The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-08

ton association Of America Among
its officers are yuch leaders as Theo-
dore Roosevelt, Jr., Cardinal Gibbons.
John Hays Hammond, Mrs. Edward
w. Biddle, Everett Colby. Mrs. =. IA.
Hartman, Otto T. Mallery and Rich
ard c. Cabot
With a capital Of $4,000 900, priv.
Ately subscribed by the folks who be-
lieve the best dividends are better cit
Teens and happier homes. this organ
ixation will undertake to give 400 COM
munities a start In svis-betterment.
It's atm will be, not to impose a
ready-nade program from without.
but to develop the resources, latent
m the people themselves and make
them efhcfents directors of their own
affairs In this connection we COM
mend to all thoughtful persons the
following excerpt form an address
lately delivered at the national con-
ference for social work by Joseph
Lee;
The great evil OF our Industrial
civilization Is defeated instinct. The
restoring of expressive life is the one
great problem OF the day. 1t Is balk-
ed expression. not physical need that
IL at the root OF all the social disturb
ance Of the present time, and such
disturbance Is the most hopeful symp-
ut Is here that the function of the
the community comes In. 1t Is its
business to find the way OF the lost
talents. the path we might have fol-
lowed but refused. the expression that
the tyranny of the machine has thus
far denied us Full expression It can
not provide. There Is no complete So
luton OF the tragedy. but some al
deviation may he reached.
1T is the business of the tommu
nifty. through the school, TO educate
children not merely to become the
complement OF the fool-pruot ma
chine. but to be capable OF leading
In some respects a human life. 70
teach them the humanities-tne meth
DDS of expression and appreciation.
in songs, art and literature. in drama
and in games, of the sporting and
creative instincts.
1T is the business Of the commit
nifty to find way for these talents
in grown-up life, to open 40 and
guord the avenues of expression, to
clear a space for the expanding pow
ers. 1t must provide the theaters.
schools, libraries, play grounds art
museums. social centers and other
appliances that the spirit needs
The community must also find the
training and the occasions for the
worthy expression of it's own person
alty and life. For Of all lost talents,
that of belonging. of being a true
member of the community. Is the
greatest and for many in our largest
cities the least expressed
ITO be a true neighhor. citizen.
patriotic take on the state so
that what 1t does you do: to have the
state within you so that all that
Is to recover the tap root of existence.
to lay hold of the most vital of all
the strands of life
Very fine, you say, but how achieve
this true neighbor. citizen, patriot?
Is il a practical aim?
Pennsylvania supplies the answer
1t comes from Chester and Bethle-
hem, in which places this idea of
community service is being carried
out with notable success
In Chester its success has attract
ed the eyes of the nation. Their
Community Service" was started last
November with Governors elect Sproul
as chairman, and covering com
mittee, composed of five Representa-
tives of labor, four foremen. ten bus
mess men. the superintendent Of
schools and the mayor
Community singing was the first
means adopted to get the people of
Chester together-and 1t proved so
valuable that the music budget fo
this year exceeds 5000 Then fol