The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-08-03
AppRno1Ar1oN OF ONES TOWN.
The Indepsndent.

An interesting story comes from little West
ern city telling of teacher in the public schools
who, after thirty years Of service. rested from
her labors and left her lfe's savings to the school
fund. Forever generation she had exerted her
influence in uplifting the boys and girls of the
community, all the time practicing small econo-
mics that she might increase the bounty that her
heart prompted and which the town has accept
ed with reverent acknowledgment.
The fact that she gave her money to the pub
lie schools indicates that she loved her work, but
the fact that she gave her life to the schools
proves it better. The town can never repay to
her memory adequate recompense for her sacri-
fice-but she does not need payment. Her life
was full of rewards, even though 1t closed in
pain and sorrow and suffering. These are small
things compared to the joy q soul finds in SER
vice.
In another Western town, not far removed
from the first, died recently character"
bachelor who had worked through the years
with little recognition in the social world and
apparently with small standing among the lead
ers of the community's life. His will provided
that $4,000, the savings of his lifetime, should
build for the town public library, his gift to
the place In which he had humbly toiled.
These incidents are not prodigies. nor are they
the doings of eccentrics; they are types of a
growing sentiment in this country that the town
in which we live deserves from US some return
for the joy it bestows year after year upon us.
The East with its long established families, its
possession of entailed wealth. has known this
secret for decades; the South, rich in tradition
and prestige. realizes it; the West is just COM
ing into the satisfaction of fulfllment of the
duty toward ones neighbors.
A town of tenants and of landlords is misno-
mer and failure a town of home-owners 10
one great family, in which each owes to the other
something of courtesy and of return for benefits
bosvfus fesrzss the tInesnt tat animates
the resident of the country town. The mutual
dependence, the community helpfulness, the
thorough understanding of the business and So
cial status of ones neighbors, all these tend to-
ward a sentiment of respect and admiration for
the town that finds expression in reciprocal
deeds of usefulness.
After all, our attitude toward our neighbors
depends upon the view with which we consider
the community as a whole. If it be to our mind
merely place in which to make money, an OPP
portunity to reap financial benefits because
people must pay us tribute, a narrow and I'M
sympathetic picture is certain to present itself
and the result is the unloved citizen who
squeezes his neighbors' purses and blights their
lives that he may thrive. If the viewpoint be
one of mutually, If the town be looked upon as
one great family in which the uplift of all means
the advantage of each member of the COM
munity, if spirit of helpfulness be abroad, If
good cheer and courtesy reign, there is radiated
from the town wholesome, generous kindness
that makes it what the Westerner terms, "a
good town to live in" The difference between
a town good to live in" and one good merely
for business purposes should need no discus
sion; the difference ought to be patent to the
most casual observer. Living is one thing and
business another of so different caliber that
there is no comparison between them. The
town that goes in for business alone makes the
same mistake as the individual who pursues his
life under the false impression that there is
nothing higher toward which he should aspire
than bank account; the town that goes in for
mutual interest. that tries to inculcate a spirit
of good cheer and frowns on chickering's and bad
feeling among neighbors. is on the road toward
good living and is in position to invite popula-
tion on the best ground of all-that it is "a good
place to live in.''
We owe great deal to our town, to our neigh
bors. From our surroundings comes the joy of
living, and the greater our return of goodwill
the greater shall be our reward.