Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-08-19
RURAL GIVES VALUE
What It Means to the Individual
and Whole Nation.
SALVATION OF ALL TOWNS.
Every Movement Bringing Members OF
Rural Towns Together For Discussing
improvements Concerning tho Com
munitv "a a.Whole Is Step Forward.

Is embraced u movement which. car
ried to it's fullest possibilities. may
well mean the transformation OF
nation, We are prone to think or
ciyics and civic matters us having to
do solely with town or city. People
living in such close proximity to one
another that they are forever jostlinS-
elbows are forced to consider the wei
fare of the body polite as a whole
Therefore 1t IL natural that the hrst
impulse for civic betterment should
emanate from the city.
But the time has come when this
movement for civic betterment. the
improvement Of conditions for the
mass rather than the individual. Is
recognized as one Of the greatest fac
tors in the upbuilding Of rural COM
munities. There never was time.
either in country or city. when the in
dividual was under such direct obliga-
ton to the mass of his fellow citizens.
Within the last half century. by means
of increased transportation facilities.
the invention Of the telephone and the
thousand and one inventions which
make for closer communion and better
living. man has become even more
closely bound to his neighDor so that
the latter's welfare has become his
own welfare. This is just as true OF
the farmer as Of any other class.
In the growth Of rural c'vics lies not
only the salvation OF our rural COM
munities. but Of the nation as Il whole.
Improve not only the individual farm.
but the community rs whole-the
town center. the highways radiatinS
In all directions. the social conditions.
the opportunities for mental relaxa-
ton and development-and you exert
an influence which extends straight
up t. the legislative halls OF the ma
ton.
That Henry Jones allows his back
pasture to run to thiStles Is apparent
" nolody's business but his own. This
may be true up to the point where the
first puff OF wind floats the thistle
down over into the pastures OF his
neighbors. Right there Henry Jones
has unintentionally taken hand IN
his neighbours affairs. and his neigh
bors have Il right to demand Of Henry
Jones that he do his share to relieve
the community OF II pest. pun OF
wind and n bit Of thiStlcdown have
made OF the free individual II respon-
sible unit In the mass.
Every movement which tends to
bring the members OF the rural com
munity together for discussion Of
those things which concern the com
munity as a whole Is II distinct step
forward. Every schoolhouse should
be a civic center for the district IN
which it Is situated. Every town house
or county seat should be larger civic
center wherein the leaders in the
smaller centers may meet for the dis
cussion of the work which they are
doing and for the intelligent mapping
out of future plans along which these
smaller centcrs may cooperate.
The town henutifur' OF necessity
means the home beautiful" and the
home beautiful means the retention of
the boys and girls on the farm. Rural
civics in its broadcast sense means
rural uplift. uplift along every lin"
which tends to make country life more
worth while. more attractive. more In
spring. Rural civics has no place IN
party politics. save that 1t will produce
In each party the best men that can
be put forward. The welfare of the
nation Is dependent on the welfare OF
the individual. and the individual alone
Is helpless and hopeless. Patriotism Of
the highest type Is the immediate and
best product Of the realization Of com
munal responsibility.
The lyccum in the sch"olhouse and
the public forum ut the town or conn-
ty seat will come To mean not only Il
more beautiful cC''ntry. hut II purging
Of politics which shall ultimately make
our government what we are wont to
claim that II Is and what ii should he
If II Is not--the ideal which Lincoln so
tcrSely set forth ns "A government ~
the people, 10y the people and fer tn"
people New England Homestead.