Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1908-11-14
BETTER|NC A TOWN,
How to Accomplish Something Of
Importance.
PERSIST OR YOU WILL PERISH

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 cnd-ycarS if need
be-until something worth while is ac-
complShed. The darkest hour is just
before the dawn, and opposition to a
movement is usually ticrccSt as a final
struggle When Il good stiff fight Is
made without breaking up Il society
the fight for the latter is won, for on
Its side is organization. The oppoSi-
tion as a rule, has none. There are
in every community a few sometimes
very few inIomitable spirits who nev-
er give up Il task until completion. nc
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 multitude
of sins; but, as some wit has remark
ed, that aint its regular business.
When a society is formed it should not
attempt too much. 1t is first neceS-
sary to show the public that you have
the general good at heart and that
your Judgment as to what is most
needed is not awry. AS rule, gen
eral interest Is easy to keep going if
you hold weekly or semimonthly
meetings and provide literary AMI
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
the Los Angeles Times. If the sub
iect has to be rcSurrected 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
tanned. If it be billboard fight it of
ten involves antagoniZing nearly all
the merchants in toWn-often a ma
jority of the moncycd interests. Nev-
ertheIcss the right shall ultimately
prevail. Stand firm in the right.
Every city and village is interested
in attracting home seekers. business
men, invcStOrS-in fact, capital In any
form. How may they expect 1t unless
the place is made inviting? Tngradcd,
weed grown, treelcSS streets will never
appeal to any one. All will shun such
slovcnly communities for those that
present a neat and thrifty appearance.
First impressions are lasting, fact
which every one knows. 1t being pat
ent to all who have ventured Il 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
veStmcntS 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 Il
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 Il live un" or are you a dead
un?" DO you really live in your COM
munity or are you just staying there,
''the world forgetting, by the world
forgOt?" 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 a happy-go-lucly
existence, which is altogether natural,
n most commcndable life one to be
enyied by all. Yet so long as you re-
main amid the articialitieS 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
mcnt 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 a wart on your nose" Get people
who will devote some of their time to
solving 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 neishbor'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.