Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-09-03
HOW ABOUT
YOUR TOWN.
What Are You Doing to I'M
prove lt7
DON'T BE BEHIND THE TIMES

Splendid Example of Community Bet
terment Set by Civic Club Formed
by Women In a Pennsylvania Town.
Active Work In Several Lines.
What are you doing for your town?
What is the personal service contrib
uted by you to your home community?
Are you cooperating? Are you inter
ested in your streets, in seeing that
they are swept, sprinkled and kept free
from refuse? Do you visit the school?
Are you encouraging the growing of
flowers on the school playground?
If not, it is to be feared you are be,
hind the times. Throughout the whole
land an aroused civic interest has been
manifesting itself In the betterment of
communities, no matter how small.
The "Spotless Town" idea has taken
firm root, and the energetic citizen is
working for the town beautiful.
Women's clubs have been formed for
the distinct purpose of improving sew
eral large communities in Pennsylva-
MIA. In smaller towns numerous clubs
have been formed for the purpose OF
community betterment. In towns, too,
where there are no societies for the
explicit purpose of conducting this
work notable improvements have been
made by the women's clubs. Indeed,
much polishing up has been done by
the busy hands Of the women, and de-
partments for civic improvement are
carrying on active work
1t was just about ten years ago that
a number of women Of Carlisle, Pa,
met to consider q matter of Importance
that of town cleanliness.
What did they do? Well, q club
was formed, and before six months
had passed the membership exceeded
$50. Of course the matter of town bet
terment is a personal one. Everybody
must do his share. So the ladies of
Carlisle got after housekeepers and
janitors of public buildings and asked
them all to make the places in their
charge examples of cleanliness, says
the Philadelphia North American. Peo-
pie who kept street stands and the
renters of market stalls were visited,
and soon things took different ap-
pearance An ordinance forbidding
the throwing of litter on. the streets
was prepared, introduced in the coun-
ell and passed.
Five years rolled away and Carlisle
had changed its appearance. An anti
splitting ordinance had been prepared
by the ladies and passed by the town
council Bi1lboards, public dumps and
many Objectionable business signs had
been removed An observant stranger
would have noticed that, whereas
meats and fruits and various foods in
stores and on street stands had for
merly been exposed to the flies, they
now were covered by netting. And
through the streets during the warm
seasons one could see huge sprinkler,
with the name of the Civic club paint
ed on it.
Soon the Children's League of Good
Citizenship was formed. The member
ship ran near to the 1000 mark One
half hour a month was given in all
the schools to the members of the
educational committee of the club.
During this period they addressed the
children and their interest in the town
and It's welfare was aroused
To stimulate an interest in trees and
flowers the club gives premiums each
year for shade and fruit trees that
have been planted one year The va
cant spots of Carlisle bloom with flow
ers Along the stone walls of yards
during the summer one can see clam
bering nasturtiums and other flowers
Upon the lawns Of the public schools
the club has placed flowers. vines and
hedges.
For four years a savings department
was conducted, where savings from l
cent upward were received. Substa-
lions were established In four stores.
and during it's existence thousands Of
dollars were cared for The depart
ment was discontinued with the open
ing Of savings department In the
town bank.
Perhaps one of the most prominent
features of town life is the lack Of en-
tertainment. Well, there is no such
lack, thanks to the ladies, in Carlisle.
Under the clubs auspices during the
summer open air entertainments are
given. During one summer a series of
concerts was rendered ny the band Of
the Carlisle Indian school.
And then there is kindergarten,
beautiful, cheerful, sunny place, where
parents may send their little ones for
early instruction.
The membership of the club now ex-
ceeds 300. Mrs. Edward w. Biddle,
the president, has been active in in
augurating similar movements In other
communities.