The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-11-04
THE IDLER.

4 + + . +
A copy of The Herald and News OF
November 2, 1909, has just come into
my hands and T find that just year
ago I was writing about The Idler's
park. I find that somebody signing
himself "Uncle Brigs" wrote me let
ter, which printed, in which he says:
"Of course, Wa are anxious to see
Newberry grow and grow beautiful.
She needs park, and, Mr.. Idler, you
should keep on till you get it." That
was a whole long year ago, and I have
kept on, but I haven't got it yet. I
believe, however, that I am nearer to
it than was year ago. Don't you
think so? Don't you think T have
been faithful? Let somebody say
something. I don't give a snap wheth-
er it agrees with me- or not. I want
somebody to come out in the open
and say something, even if it is
against The Idler's park. Stagnation
is death. We must stir up something.
By the way, that reminds me that
none of the candidates for mayor and
, aldermen have paid any attention to
my request for information as to their
attitude on the repeal Of the ordi-
nance removing the wagon yard from
in front of the old court house. What
say you, are you guilty or not guilty?
1t is vital question for the old town.
Do you want to go forward or back
ward?
And neither has the editor advised
me Of the whereabouts of the civic
association. If that association had
gone ahead and put up that coping
and made one pretty little park
there you are again, it's park, park
instead Of waiting for the street paw
ing, the question Of restoring the wood
wagons and watermelon wagons to
the square could not possibly be an
! issue.
I notice In the same paper to which
I referred quoted something from
statement as to how they keep a clean
city in the old country. Berlin is
one Of the cleanest cities of Europe;
which means that it is one of the
best governed" There you are and
it is good gospel, too. Again: "a
town is like a hotel, its cleanliness is
the test and proof Of its proper direc-
ton and government" Suppose you
look around you and see if Newberry
could meet the test. And again:
"Boys In squads Of two are employed
with men in sweeping and washing
the Berlin streets free from litter
and garbage" Newberry employs
one garbage cart pushed by a one
legged negro, who no doubt does the
best he can, but he usually sweeps
the dust up from the street into the
grocery stores and clothing stores
and the same settles on the fruit and
groceries and the people eat them
that is the fruit and groceries-of
course not the dirt and germs. 1t is
said that water is plentiful in Berlin.
I don't know whether they use it for
anything else besides washing streets
or not. I would like to see 1t tried
on our streets. And it seems to me
that boys in squads of two might be
employed. When I come to town,
sometimes see boys in squads Of four
standing on the corners with nothing
to do, or if they have anything to do
they are not doing it.
7 read an article the other day by
Bishop Candler-you know he IS a
fine writer and I bet Re is a fine
prea cher but he was writing in this
article on "Idlers both INDECENT and
oDulent" and he says # has been stat
| ed that one-tenth Of '"ankind with
the aid of improved m"""iHeTy, work
ing ten hours day. c~'''7 support in
comfort the other ni"n +enths. Now,
| T was thinking that if t'7i9 is true, and
I reckon it Is or he wo'''4n't have said