The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-02-25

women are being added to the at
fractions in many mill villages.
i Possibly the greatest amusement
and enjoyment in a mill village is
the national game. Baseball IS prac-
tically universal among these vii
lagos. Some Of our cities can learn
lessons Of enthusiasm, and how to
stand by their teams, by watching
these mill teams; for I have never
seen mill yet that didn't have the
best baseball nine. If they won they
did it through skill-that's all; and
! if they lost it was the umpire's fault.
Another enthusiastic organization
encouraged by the mill management
is the brass band. Under the. able
direction Of skilled musicians We
have developed some Of the best
brass bands in the South. have in
mind now a mill band Of Newberry
which had the distinguished honor
of being engaged by another State to
play for the entertainment Of the
president of>the United States.
Many Of cur mill villages have
beautiful parks set in flowers and
shrubbery. I shall make no attempt
to describe these parks as the very
word indicates that the mill officials
try to bring the beauty in nature TO-
gether to help develop higher ideals
by an appeal to the aesthetic nature.
OF course these parks differ in size
and beauty; but many Of them viii
do credit to our cities. Here may
also be found animals and curlosi-
ties that furnish not merely amuse-
ment; but lessons in natural history
as well. Rustic seats, summer houses
and kating Kinks make these grounds
attractive.
I have tried to show that the aes-
thetic nature is appealed to and de-
fveloped by the improved architectu-
raj plans Of the mill homes, by musi-
cal organizations, by the well laid off
streets, planted In shade trees, by
parks with their flowers and shrub
berry and walks with rustic seats and
summer homes. The mill operative is
taught in many ways to love the
beautiful, the neat and the clean. If
further proof is needed it will only
be necessary for the skeptieal to visit
department store of au' up-to-date
cotton mill and examine the class of
goods kept. Next the spiritual. side
is qdickened by church facilities and
resident pastors. The moral is akin
!, to the spiritual and is developed by
the former. But the mill manage
ment deserves special praise for the
premium they have always put upon
morality among the operatives. No
woman with questionable character
is allowed to stay on the mill hill,
much less to secure employment in
the mill. The social nature is pos
sibly more highly developed among
mill people. than among any other
class. It is brought about by their
frequent associations in the mil
itself, by their social clubs, fraternal
orders, music organizations ,and
sports of different kinds. The phys
ical man and woman are developed
by the very nature of their work
under sanitary conditions by i'm
proved methods Of living, by swim
ming pools and healthy outdoor
sports.
The mill family under these favor
able conditions and influences is a
| family Of the old type that this ma
tion used to be so proud Of before the
dollar took the place Of a man. You
will find sterling qualities of head
and heart in, the cotton mill family.
This family, living under improved
sanitary conditions and surrounded
by wholesome and elevating inhu-
ences, possesses marvellous degree
Of nerve vitality and stored-up ener-
gy. I speak Of this because while !
believe that the South is a glorious
section Of this country, and that cot
ton manufacturing is the important
industry Of the South, I at the same
time believe that the development
and wise direction Of this tremen-
dous energy in the cotton mill popula-
ton is Of the supremest Importance
This will prove, first, a blessing to
them; second, to us, and, third, to
the South.
I shall be untrue to my sentiments
and to what I believe is justly due
her if I do not pause here to say a