The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-08-20
A new DAY
FOR AMERICA
October Third Designated by Ma
tional Community Bettsrmelt
Association As Holiday.

This is a time for a new patriot
ism--a home patriotism--a time for
people to stop and think and every
nau and every woman interested in
the development of thei- cwn town
and community will be interested in
the aroLrt emclt sent ou' By the Ma
tional community Betterment Asso-
citation declaring Sunday, October
third. 1915, Community Day to be
observed throughout the nation.
We have holidays such as July
Fourth and Thanksgiving Day, which
are by common consent observed ma
tionally, and we have many semi
holidays observed locally, as Old Set
tiers Days, Homecoming Days, New
corners Days, etc. These all mean
much to us as a people, but none OF
these days, whether observed locally
or nationally. are of greater impor-
lance to people of all kinds and
classes than Community Betterment
Day. day for people to consider
things of patriotism nearest to them.
their own home business. churches,
schools and society.
The people of our town, communi-
ties and neighborhoods are not liv-
ing in such close relations 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 a certain eX-
tent. family ties, and now we are
finding II necessary to organize clubs.
associations and guilds of various
sorts TO bring our people together
again. National Community Better
ment Day really had is inception at
great community meeting in the
town of Valley City. North Dakota.
The people of Valley City and COM
munity have for a number of years
held a chautauqua assembly for two
weeks during each summer. Here
the people come from far and near
by train. automobile and carriage to
enjoy the intellectual feast consist
ing OF lectures, discussions, debates,
musical concerts, and other entertain
ment provided by the management.
This assembly was started largely
nd A a n
ment for the people throughout that
section of the state but II soon grew
to large proportions. A great audi
forum was built, boys and girls
camps have been established where
several hundred young men and wo-
men come each summer for instruc-
tions in real home economics, and so
the institution has become a real
community center.
At the last assembly. held early in
July, one of the noted lecturers to
appear on the programme was Ben
II. Vardaman, nationally known as
community expert, and associate ed
itor of the Merchants Trade Jour
nal of Des Moines, Iowa. This day
was characterized in the program as
Business Mems Day, and great
throng of people came from radius
of seventy five miles; delegations
came from surrounding towns. many
bringing brass bands, and Mr.. Varda'
man taking advantage of the splendid
shirt OF enthusiasm and good fellow
shin manifested by the people, bust
ness men, farmers. professional mer
at this great community meeting. pre-
proposed that a day should be sci
aside as National Betterment Day
and as a result OF the date of Octo
Der Third has been designated by
the National Community Bettermen
Association and will be observed
throughout the country.
October Third falls upon Sunday
and a Sunday has been chosen b.
the National Association as Com
munity Day" for purpose. Non'
should have greater interest in rea
community betterment and upiii
than the minister; and while he II
interested in the welfare OF the PEG
pie about him, the people are ais'
interested in the welfare OF tn
church. So in deciding uoon da'
for the first National Betterment pa!
tne Association decided upon sun
day, because upon that day the peo
pie of the community can ettogethe
with inconvenience to none.
On October Third thousands o
ministers throughout the countr'
will deliver messages at either thei
morning or evening services AM
some at both, with the specia
thought of centering the minds OF tn
people of the local community upo'