The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-01-27

OF THE CITIES
A Great Movement in Which There
Is Work for Every Citizen.

What is the secret of that wave of
city and town improvement effort
winch is so cOnspicuously sweeping
over the country? Civic Improvement
mas always been a need-not less
great at the beginning than now.
though only in recent years has il
led TO enegetic action Tod.v the
movement is cCntinent-wide. and has
enlisted all sorts and conditions of
people.
Has one business or industrial in
teres's? Civic Improvement facilitates
the transportation Of merchandise nv
street and rail and water: II lessons
wear and tear by the improvement
OF pavements; it broadens markets bv
the attraction Of residents. transient
and permanent; it increases the eff
cheney Of labor by the provision of
more wholesome environment and
the opportunities for healthful but
inexpensive recreation.
Hos one interest in sanitation? Pure
air, pure food pure water are among
It's objects; and better housing is one
OF us first desires. Public baths.
clean pavements, clean Yards are in
cluded in its propaganda. and if Is
one OF the staunchest allies in the
white plague" fight.
Has one love for little children4
The child is the special ward of the
civic Improvement effort For him
the playground is equipped for him
the school is made more heaIthfuI
ef1cient, beautiful. without and with
In; for him are the swimming holes
IN the parks, the skating ponds and
toboggan slides. the ball grounds. the
lnterplayground meets: and for the
little mother" are storytelling. and
singing; the swing, the flowers. and
Tor her charges the sand box. Civic
Improvement points out the sign OF
Keep of the grass"
Does one look back instead Of for
wardy The worthy landmarks of the
past are preserved, the historic sites
are marked, and the beauty of earlier
architecture is reyerenced.
Is ones interest in sociology? The
the park. the better hous-
ing make their appeal. The social
center. the recreation house, with it's
evening entertainments, the better
factory surroundings, the folk dance
the many and various activities which
are included in the growing social
service Of the parks, even the civic
club itself in its essential democracy.
all this is effort that will not be de-
MED
Is ones interest in art and culture?
Suppose 1t is music. There are the
Tree band concerts in the parks Or
'culptureT There are the public stat
les and fountains. Or painting? There
IRE the galleries, for which civic i'm
)roVement strives; the mural decora-
ions In the public buildings. the pie
ures In the schools. Or architecture4
mere are the monumental civic cen
ers, the noble bridges, the sncourage-
nent of good design generally, the
imposed to protect It. Or
8 the interest In landscape arty
there are the parks, the ornamental
squares and the open spaces, the i'm
'rovement Of grounds surrounding
public and private buildings, and the
reservation OF viewpoints and natu-
al beauty
Is one rich? To him appeal the
riVes, the increased splendor OF en-
lronment, the great avenues. Is one
'oor? For him are the public gar
ems, the vacant lot cultivation, and
III that beauty and comfort and pleas
re which is proffered to the citizens
S a common possession.
Does one love animals? The drink
~ fountains on the streets, the sheep
II park meadows, the birds and wa
1rfowL even the zoo and aviary make
i'm recruit.
Is one craftman? There are the
treet furnishings to interest him
anne signs, light standards, trolley
oles-all the fixtures Of the common
ay.
Does one, without pretending to art
et loving beauty and grace and At
ess' feel affection for the city and
'wn where men congregate. and de-
re to surround with pleasantness
he lives OF the people? He may enter
lie billboard fight. Join the anti-smoke
'agues, encourage the preventive
ork OF the juvenile streer cleaning
Join the tree planting
'cieties, and work TO secure municf-
ii control OF the street trees and