Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-01-25

Does the average individual owe al
legiance to anybody or anything? Is
he always sufficient unto himself, or
is he dependent upon and does he like
wise contribute to other effort?
These are questions which can best
be discussed by considering the con-
ditions as they are found in any pros
porous community, and one will an
swer for all, says Guy L. Mitchell in
Maxwell'S Talisman. We will assume
that the native resources of this par
ticular locality are ample. The soil
is fertile and mellow, the methods Of
farming are good, the crops are uni
formly heavy, and the farmers are
prosperous Under normal conditions
the towns of such a rural district
should share this prosperity. Here
we find one which partakes OF this
condition. The visitor observes that
the houses are well built, the grounds
well kept and the homes attractive and
artistic. He is impressed at once with
the fact that the value of the beautiful
is appreciated by the citizens and that
the spirit of cooperation is abroad.
But why should perhaps the very next
town or village, not ten miles distant,
surrounded by the same good farm
ing land, support conditions the exact
reverse? Why should its houses and
stores be so poorly built, inartistic,
gauche and with no attempt at beauty,
with no idea that the mellowing influ
ence of time shall enhance rather than
diminish their attractiveness? Why
are there so few yards we'll kept, with
shade trees and green lawns and or
namental shrubs and flower beds, and
why, in every way, should there be
such general appearance of neglect
and unthrift?
What is the reason for the differ
ence?
cry progressive community a small
coterie of energetic, public spirited
men and women have Systematically
gone about the Improvement Of their
homes They have set examples; they
have devoted themselves to fostering
the spirit of local pride, of home town
work; they have determined to make
their town place most satisfactory to
live in, a place of beauty, convenience
and health; they have directed their
energies toward making their to WI the
real heart Of the surrounding commu-
nifty. Every town, every village, is the
center, the heart, of its surrounding
country 1t may be a weak, inactive
heart, scarcely carrying its feeble i'm
pulse into the arteries which ramify
the countryside, or it may be a strong,
enthusiastic, pulsating heart, carrying
the current of its influence vigorously
into the remOtest corner of the terri
tory it dominates.
Just as we are considered as ma
ton practically sufficient unto our
selves, so as citizens of different states
we are loyal to home institutions
state pride is a most healthy attribute
and to carry the idea still further we
may with profit support the institu-
lions of our individual communities.
But as individual citizens we are in
complete. For full measure Of pros
perity we must depend upon our neigh
bors and our neighbors upon us. AS
every dollar that is sent out of the
United States to Europe or elsewhere
for the purchase of things which we
have at home is distinct loss to the
country, so money sent out of our par
ticular state into another state enriches
kH.nA .@n4o "a h., -
while it is equally true that our in
dividual community suffers to the
same extent through the purchase of
goods in distant places which we
might buy at home.
The heart of the community is worth
stimulating, worth nourishing, both
from within and without, for it is the
central force which makes of the COM
munity a virile, active and aggressive
place. AS an instance Of the value to
the entire community Of the activity
Of the heart, take the case of an up to
date Iowa town of some $4,000 or TO-
600 population. A few years ago the
place supported two miserable little
hotels. On the road. among the trav-
throughout the west, this town was
known as rotten" The drummers
skipped the town when possible, or II
they had to make it they came in on
one train and went out on the next.
They got through their business as
expeditiously as possible, even slight
ing it to get to the next place on their
route, where good meals and a good
nights lodging could be had. Then
the town concluded that its business
required a good hotel, and while the
people were about it they put up a
swell one. Now every travelling
man likes to make -. He stays
over Sunday there. He stays there as
long as he can and canvasses every
store for the sale of his goods. What
is the result of simply having this fine
hotel? The stores have a full line OF
goods of all descriptions, the people of
the community come to town to buy.
for they can get what they want, and
l.