The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-11-23
IRRES POSSIBILITY IN
 THE SMALL TOWN

A Plea For More Enlightened Conn
 munity Consciousness-Grav Moral
 Evils Often Go Unchecked-A Work
 For Women's Clubs.
 (Exclusive Service The Survey Press
 Bureau.)
 In our big cities to-day we are de- veloping almost every conceiva ble phase of social, mental, moral and physical activity for the betterment or the people, particularly young peo- pie. We are building great public libraries, magnificently equipped public school buildings, Young Mems and Young Women's Christian Asso- ciation plants and the most. effective sort of social settlements. That is to say we are trying to occupy peo- ple's minds and lives with thoughts and activities along the line of good to such an extent that the prepon- derance will more than offset what is sometimes a stronger attraction along the line of evil.
 But what of the small town-the town or city of from 5000 to 10000 people-where men and women live as neighbors and where the enorfn ous power of great funds for the promo ton of these same social. mental and moral phases, is lacking? Is it not
 
 some sort of community conscious ness which will awaken the self-sat- isfed residents of some communities to the proper sense of their civic re- sponsibi1ity
 People who live in congested cit ies-as well as people who live .n villages-believe that the vice and evils of the world are found in the big cities. It is apparently lack of thought that is responsible for. the ig- norance and apathy concerning this vital subject.
 Those who were born and reared in at small town and have since gone to larger communities, always love to go back at graduation time. In the midst of a back home during com mencement festivities, the writer ask ed a friend what had become of lit- tie Jimmie Brown, an old playmate. My pleasant; dreams came to an abrupt end. Jimmie Brown was dead dead of syphilis. asked of anoth- CT friend--a physicians how preva- lent the disease vas He told me that he was treating five similar cas- es.
 The population of this town is just 5000. How many other young men and young women were similarly af- fficted there was no way of telling except by fntervfewing the other ten doctors. Even then the figures would not have been accurate for the shame Of having such loathsome maIady no doubt drove a number of victims to other towns for treatment
 Hearsay evidence indicted the nor als of the community. They had been much better in my tfme-almost a score of years ago.. Next inquired about some of my girl schoo11nates. A majority of them were married, sew eral teaching school, others had n1ov- ed away. Still others. alas, had been ruined at home and could now be found at addresses in Questionable neighhorh oodse in several, large cities. Boys and girls had always strol1ed about the streets until late at night during the summer months. There was no other amusement or entertain. ment for them except an occasional melodramatic or wild west show. One disorderly house was openly operated and is still. The proprietress is re ferred to by both men and women as Aunt Tom and her gfrls.''s
 I began to wonder what local forces were at work for the moral re- generation of. the community. In-t quiry showed that the yvornen's. club is the leading social factor. It has 11O members. 75 of whom are active. The club sessions have been so we'll attended that it has become necessary to engage a lodge hall for the meet ings. And these women were spend ing their club funds and energies in the work of improving the driveway and general appearance of the ceme- tery. They were trying to keep fresh and green the memory of the dead and meanwhile were endanger- ing the lives of their children. Such was their idea of civic bettermexit.
 
 the quick results of the work at the cemetery while it might not recog-l nize the infinitely greater service in the redemption of human bodies and souls. Even the work at the ceme- tery was not what it should have been, I was told, because the o1tgo- ing president had appointed commit tees which the incoming president claimed the privilege of nominating. S
 I am not attacking women's clubs. They are doing noble work where their energies are not misdirected, but what brilliant opportunities they do miss. in the smaller communftiest In my home town the most capable woman had just completed her term as president and the next in ability had succeeded her. Either might easily have led the club in a bat tie for some worthy object among living beings. Neither of them saw the large opportunity for moral campaign-yet the new president was the mother of the young physician who had opened my eyes.
 Perhaps the young men and wo- men are not entirely blameworthy. There was no Christian Association for either boys or girls. There are at least a score of men who might cas- fly build and equip a Young Mems or a. Young Wonen's Christian Assocfa- tfon plant or some institution equally profitable from social standp oint. Yet nothing of this sort has been done
 This small town had a public libra ry stocked with several thousand books, the gift of now famous na- tive son. who wished to do some real good 2114 fIaIa liIara is faraera ta tlaa