The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-01-21

The recomm endations he made for re-
building comnnu unity life in this Penn
sylvania town are equally applicable
in almost any farming district and
are presented in this article which
onits the personal references in his
specify
Exclusive Service THE SURVEY
Press Bureau.)
My subject is all in the word HERE:
would have you consider with me
to-day this place-not Washington OF
Binghamton but Hickory Grove and
a few miles around.
Let US at once come at the Main
Things.
First. this is one of the best places
on earth to spend life in. Second
this was, up to about 18so-'85, a
first class rural community. Third,
it is now a second class rural COM
munity. Is it desirable to go back
to first ranking. and how?
Main thing No. I've are alive
(nore or Iess) In one of the worlds
best places. here in the loop of tho
beautiful Susquehanna. The Fixer
of Things has given here air, pure
through all winds and seasons. Water,
for drink and power and pleasure, un-
excelled- Land, not the best. but good
enough to have attracted here the
best farmers of New England and Eu-
rope. Timber, second only to that of
the Pacific slope. Markets and ac-
feasibility with three great trunk lines
of railroad converging through our
gap in the ranges.
Despite these many advantages
things went wrong with our COM
munity during the past three decades.
1t will be profitable to know and name
the main heads of this wrong. 1t
may be stated at once that the main
trouble has been the deterioration and
partial loss of the communal Iife-the
cooperative life. Not failure in
farming or money-making, but degen-
Grafton of our Society in its broadesr
sense.
The past is ever acting part of us;
on it we of necessity rebuild. Come
back with me then a little time into
the story of our countryside. Care
full investigation reveals that four to
five houses were occupied where IS
now one. There were full churches,
schools of thirty to seventy, bees, de-
batting societies, picnics, singing
schools. parties, cuttings, military
drills. big hunts and hshes,x sho oting
matches, fife and drum corps, sugar
making-a-nd two goosefeather beds
for every bride, however poor.
Then came gradually the bad times.
Leaders gone, young folks leaving,
schools almost closed, various neigh
| DOrhOOd organizations closing one az
ter another, and the farmers wonder
ing and waiting-and scarce-a game
of dominos of quoits to be had. Wide
| spread economic causes can be laid
thereto. But not all like neighbor-
hoods sank so far. Records are of
munity action-saved a part of the old
good, and prepared for its grating
on the new.
Well. we are on the up grade again.
But there's a long way to go-years
long. But it is not yet assured that
this our community will rise to an
other class. A little betterment is Of
ten half failure. But it is time to
enter here upon something construc-
tive. Most of all, the communal life,
the cooperative life needs upbuild-
ing here. The magic success-word is
now ''get together
Rules of action help.
Rule Use existing organizations;
their mere survival proves many fit
nesses.
Rule II-Have a few organizations
and keep them large Small ones
are racked and wrecked by passing
circumstance, and by individuals: at
tanning a certain size, self-repair- and
renewal take place almost automat-
ically.
Rule III.-Use leaders. When a man
can do something well set him at it,
fair credit and honor.
Rule IV.-Face every proposition
with the question: ''Is this good for
the community, and the long pull; or
is it for an Individual, or a clique, or
a day?''
Let us inspect our machinery. Here
are Grange. School, Church and La
dies Aid Society with it's library il
Illustrating the ACCESSIBILITY of placing
lesser things under a few main heads).
Now add one other-an Athletic Or
ganization - and there are tools
enough.
We would fairly view our resources
social and material.
Ladies' Aid Society. The story of
it's achievement is known to you all.
One thing, follow the law; keep large.
Then dare more. Church, school,
standards, poIitics-these and more
are clearly in your field.
Grange-The same laws of organi-
cation will advance or punish you. Size
! alone gives power ana stability; work
for larger membership and the unit
ing of the small. Then attempt more.
For example, suppose the chestnut
blight necessitates wholesale cutting.
Appoint a committee to get with
goyernm emit assistance, markets, speci-
f1cations, prices, contracts, ETC., for the
duly estimated large cut; make mon
ey and time for each of you, and save
money and time of the buyers.
SchooI.-Better education in this
section you must have. The solu-
ton is the Central Graded School. I
know the Unusual obstacles her-no
logical center, isolated valleys and
poor roads but you cannot retreat IN
the education of your children.
Church.-The Church will go on
here doing its beneficient work; but
whether in its present places and
ways, or drawn to centralize by the
same quiet forces, will be determined
later.
PIay-More play is needed. The
greatest peoples have been the great
est players. No surer proof of de-
generation in a community than lack
of sports. Our community should