The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-01-09
~ ISAAC L. TOTEM.

For some time past there has been
a movement on foot to establish rest
room or comfort station in Richmond
for the farm folks.
From the various angles which the
writer has viewed this subject We can
not help believing that the idea is a
most commendable one. And we be-
lieve the movement should not be left
entirely to the fostering Of the people
of Richmond; it should be given the
unstinted support of all the farm
folks in this community.
Anything that will add to the COM
fort or pleasure of any one, farm
folks or city folks, is a move in the
right direction. Therefore, it is up to
US to get our shoulders to the wheel,
and do little pushing to make this
comfort station movement success.
Concerted action is what we want. not
isolated efforts, but cooperative eff
fOrts-the kind that means real impe
tus.
What can We do toward making this
rest station success and a reality in
stead of failure or merely an idea,
is the question that we ask ourselves.
We can encourage it's establishment
by writing to those who are at the
head of the movement. and telling
them why We will appreciate the main
tenance of such a place in Richmond
We can tell them of the advantages it
will be to us. and to our neighbors. We
can make it known through columns
of our local papers that We believe the
comfort station is a much needed es-
tablishment, and why we think SO. All
this encouragement will help to hast
a reality in this, our best market and
trade center.
The questions that we naturally ask
ourselves in regard to the value of the
rest room are:
Would the establishing of such a
place be appreciated. That is, would a
sufficient number take advantage of
the comfort station to pay for it's main
tenance?
Is there not a sufficient number of
places now in Richmond where we
farm folks can while away the time
which we are often compelled to spend
there, owing to one cause or another?
II there are places of this kind, do
we feel at ease and as comfortable in
these places as we would in places es-
pecially set aside for our particular
use?
Would the establishing of the rest
NJ 80
the farm folks? If it would, who and
why?
All of US. of course, will not answer
these questions alike; some, no doubt,
will agree with our views while others
will not. In answering these questions
We give only our own views. not the
views of our neighbors or Of any one
a barometer of the entire agricultural
population of this community
We believe that all questions per-
tanning to the welfare of. every one
should be discussed generally instead
of being restricted to the family cir
Gle. Therefore, if anything that we
think is worth discussing comes to our
mind We pass it along for what it is
worth.
Would the establishing of the COM
fort station be appreciated? That is
the first question we have asked our
selves. and We have tumbled the ques-
ton over in our mind trying to think
of some other city where a comfort
station has been established so that
we can cite a precedent and get an
idea as to how places of the kind are
patronized: but this we are unable to
do However, there is a rest room in
at the present time which is we'll pat
ronized. and If this may be taken as a
criterion, we can readily say that the
comfort station would be very much
appreciated.
In this rest room we find a table on
which Is placed stationary and pens
and ink for the use of those who fire.
quent the room. We also find rocking
chairs and a couch where the tired
shoppers can recline If SO disposed. 1t
is not necessary to mention why a
place of this kind is appreciated by
the shopper. because every one can
readily see its advantages, both to the
customer and the merchant. Courteous
treatment is oftentimes greater
trade puller than low price induce
ments.
In what way does this rest room
argue for the maintenance of a public
comfort station?
The answer to this is practically the
answer to the question: Do we feel at
ease and as comfortable in the places
now at our disposal in Richmond as
We would in a place specially main
tanned for our use.
Please remember that we are ans
wering these as We see them. not as
We think others would answer them.
Whenever we go into a store to idle
away spare time, we always feel that
We are expected to purchase some
thing, no matter whether the proprie-
tor or the clerks think that way or
not. In fact, We fell very much ill
st ease; because we know that, al
th>ugh the proprietor expects his
clerks to be courteous. he does not
want them to be wasting time merely
to converse with US about the weather
ct cetra.
We imagine that most women feel
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