The Winchester news., 1908-10-22
BETTER|NG A TOWN.
How to Accomplish Something of
Importance.
PERSIST OR YOU WILL PERISH

! EnOtSI On iOO WILL I EHISIt
Perseverance, Is the Price of Progress
In Improvement Work--How to Keep
Up the General Interest-vaIue of
First Impressions.
In all improvement work there must
be one or more entering the field who
will persist to the end-years if need
be-until something worth while is ac-
complished. The darkest hour is just
before the dawn, and opposition to a
movement is usually fiercest as final
struggle. When good stiff fight is
made without breaking up a society
the fight for the latter Is won, for on
It's side is organization. The opposi-
ton, as q rule, has none. There are
In every community few sometimes
very few indomitable spirits who new
er give up task until completion, no
matter what obstacles or opposition
Is to be overcome. In fact, opposition
only seems to increase their energy
and enthusiasm.
The name Improvement society,""
like charity, often covers a multitude
Of sins; but, as some wit has remark
ed, that amt its regular business" !"
When a society Is formed 1t should not
attempt too much. It Is first neces-
sary to show the public that you have
the general good ut heart and that
your judgment as to what is most
needed Is not awry. AS a rule, gen.
eral interest Is easy to keep going if
you hold weekly or semimonthly
meetings and provide literary and
musical programmes or refreshments,
but such meetings butter no parsnips.
The greatest good is accomplished by
those who persistently peg away at
every opportunity and really at all
times, keeping In view the particular
task set, not allowing the public to
lose sight of. much less forget, it, says
ject has to be resurrected every little
while the cause grows weaker with
each revival Such a course as here
In outlined takes rare courage and
executive ability If success Is to be at
tained. If it be billboard fight 1t Of
ten involves antagonizing nearly all
the merchants In town-often a ma
jority of the moneyed interests. New
ertheless the right shall ultimately
prevail. Stand firm in the right.
Every city and village is interested
In attracting home seekers. business
men, investors-in fact, capital in any
form. How may they expect it unless
the place is made inviting? Ungraded,
weed grown, treeless streets will never
appeal to any one. All will shun such
slOvenly communities for those that
present neat and thrifty appearance
First impressions are lasting. a fact
which every one knows. 1t being pat
ent to all who have ventured a few
miles from home that they have them
selves admired both private and public
places that were clean and orderly,
how can they rest amid surroundings
where no evidence Of civic pride is
manifest?
Seekers for homes or business in
vestments have no time In which to
become acquainted with the people Of
any center Of population. They must
judge by the general appearance of
the district and on to the next The
one which most appeals to them will
be the one that Is revisited with a
view to investment. If on this second
visit the attractions still impress, a res
ident Is gained, the place has won over
Its numerous competitors. Every read
er of this article should ask himself If
his property, community, village, town
or city is bidding for public favor and
investments. If so, are you ready for
inspection? If not, what are you doing
to help yourself and neighbors? Are
you Tive un" or are you a dead
unT Do you really live in your COM
mun1ty or are you just staying there,
"the world forgetting, by the world
forgotY' If you are in the latter class,
you should get out of civilization as
far as possible, back on the foothills.
where you may lead happy-go-lucky
existence, which is altogether natural,
most commendable life, one to be
CAN1cu ny dll. let 50 lOuS dS you Ie-
main amid the artifclalities of village
or city life keep up your end Of the
burden, make all really artificial by
Sticking up"
Every town should have an improve
ment society, with committees to work
on few of the plainly manifest tasks
that may be found in every community
In the land. Have the organization
simple and unpretentious, with few
rules, but make your work "stick out
like wart on your nose" Get people
who will devote some of their time to
solving a few of the more difficult
problems which appeal to all thinkers
as those to be first overcome. First
clean your premises, that you may see
without blushing) the dirt and weeds
in your neighbor's. Next clean the
streets and parkways, sidewalks and
public grounds. After this Is done
tackle the street planting, and do not
rest until every street in town is fully
planted uniformly with suitable trees.