The Delta independent., 1907-12-06
VILLAGE BEAUT|FY|NC
Best Method For Organizing an
Improvement Society.
PECULIARLY WoMAN's WORK

Executive Committee Should Nusnbes
Fifteen-Eisht at Least Ought to
Be- Women Only Most GIarins
Faults Should at First Be Touched.
The best way to organize an i'm.
provement society is to have an expert
give lecture on the subject illustrat
ed with stereopticon with before
and after" pictures If possible, says
Herbert D. Ward in the Woman's
Home Companion. Then an improve
ment association can be formed to in
clude all ''sets" and political parties.
The executive committee should num-
Der fifteen, of whom at least eight
should be women. Each one should be
the chairman of n special committee,
such as Sidewalks" Streets" public
buildings advertisements" etc The
annual dues should not be over a dol
lar year. The movements of the so
ciety should be at first slow and con-
servative until it has gained the con-
1dence of all the people. Only the
most glaring faults in the town should
cS tS hiSt touSueu, SuCu us lltteT anu
refuse around the public buildings and
square or the elimination of insanita
ry sink holes. Pure water for drinking
purposes, drinking fountains for horses
and dogs, the removal of nuisances
and free town libraries will follow. In
reality there is no limit to the commu-
nifty value of wise and vigorous vii
lage improvement association.
Here are a few practical hints for
local Improvement:
First.-Beautify the front and back
yards. Improvement begins at home
Keep the paths clean and weeded. Plant
shrubs and flower beds in front and vege-
table beds with grape arbor and fruit
trees in the back yards. Keep the house
painted and repaired
Second.-Clean village streets and side
walks.
Third.-Encourage the planting of flow
ers shrubs and trees along streets and
In all public squares.
Fourth.-Have the yards of the schools.
public buildings and railroad stations
cleaned up and laid out with flowers and
shrubs.
Fifth.-Eliminate all advertising nui-
sances.
SiNth.-Remove all unsightly objects in
the village Waste cans should be situated
In prominent places and the children and
citizens encouraged to make use of them.
Seventh.-Encourage the giving of prizes
to the best kept home and village. Then
go to work and win the prize.
Make your town a model of neatness
and beauty.
This is peculiarly woman's work
Let the club become a public benefac-
tor in the town where natural beauty
has been all but ruined by habits OF
village slovenliness. There is no town
but has within it the possibilities of
charming resort.
The most unkempt and unpromising
country town can be made attractive
so that it shall be subject of pride II
not of advertisement. In 1872 New
Milford, Conn.,, was about as unallur.
ing spot as the chance traveller could
find. The average village seems to be
garbage can and IL mudhole. This
| was no exception. Its spacious green
was then combination of mud swamp
and stream gridironed with deep ruts.
Refuse and papers and cattle contested
| for the right to the few sidewalks II
was typical town, such as thousands
still left-that is ALL
Today, under the auspices of the VII
| lage Improvement association, New
Milford is one of the most beautiful
towns in the state, If not in the coup.
try. Its green has been Transformed
into the finest park of its kind in Con
| necttcut. Shade trees. cool shrubbery.
| splendid roads and firm sidewalks. the
public library and other beautiful
| buildings have conspired to attract !
wealth and culture. The town has
1x..V f,-l, o.. 4
| dicant into a rich aristocrat. The in.
| crease in the value of property since
the association started has been pbe.
nomenal.
Ten years ago one of the most un.
attractive, dusty, cindery stations on
the Gloucester branch of the Boston i
| and Maine railroad was that of Bev.
| erly. This Is situated on one side OF
| a public square which at the time was
the drearlest Introduction that a chance
| visitor could have to IA pleasant CITY. |
That station and square probably lost |
Beverly thousands of dollars wear
I'm taxes. Then group of .omen be-
gan to do what the men would not.
They recognized the municipal out |
rage. They organized, pushed, plead |
| cd, worked, until today there Is n new.
clean station of attractive design, and |
the square has been transformed into |
beautiful and inviting park. Wom-
an ought always to be tine beautlfying
factor In our public life, Just as she is |
the charm OF our private existence.
| But 1t takes indomitable public spirit
TO dress In proper gnfb the public
places in our cities and Gowns.
This Is the story Of the Springfield
(MasD) Improvement society and of |
the Village improvement and Library