The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-08-26
TO DEVELOP THE HOME TOWN
Many Lines of Work to Be Emphasized
in Celebration of Day Throughout the
United States Ministers to Aid in
Big Work.

"a home patriotism-a time for peo-
pie to stop and think, and every man
and every woman interested in the
development of their own town and
community will be interested in the
announcement sent out by the Nation
al Community Betterment Association
declaring Sunday, October 3rd, 1915,
Community Day to be observed
throughout the nation.
We have holidays such as July 4th,
and Thanksgiving Day, which are by
common consent observed nationally,
and we have many semi-holidays OBJ
served locally, as Old Settlers Days,
HomeC Coming Days, Newcomers Days,
etc. These all mean much to us as
people, but mons Of these days,
whether observed locally or national
ly, are of greater Importance to peo-
pie of all kinds and classes than Com
munity Retirement Day, day for
people to consider things Of patriotism
nearest to them, their own home bust
ness, churches, schools and society.
The people of our towns, communi
ties and neighborhoods are not living
In such close relationship as in days
gone by. The tendency of late years
has been for people to move about
more, which has broken up the old
neighborhood and, to certain extent,
family ties, and now we are finding it
necessary to organize clubs, associa-
tions and guilds of various sorts to
bring our people together again Ma
tional Community Betterment Day
really has its inception at a great com
munity meeting in the town of Valley
City, North Dakota. The people of
Valley City and community have for
number of years held big Chautau
qua assembly for two weeks during
each summer Here the people come
from far and near by trains, automobile
and carriage to enjoy the intellectual
feast consisting of lectures, discus
other entertainment provided by the
management.
This assembly was started largely
/ TO provide amusement and entertain
ment for the people throughout that
section of the state, but it soon grew
to large proportions A great audi
forum was built, boys and girls
camps have been established where
several hundred young men and young
women come each summer for in
Estruction in real home economies. and
SO the institution has become a real
tCommunity center.
At the last assembly, held early in
IJuly, one of the noted lecturers to
appear on the program was Ben R.
Vardaman, nationally known as
community expert, and associate edi
tor of the Merchants Trade Journal Of
DesMoines, Iowa. This day was char
acterized in the program as Cuisines
Mem Day." and great throng of
people came from radius of seventy
five miles; delegations came from sur
rounding towns, many bringing brass
bands, and Mr.. Vardaman taking adj
vantage of the splendid spirit of en-
tausiasm and good fellowship mani
Tested by the people, business men
farmers, professional men and others
as they mingled together at this great
community meeting, proposed that
day should be set aside as "National
! Community Day. and as result the
date of October 3rd, has been desig
mated by the National Community Bet
terment Association, and will be oh,
served throughout the country
October 9rd, falls on Sunday. and a
Sunday has been chosen by the Ma
tional Association as Community
Day 'a@for purpose, None should
have a greater interest In real com
munity betterment and uphft than the
ministers and while he is interested in
the welfare of the people about him,
the people are also interested in the
welfare of the church So in deciding
upon a day for the first National Com
munity Betterment Day, the Associa-
tion decided upon Sunday, because
upon that day the people of the com
immunity can get together with incon-
kvenience to none
On October 3rd thousands Of minis
tiers throughout the country will de
Liver messages at either their morning
Tor evening services, and some at both.
with the special thought Of centering
the minds Of the people of the local
community upon the better things Of
life in that community Throughout
our country the smaller cities and
towns and rural communities are los
ing young men and young women, who
are drifting to the large centers or
rather they are being drawn to the
large centers by conditions and one
needs but glance at these conditions to
understand that the tendency for our
| people and wealth and power to center
| IN fhn 1ornn oitioc ic MT oon5,-os-.