The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-05-15


tons live and share the prosperity oi
Philanthropy IS little developed, be
cause save In q few large cities it Is
little needed. In cores of counties
are no almhouses; in many others the
institutions r empty except for a
few decrepit unfortunates. City mis-
sion societies In the smaller towns
send we1l-filled Christmas baskets
nd occasionally look after some fam
Iy where sickness has taken the wage
earner-that is about all. Poverty in
is usual form is practically unknown
n the great plains region. Hence
! he churches have the spiritual work
! n overwhelming preponderance, and
their appeal is less needed perhaps
| by the busy Wester1er than would be
a personal, material demand on his
h~elpfulness.
The Pushton children went to the
public schools, as did practically ey-
cry child in the community. The ban
ker's o sat with the bricklayer's son
and the doctors daughter with the Ia
borer's girl. When the high school
was reached, a weeding-out process
commenced. Glasses were depleted
| because u10 DdOhW dTu PUPILS let
| school to work or attended a business
college where for a fee a complete ed
ueation for life, vas promised in three
months.
The weakness of the Western school
system in h towns is that it does
not provide for the boy and girl who
desire to work partly with their hands
and need early preparation for earn
- 1-01;L~~l ---
ments are needed, tax levies are so
nearly to the limit, demands IN the
school boards are so many, that man
ual training and kindred plans are too
often omitted. Too many pupils leave
school in the early grammar and higl
school years. The encouraging thing
is that this is being realized and r
rected. Broader plans for academic
education are being made, and the
coming generation is encouraged to
seek college training. With Increased
prosperity this is more easily obtain
ed than of old
The man who cleaned Pushton's
lawn owned his own home, earned by
ais own toll. His daughter delivered
the valedictory of the Pushton girls
class; she came to the Pushton
home to the class party; the same de
mocracy extended into her later years
when she had become the wife of a
grocer and a member of h literary
club that so eagerly elected Mrs.
Pushton. Opportunity for young PEG
pie is ever present in tne Western
town-but it depends there as else
where on themselves, on their parents
on self-respect, energy n ambition.
"Once every body here went to
everything" said an old timer to Ma
jor Pushton day, 'tbut now there
are cliques and crowds" He forgot
that once all the eligibles could gath
er in the hotel dining room or in the
town hall-now it is impossible be-
cause the village has become a "city"
Society is spasmodic in the average
sized Western town. A tea, an ooca
siolal dinner party, more rarely a re-
ception-that is the list. Major Push
ton hal no dress suit, but he was not
out of style. When the richest man
in town CAV a reception to open his
new house, half the men wore sack
coats and getaways, a few Were in
Tuxedos, a minority in prince AL
berts' and "swallowtailS" as they |
were known locally. A Western
man recently went on a days trip to
attend m afternoon reception and al
evening dinner party. 1t was consid-
cred worthy of newspaper notice that
he took a trunk and made three chang
Of clothing while absent from his
home. But all hat is passing rapidly,
and in the larger towns even the op-I
era hat may be worn without exciting
remark.
Preceding the elder Pushton girls
marriage was a series of Showers"
breakfasts, luncheons, and teas. she
was the towns princess for two weeks
The local paper devoted a column to
doings in her honor. All seemed
to enjoy the opportunity to have a
part in the p~re-nuptial joy. The we'd
ding itself was at her home 0church
weddings are rare), n was simple
and cherry. Her attendants were a
dozen young girls Including the laugh
ter of a carpenter and the daughter of
a Senator. A h~alf-dozen neighbor wo-
helped serve the supper. The
towns only Observation-Disclosures as
on duty for two hours
guests there, n for two more
them away. The banker and
and his wife were very late. the har-
ness maker and his wife having their
carriage order ahead.
In the meanwhile, business was on
ly fairly satisfactory. Too many retail
for the trade cut down profits.
Rivalry was keen. The hope of town
growth, tine eagerness to reap a boom
prosperity, keeps the number of store
keepers disproportionately nigh. The
banks have a liberal policy, and will
carry" the senterprising, competent
merchant through financial difficulties
The older business houses are grad
ually expanding into department stor-
es; usally one IT may De found
in the city of three thousand popula-
tio1 or over. These do not gather all
trade, but they have some advan-
tage in close margins over the small
retailer. Then there is the constant
intrusion of the mail-order house, with
its bulky catalogue and it's attractive
advertisements. Thousands of dollars
in trade go out of every considerable