La Junta tribune., 1916-12-09
NELS DARLING IN La JUNTA
Third Number OF Lecture Course
1.-THE Village Store Keeper
At Methodist Church

A fair sized audience listened to
the lecture by Mr.. Nels Darling, the
'town-doctor" on last Saturday ev-
ening, but not all the seats in the
NJ. 4. church were occupied, which
fact was probably responsible for
the speakers remark that it was
quite usual for people to think that
they did not like lectures-doubt-
lessly because they had no place to
put lecture. Whereupon all those
present felt very much pleased with
themselves.
Mr.. Darling had made brief
Survey" of La Junta Saturday af-
ternoon, and before beginning his
subject. THE Village Store Keeper"
he made few observations and sug-
gestions pertaining to the welfare of
our community. II is quite natural
for us who live in La Junta. to be-
come accustomed to its deficiencies.
but the visitor, especially when he
comes from the east or California,
notices that our streets are dirty and
that our back yards do not always
invite inspection.
Few American cities have attained
the standard of civic hygiene and
sanitation, which German efficiency
has set for the world. but Palo Alto,
California, is making rapid strides
in that direction. The health officer
there is not practicing physician,
but holds the degree OF Public
Guardian of Health" and his duties
include a regular systematic inspec-
tion of all sources OF food supply.
dairies, bakeries. etc. The results OF
his work have been gratifying: In
four years the mortality of infants
under two years of age has been re-
duced from i0i to - per year. Dur
ing the same period the death rate
of adults has fallen from ia per
cent to SO per cent.
The Palo Alto plan also includes
compulsory medical examination
in schools. and the increasing ability
of the children treated and exam
ined is rapidly convincing the per
sonal liberty" champions that the
retention OF adenoids. Diseased ton
sils. etc. is not necessarily a part
OF our rights as American citizens.
The Boys Club was highly com
mended by the speaker. especially
the fact that Its use Is not restricted
TO the boys only. and that physical
instruction Is included in the school
curriculum. Mr.. Darling suggested
that a free motion picture exhibition
given once week for all children
under eighteen years OF age would
be valuable addition to the actiy-
tiles OF the club. These pictures.
which should first pass the censor
ship OF committee OF mothers,
would serve double purpose: first
TeWONt lH' 'Hlui'H i''h '"' Wv
often harmful influence OF the com
mercial motion picture theatre;
second. cultivate taste for a better
class OF pictures. For the only way
to raise the standard OF the NOV
les" IL TO raise the standard OF the
audience
That the spiritual educational.
social and economic In the commun-
NJ are closely interconnected II well
illustrated by the fact that nation
wide prohibition Is already being
hailed as n political issue In four
years-because prohibition will best
serve the economic interests OF the
nation. Civilization represents
constant series OF adjustments to M
these economic needs. and the eco
nomic. Industrial and social read
justments are greatest In the city
There. n mans position is deter
mined "by wha, he has" while IN
country towns We are still interest
ed In what he Is"
with the Introduction OF maohin-
cry the country population has been
continually migrating TO the city,
and as result OF inventions ana
increasing large scale production
the nation IN confronted with grave
problems OF redistribution Mt pres
ent sixty per cent OF the wealth OF
our country IL controlled by two per
cent Of the population and one third
OF the population lives In thirty
seven cities. The close OF the
European war will also leave great
problem Of unemployment In these
crowded cities-"hard times" VIII
probably follow--for which the
Democrats will be blamed. and quite
fairly. since they Willingly accept