The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-09-18

lVhat Are You Doing TO I'm
prove It?
BeN'T Be BEHIND THE TIMES


Splendid Example Of Community Bet
term,ent Set by Civic Club Formed
by Women In Pennsylvania Town.
Active Work In Several Lines.
WHAT are you doing for your town?
what is the personal service contrib
ute6 by you to your home community!
Are you cooperating? Are you inter-
estra in your streets. in seeing that
thag are swept, sprinkled and kept free
1ran refuse? Do you visit the school?
Are you encouraging the growing OF
towers on the school playground?
R not, 1t Is to be feared you are be-
hiaa the times. Throughout the whole
lana an aroused civic interest has beer
manifesting itself in the bettermeat OF
communities. no matter how small.
Wsc "Spotless Town idea has taken a
GrIu root, and the energetic citizen IS
owerlling for the town beautiful.
Wenen's clubs have been formed for
the distinct purpose OF improving s"v-
erai large communities in Pennsylya-
mia, In smaller towns numerous clubs
, have been formed for the purpose or
community bettermeDt. In towns. too.
.pIserc there are 10 societies for the
'exBlicit purpose iof conducting this
work notable improvements have been
made by the women's clubs. Indeed,
nracl, polishing up has been done by
the busy hands Of the women, ana de-
partmcnts for civic Improvement are
cssayying ON active work.
It was just about ten years ago that
a number of women OF Carlisle. Pa.
met to consider matter Of importance
-tant Of town cleanliness.
What did they do? Well. club
was formed, and before six months
AsS passed the membership exceeded
$50. OF course the matter OF town bet
ternienr is a personal one. Everybody
must do his share. SO the ladies OF
Carlisle got after l,ousekeepers ana
jauitors Of public buildings and asked
them all to make the places i'll their
charge examples OF cleanliness. says
the Philadelphia North American. Peo-
KJle who kept street stands and the
renters of market stalls were visited,
and soon things took q different ap-
senrance. An ordinance forblddinS
the throwing Of litter on the streets
was prepared. introduced in the coun-
cil and passed.
Five years rolled away, and Carlisle
had changed its appearance. An anti
spgtting ordinance had been prepared
by the ladies' and passed by the town
council. Bnlboarls, 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
Inriy been exposed to the flies, they
ncyy 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
eSf on It.
Soon the Children's tLeague OF Coed
Citizenship was formed The member.
ship ran near to the 1000 mark. One
half hour n month was given in all
the schools to the members or the
educational committee OF the club.
During this period they addressed the
children, and their interest In the town
and its welfare was aroused.
TO stimulate an interest,in trees and
flowers the club gives premiums each
wear for shade and fruit trees that
hnye 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 tue lawns Of the public schools
the club has placed flowers. vines sna
hedges.
For four years savings department
was conducted. where savings from l
cent upward were received. SubSta-
tiens were established in four stores.
aad during its existence thousands OF
dollars were cared for. The depart
,nent was discontinued with the OPEN
lag o. 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.
Uadcr the clubs auspices during the
summer open air entertainments are
given. During one summer n series of
concerts was rendered by the band OF
the Carlisle Indian school.
And then there is L Kindergarten, 4
beautiful. cheerful, sunny place, where
parents may send their little ones for
aarly instruction.
The membership Of the club now eX-
ceeds 800. Mis-. Edward W. Biddie,
tic president, has been active in in
ausurating similar movements in other
communities.