The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-05-15
R. Fl. McCune
In Patterson's Harness Store.

but it held meetings to talk about
them, and in these were n business
men brought close together. The
unity of the towns purpose was estab-
lished. In a sense, the club headquar-
tiers took the place of the hotel porch
where the Majors father and grand
father had met with other worthless
back East" The Western town mas
no such forum in its younger days.
AS communities become mature, GER
tain stores and offices often are places
where those who do things" gather,
but at h Commercial Club is the
formal ratification of plans.
"The Western local paper is publish
ed for about thirty subscribers" said
an editor, now a Congressman, who
has been through one of h Vests
| most remarkable boom experiences,
its succeeding depression, and its re-
| gained prosperity. Twenty to thir-
ty men decide the destiny of the
town; the others follow. If these be
convinced, the work will be done"
This is because the towns dwell
lers are busy. 1t is 40 slight thing
to build a business and to establish
a nome on limited capital, as have
the Western business men. Little
time can be given to things not di-
rectly and concretely applicable to in
dividual progress. Because of this
the social club, as h Eastern city
man knows it, is are-it is confined
towns and villages, save in rare in
stances, have toe little leisure for
that.
Major Pushton belonged to three of
the eighteen lodges. He Joined three
more 1t was businesslike to do so,
both because of the cheap life insur-
ance secured and for social adval-
tages attained. Mrs. Pushton and the
girls Joined an auxiliary" lodge.
During winter evenings the weekly
meetings of the lodges furnished con-
slant entertainment
limitations were the least of this.
Following work" came what the To-
cal paper called a social hour" The
floor was cleared of altar and symbol
ic paraphernalia; the piano was brot
forward; singing and dancing, with
possibly lunch furnished in the sup
per-room, brought pleasure to every
member. The doctors daughter and
drayman's SOL yer On the floor to-
getner; the lawyer danced with the
plasterers wife. Cosmopolitan, good
natured, friendly, it was a common
expression of one social feature of
newer communities.
In girlhood Mrs: Pushton had
known the church social, but she did
not find it here. Except for occasion
al gatherings for young people. the
church confined its efforts to services
in the sanctuary OF to suppers n
fairs intended to swell its treaSury's
receipts. In such comparatively I'M
fixed and -eyer-occupied society the
lodge, its income assured by ses
ment to be paid en- penalty of expul-
sion, has a freedom and i~berahty not.
easily obtained b. the church, which
must win its way by persuasion
The women's club to which Mrs
Pushton belonged was one of four.
Its program for h ear included Greek
art, modern literature. domestic
science, national celebrities. forestry,
current fiction, child study1and It
tried to do something toward the i'm
provement OF the town. TWAS not
wholly successful in this last Once
1t adopted a resolution AGAINST spit
ting on the sidewalks-but nothing
happened
This It did dot brought its mem