The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1910-05-06
f EVER, NOW NE InaE

EVER. NOW IS NE TAE
In a way, Greenwood is like unto
the motley throng Of young thriving
cities, in that she has her needs,
and is handicapped by same to the
extent of detriment to its progress
iveness and further development.
We have hung our heads in
shame for the past few years when
approached with the inquiry as to
why such a modern little city was
without an uptodate playhouse. Our
answers were suffers and stammers
and came not from reason. Tho
social element has sadly felt the
need of classical and other theatrical
productions, and hundreds of dollars
have meandered into other cities to
appease their appetites for enlight-
ment of this nature.
Now staring us in the face, amid
our present wide stride of steady
growth and prosperity, is the one
grand logical means of securing not
only a handsome Elks Home for our
city, which ediice will be an orna-
ment to the best town on earth, but
a real, alive opera house building
which will approximate a %judicious
expenditure of $4,000, and relieve
us of our sorest need. Whether or
not we will avail ourselves of this
grand opportunity, remains yet to
be seen. But we cannot but admire
the project, with its logical features
and businesslike procedure. We
can't see how there can be a chance
to lose out this time. We believe
the cards r stacked, and that the
progressive members of the Benevo-
lent and Protective Order of Elks
have come forward to relieve US of a
want and assert their influence over
the future of the city which owns
them.
Several years ago it was suggested
that the citizens cooperate with the
Elks in the erection of a building
something similar to the proposition
now before the public. At that
time, for reasons harbored by those
of a more critical disposition, the
idea seemed repulsive. Since that
time, the behavior and proper con-
duct that has reflected so much
credit upon this excellent fraternal
order has brought it into prominence
and has gained for it the distinction
it deserves. Especially nov is its
directorate of officers penal in the
strict construction and enforcement
of the bylaws of this order, and
from no source comes a complaint
of any nature.
Since this harmony has been
realized, since we are in such sore
need of an uptodate play house and
since these excellent gentlemen
have expressed their willingness to
more than do their part in relieving
this want, now is the time, if ever,
to get together and do the good
work. If this opportunity is not
appreciated and taken advantage of,
We will promptly bog back in the
mire in which we have lurked 10
these past few years. If we want to
evidence that Greenway-way of do
ing things, and, besides accomplish
ing all the good that can come from
this venture, give our city the dis
tinction of having the handsomest
and most uptodate opera house and
Elks aome in the South, now is the
time to act. It should be for the
approaching season and not for the
next. If proper activity is shown
on your part, the project is a surety
and the construction will be started
so as to have everything in readi-
ness for the approaching theatrical
season.
Let us urge that this is a necessi-
ty. Greenwood is no significant
little village with a paltry thousand
nodding citizens contented with
basking in the shades of inertia.
Every month widens our stride
toward the grand realization of the
great zenith Of development that
awaits US in the near future. We
are a wide-awake berg with ten
thousand souls inspired with the