The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-21
CAMDEN srors On oln,x s,,,ni,I,rs,

= nstAitDNN SPOTS ON CITY S'rH1IfrI'
] 1T - not often tllnt we learn Il lesst
i In Virginia from those unfortunnt,
9 WHO are compelled by circumstance
8 live in Chicago. In fact, we do III
!, often want to learn iarything fro,
, them, becauseathere Is little to lcari
They are always in n hurry THE
never have time to stop and say
passing good word to a friend. lT'he
are too fond OF selling pork to othe
people and eating beef themselves q
course. there arc some good mel
among them, hut SO far as the mos
I OF thelnrare concerned, we are perfect
4 ly willing. here in Virginia, to let then
stay welded to the idols on the shore.
OF the lake.
Sometimes, however, the Chicago
people or some people In Chicago
have good idea. Sometimes the,
have an idea SO good that we car
afford to copy 1t. They have sucl
an idea now, and 1t should be
transplanted in Richmond. They
found, a few years ago, in the Hog
Town. that they had lot OF poor peo-
pie, and they found about the same
time that they had n lot OF vacant
land close to the city. The people
had to be cared for. Nobody cared for
the land. Then some bright man had
the idea that the city could care for
its poor by having the poor care for
the land.
The idea spread. It was taken up all
over the town by good people. In
few weeks plans had been devised to
turn over the idle acres around the town
to Industrious families who needed
support. In the course of two seasons
the city found that several things had
happened. III the first place there
We're no vacant lots. covered with tin
cans and dumps. Every lot was under
cultivation, and every lot was converted
into q fine little garden, Then. too. it
was noticed that many poor families
which had been public charges were in
comfortable circumstances. Many of
them were making supplies enough to
last them the whole winter. others
raised on their little strips OF land
enough truck to sell and give them a
fine surplus for the winters coal. It.
was noticed finally. that the health
of every man, woman and child who
had a hand in making the city gardens
was greatly improved. In fact. It has
been stated by those who ought to
know, that the making of gardens In 4
the city has done as much towards
making a better. healthier, happier
Chicago as anything that mas hap
pencd in many years. It works botter
than any municipal charity and does
more than any private philanthropy.
This plan could easily be copied In
Richmond. We have many fine fields
around the city, and many vacant lots
within the city. easily reached by a
short walk. These lands are of no use
to any one, but are blots upon the
fair map of the town. The men who
own these lots. in nine cases out os
ten, should be glad to see them turned
over to the poor OF the city who wish
to cultivate them. All that they need
to offer the land and all that the poor
of the city need to till the land is
some one person or some municipal
body to start the work, We commend
it to the charities of the city. we
commend 1t to the Civic Improvement
League. We commend 1t to anybody
and everybody who wants to see a
healthier, Weather Richmond.
-FOUR WIVES AND THEIR STORY.
Nat Goodwin does not care a conti-
mental what people think, do Or say.
He Is self complacent. self-confident and
self-satisfied. He has his weaknesses
and he knows It. He has had his mar
riases and does not hesitate to con-
TESS it.. lie has had his divorces and
makes no bones Of 1t. He takes the
public into his confidence on this
point, as on many others. and tells
the people all about it. He has written
a book. in. fact, Just to give to all the
story Of his marriages, his divorces
and the why's and the whereforcs OF |
them.
We have not read the book and do
not propose to, inasmuch as we are
not In tho slightest concerned about
why he did such things. We are
amused. however. at the story, as re-
ported in the papers. and particularly
at this little digest of his marital ex-
perlences. which Nat gives as a preface
to his detailed experience:
Eliza Weathersby married mo for
love-
Mrs. Eella Baker Pease to get out
OF the vortex Of society into the ar
tistic life of Bohem ia.
Maxine Elliot was prompted by
Edna Goodrlch-well, because I
didn't bore her."
My first wife was an angel.
my second a silly fool.
My third q Roman senator.'
my fourth makes mo superlatlvely
happy
Barring the last OF the quartette,
whose particular faults or virtues
lfr -