull him back with jeal- ousy Or down with cold indifference.
 There IS really an urgent call for an effective working organization of the village improvement societies of the country. This can probably best be effected, at the outset, through the union of the local societies of the state in state organization, and ulti- mately Tn the formation of a national association by the state associations. This undertaking is already under way, and has been tentatively accom- plished, at least, through the forIna- tion of such associations in Massa- chusetts, Rhode Island and other states. It Is of recognized import ance now to extend and perfect these organizations.
 It IS not proposed that there should be any stereotyped plan of proceeding designated as a prescription to be taken by every member regardless of local conditions and circumstances. It would be impossible to secure such uniformity, and 1t would be un- desirable, If 1t were possible. Tn the recommendation of association there is no thought of interfering in any way with the working independence and individuality of any local asso- ciation. The undertaking is, at best, experimental as yet, and experiments of every kind which are not palpably absurd are to be welcomed for the general advantage There is essen- tial profit in mistakes as we'll as in successes, for both necessarily con tribute to the general fund of expe- rience. It Is often impossible, also, to conclude with any certainty in advance of a practical trial that an original notion Is not an improve ment of value, and there are obvious reasons why well intended sugges- tons of any sort should be kindled by encouragement and not drenched by cold water.
 The main and abiding reason for the proposed association is to effect a highly desirable interchange of ex- perience and promote improvement through sympathetic rivalry and un- iformity of aim. It will be of advan- tage to every village improvement society to know as exactly as possible what others are doing in the same state and in different parts 6f the country, and to learn through the joint experience what goals may be attained and what pit falls avoided
 It should be possible, also, to de- termine what steps on the path of may be undertaken prudently and advantageously in for warding the good work. At present there is an obvious hesitation and slackness in going beyond the com mon undertaking of cleaning up and adorning the face of the village. Vil- lage improvement ought not to stop, of course, with the shaping and wa tering of roads, keeping the streets and lawns clean, planting flowers, shrubbery and trees, and setting up