The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
For Good of the
 Community

A N old Latin saying runs: "Dulce ct N decorum est pro patria mori." The meaning is: Tt is glorious to die for ones country"
 If it is glorious to die for sake of coun- try, it certainly should be glorious to live for it, to so live that it is better off by each life that is spent under the aegis of it's pro- lection and support.
 What is all around one is difficult to see. The view of Birmingham is best from the mountain top removed from the cluster of smokestacks, spires and shafts of skyscrapers. Yankee Doodle was per- fectly honest when he said he "could not see the town for so many houses.
 The smallest child realizes that dad" and mother are not perfect. Nurses often hear little ones venture criticism that does not come to ears of parents yet these same little ones give lavishly of love for the most part and father and mother come avery near being their all. N Does Birmingham give nothing to its own? Let's sec
 blaze on roof threatens home. In the tWinkling of an eye the fire IS Quenched by the servants of the city.
 Is home threatened by violence? A telephone call brings constabulary to pre- vent tragedy.
 Water is brought from distance and distributed in every building.
 Paved streets enable smooth traffic from place to place.
 Lights show the way at nights and pro- tect life and property.
 There is a welfare department that cares for those that are in need and let their needs be known.
 There are parks where one may enjoy the open and build up the tired nerve sys- tenn.
 There are schools where the poorest may send their children and have them educated free of charge.
 There is the arm of the community law stretched out for every one. It IS free to all. It hovers over all in hundreds of ways not realized. The sense of the law in the breast of him who would despoil others is there with grip that holds him back.
 There are churches to worship in. Men support these churches, but the doors are open free to every one who wishes to go within and commune with his Creator.
 There are places of amusement on all sides They are of every variety and many within reach of the smallest wallet.
 There are lodge rooms for every kind of fraternal connection.
 There are smooth pavements to walk upon.
 There are beautiful cemeteries in which to place ones dead.
 There are stores bringing all the goods of the earth to ones elbow.
 Can people expect all this for noth- ing? Are the safety, the security, the comforts and the pleasures provided by city worth nothing? Because all of them are not perfectly rounded off and sym metrical shall a. man go up and down the streets abusing the place in which he lives?
 Because the administrators of the pub lie veal are not perfect in their work or judgment, shall the citizen deny them credit for what they are doing and trying to do with what they have at their dis posal? Shall citizens who fail to take in- terest in their city before elections blame the community for it's choice of execu- tives?
 The milk, the meat and the green foods that come to the table are protected by the city. The city experts maintain jealous watchfulness over the health of the people and the sanitation of their surroundings