Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-09-30


F, citizens might have the advantage of
| its stored wisdom and entertainment
With what little encouragement they
have labored can be guaged by public
interest as shown by the report sub
mitted last Wednesday 10 the citizens
at the community luncheon. Deming
needs more books, but most OF all IL
needs more readers-.hen the books
will come and they will be the right
kind OF books. There will then be
fewer readers OF cheap fiction and
fewer persons misled by the popular
but false philosophers and esoteric
teaching prepared for minds that go
deeply into nothing that calls for labor
and contemplation. In other words,
people will be able TO stand ON their
own mental feet and will cease to ask
that their opinions be predigested for
them.
Practically the same Is true OF music
and of painting. Tie women who have.
In times past tried TO populerize an art
exhibit or promote an opera know
what terrific competition a Mutt and
Jeff show can prove. IL has become
popular to slight the classics and 10
stigmatize them as something Tor
hlgh-brows and beyond the ken OF
every day people 10 understand and
enjoy What we need Is education to
enable us TO discern what Is perfection
and what Is beauty. But this takes
pains and labor, and most Of us are
unwilling to make the sacrifice. Not
that we should be given over to mental
gymnastics, but that along with the
lighter forms OF amusement some OF
our leisure should go 10 the creation
of opportunity for study and reflec-
ton.
Nor must the physical side OF living
be restricted through a lack of appre-
citation OF well being through health
full recreation and physical education.
So many persons seem to think that
they enjoy health when they are able
to walk and take nourishment. IL Is
true that locomotion is very useful
attribute of physical well being. but SO
few know the happiness OF perfect
health-the pure JOY OF living. We, us
a nation, or as individuals, cannot
hope 10 achieve the glorious destiny
presented to us unless our legs are
sturdy enough to carry us along the
stony and devious way TO Its realiza,
ton. Physical education, like mental
education, begins before birth, for
only healthy parents may fully equip
children for the battle that begins at
birth. Blu. that IL not enough; given
fairly robust physique, the average
child can, during the plastic years,
be moulded nearer to hearts desire.
Only those familiar with the startling
results of systematic gymnasium train
ing, realize the Importance of physical
education from the cradle TO. one
might almost say, the grave.
Those citizens gifted with vision
and with practical ideas for social bet
terment see in community service now
being introduced, the one great factor
for making Deming all that Its situa-
ton and circumstances will allow II
to be- 1t is rot opposition to the pro.
gram OF community service, that will
deny to us and our children the bene-
fits Of its Inauguration, but rather the
freezing apathy OF a people immersed
In the comparatively little affairs OF
money-getting activities TO the exclu-
sion of all else. The attitude at the
present time IL negative. A positive
latitude. backed up by enthusiasm and
work will bring the contamination Of
that which IL considered to he desira-
bile. II calls for unity OF action and the
application OF the common Judgment
and efforts on the part Of the commu-
nifty to achieve the ideals OF community
service.
In some ways Demlng has fallen he
hind the progression Of New Mexico
cities. We have lost most Of the initial
enthusiasm which. only few years
! ago. placed Deming n full lap ahead
of the other communities Of the state.
Some seem TO think II IL a matter OF
money or business prosperity. But such
Is no the case. Deming was never
more prosperous and never had more
cerainty of steady growth. The VIII
to work out oar problems Is lacking
sickening apathy that threatens the
whole structure with dry rot. Can we
again catch the visiong II would seem
that already many have II and the
hope is expressed that all win shortly
grow into IL. II Deming quits now,
when all its latent strength Is needed
10 make good deficiencies, II will do
many long year Of hard penance and
may never recover fully the vigor
OF verile pOtenoe. For the love- Of
Mike let's cheerfully undertake the
task that has been set for US to do and
which we know must he accomplished,
II progress Is to be continued.
crN,rt r,xgrN m CONcRESS