The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-18
NEWS IF THE DAY
 IN SOCIAL WORLD City Beautiful Movement Here
 and Abroad NOTES HERE AND THERE Story of civics Improvement In St. Lous-Personals About Well Known Folk Departures and Re-
 turns-Announcem
NOTES HERE AND THERE

To those assisting in the movement for civic improvement in this city, 1t may be interesting to know something of the his- tory of the cause elsewhere. And just here it might be well to remark, paren- ethetically, that while large part of the Birmingham public, even those who are vitally interested in the ultimate success of the city beautiful, may be deadly tired of having it constantly before their eyes when attempting to read the daily papers that this is a part of the game. It is necessary to keep 1t continually before the people. as 1t is too important plan to risk a days forgetfulness on the The city of St. Louis is a striking Illus tration of the results which may be ac- complshed by a city beautiful league. Many who are familiar with its appear ance before and after the Louisiana Pur- chase exposition, will recall its tout-at- he,elbow-and nd-down-at-the-heeP' aspect that event, and the fact that the city itself became striking feature of the fair through the efforts of it's people. It was during a discussion of the een- tennial celebration that the necessity for municipal Identification was suggested.
 About that time book, '"The Improve ment of Towns and Cities made it's ap- pearance. A half dozen copies were placed in the hands of men of we'll known civic earnestness and high aspira- tions This book became the Bible of be- lievers in the city beautiful and many copies were distributed around, thus widening the circle of those interested in such things. Later Prof. Charles Zueblin gave two interesting lectures be- fore the leading womans clubs from which many came away with new ideas as to the things which had been done to make the cities of Europe attractive.
 Then MT. Albert Kelsey of Philadel- pha appeared with the project of mak- ing a sort of Model City" exhibit at the Worlds Fair and his plans were ex- plained to audiences, small at first but growing in size and interest. civic improvement league was formed and the work proceeded. The campaign for elec- tion of city officers arose about that time and the cry was for a new St. Louis Enthusiasm grew apace Women, moved by the urgency of the discussion, in various neighborhoods superintended the cleaning of alleys and streets. Thus the property owner, the real estate agent in fact everybody, began to recognize the fact that beauty is a city's asset which can be realized upon in a splendid man. ner It gradually dawned upon all that a nice, clean, well-kept city Is money in the pocket" of every one who lives in that city. There was less and less pro- test about taxes involved in better streets, alleys and sewers. in better lighting, in tree planting and in the gen. eral improvement of the city.
 The final result was a city of beauty. Even commercial institutions, reeogniz- ing the value of beauty as an asset erected buildings which are models of their kind and ornaments to the locality in which they are placed. The leaven is said to be still working in St. Louis. One can see and feel In every locality the effects of the agitation started five or six years ago.
 The success of any city beautiful organ ization comes back always to the individ- ual The question, What can one man do for it?'' was answered comprehensive ly in bulletin issued by the St. Louis Civic Improvement league some years since. The following extracts are sug- gestions which might we'll be adopted by he fr,,pr
 He can conform, in his own affairs, to the ordinances, putting his own lot in or der seeing that the street or alley before or back of his house is not cluttered with debris.
 He can post the police or health officers upon violations of ordinances, upon the existence of nuisances in his neighbor- hood.
 He can refuse to let his own vacant property be defaced with boardings for advertisements that offend taste and make for dirt. He can refuse to rent out dead walls he owns or controls to the barbarous billposter.s
 If a manufacturer, he can see that his own chimney does not contribute its vol. ume to the smoke nuisance.
 He can cut the weeds on his vacant lot without waiting for a summons to the DO. lice court, and he can repair his side. walk without waiting for 1t to become i'm passable or the cause of damage suits.
 He can favor suggested improvements instead of fighting them and he can rec ognize that he must hear his share of tho expense of securing clean and pretty neighborhood.
 What can one man do? Why, there i. no need to tell him what he can do, il he has the right feeling in the cause Be lfeve in the cause. and you will not weary of bringing others to like belief. Le your own actions justify your belief, dc about your own property or your owr block what you want others to do al over the city, do not do things you don want others to do This is the gospe and the discipline that alone will realiz, the city beautiful.
 The wedding of Miss Mary Blandens