South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-22
CHANGED CONDITIONS
NOTED THIS CENTURY
Dr.. ViCkery Before Joint Meet
ing of PatrOnS-TeaCherS'
Club and Gives Department
in MiShaWaka.

The change from rural life TO ur-
ban life. is one OF the striking phe-
nomenons Of the past century said
DR. Charles r. Vickery in his address
on Social and Political Consequences
Of City Growth before the joint
meeting OF the Mishawaka Patron
Teachers club and the ciyics depart
ment OF the Alishawaka YyOman's club
Thursday afternoon at the Battell
schsOL "One hundred years ago only
four per cent of our people lived in
cities, today over so per cent is ur-
ban. This change from country life
with mparatiVely simple problems
and relations 10 the complex interde-
pendcnce Of city life. with the new
duties, obligations. and perplexing
problems is revolutionary. We are
just beginning 20 fully realize some
OF the consequences OF this great
transformation; il is imperative that
we give careful thought to these prob
lens, for upon their solution, depends
TO very large degree, our future
welfare.
1T is self ardent fact. that the
mere concentration of population,
means a degree of intimacy, and inter
dependence that cannot exist in cOun-|
try life, As the population increases.
the points Cf contact between individ-
ual activity and social welfare in
crease. Their being in rural districts
or small communities, may live, to a
large extent, their own lives, their
points OF contact with the general So
Cial welfare are relatively few. Not
so in the city, for here your every
choice in life, your every action. has
its effect upon those who so closely
surround you, the mere fact of living
in "A city entails a social responsibility.
undreamed OF in rural life. Thus the
care OF a back yard in the city be-
comes a moral question. failure TO care
for the same may endanger the entire
community. In the same way the un-
sanitary dwelling is a social danger.
A failure 10 establish high standards
OF sanitation means reduced vitality,
followed by diminished industrial eff
cheney, sickness and death. Because
these things are SO far reaching in
their effect, as the consequences Of
city growth, the city finds itself com
PEELED to take. cOghizauce Of these
and similar problems. The man who
builds an unsightly home. who erects
hambOyant billbOards, is guilty of af-
fronting the sense OF beauty. and de
bases the athletic sense of his fellow
citizen. In brief In the city No man
liveth 10 himself alone
"The increasing density of popula-
tion involves the gradual development
OF an artificial environment to replace
natural physical conditions. and for
this environment as a whole the COM
munity is responsible The favored
few may I'm measure provide their
own environment. but the majority of
city dwellers from lack of means are
unable 20 do this. and for this great
majority the question Of an elevating
or degl ding environment is decided
by the community at large, by what IL
provides o. fails TO provides IL is for
the community as whole To decide
whether the environment shall be one
made up Of dirty streets. unartistic
homes. saloons, low dance halls. or
whether IL shall consist of beautiful
streets artistic homes q municipal
center. parks. Fairgrounds school and
all that might make the communal
life. richer and happier II is 10 be
remember that il has been proven
time and again. that an Improvement
in environment produces a CORE
spending change in the citizens.
cit Is the decadence of the home
that we see the most striking Consc-
Quences OF city growth. The very
density OF population makes il impOs-
sible for every family 10 have q front
yard or a back yard land is too Valu-
able. rents are to high To permit this
luxury. IL is the same necessity which
cOmpels the family TO live in six
yes even one room. There can be no
real home life under such conditions.
no quiet, no seCluSion. tt becomes not
"a home. but merely place. where
people eat and sleep. the vital part of
their lives. are lived outside of this
so-Called home For the home, we
have ever more and more the hotel.
the apartment fiat tenement and
boarding house, Tt is impossible 20 go
back, 10 the simplicity OF the old time.
its loss IS a great loss. but nevertheless
&c Is lost. We must look forward 10
tho city. IL 10 large extent must sup
ply what we have lost. If recreation
and instruction must DE sought outside
the home, and they must and viii be
FOR where else can they be found
Then IL becomes the duty OF the
community TO provide these means IN
the most generous manner possible.
Following Or. Nlckerys address a
business session of the Patron-Teach-
ers' club was held. Arrangements
were made for penny social 10 be
given in two weeks from Friday. A
committee was appointed 10 make ar
raugements for a special program and
entertainment for that nignt.
Application for your 1918 automo-
bile license can bc made az the Mish-
awake Trust * savings Co. Advt.
Or. b. NJ. Hutchinson. eye. ear nose.
throat glasses. Engeldrum Bldg.
Advt
TO ATTEND INTERURBAN MEET.
4 special car will leave the Moose
club rooms Saturday evening at
o'clock for Goshen. where local meme
bers viii attend an Interurb2n meet
ing q fine banquet viii be scrved.
II II CRITICAL CONDITION.
The condition of Michael g.. Shea.
219 y Studebaker ST., was very crit
zeal Friday.
EsICuElMhKk- CIhcclEIC0