El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-10-23
ONE KIND OF COMMUNISM OF WHICH
THE WORLD NEED NOT BE AFRAID

-
IT WAS in reaction from the extreme ectariaHism OF an
/ ssrIgr dav that French philosopher wrote, Let Us
w stress On the beauties that bring men into accord not
On the dogmas that divide them
Is it not pregnant thought for Sunday. 50 long We
humans have laid stress the points Of difference ana
Rave refused to take advantage for the good Of the race
Of the many ways which mems minds ana ne-I. e-l
lives nav Be brought into harmony and cooperative action
From the dawn Of civilization when men first began 70
take care Of families and then to associate for protecon
IN tribes the primary idea has been TO lift the hand against
the neighbor to fight for self and against the non-se-
Only dIy have men coprehendsd from time to time that
the human can live his life without committing Inur-
der or without barring himself from intercourse with others
Common interest mutual interest this IS the strongest
ru for human associations, outside Of those grounded
IN love and friendship. II may be said that IN msA
uhusophc sense, altrusm Is the highest selshnes VI
that the most complete expression Of seshness Is altru
ism; for that which is good for al IS good Tor ea ana
that which is good for the is good for the individual
But comparatively few individuals nations ind them
selves able to carry this principle to logical extreme %
tie point Of willingness to give all in order to gain al
Governments have sometimes by mistaken poney pre-
NOTED the sparateness and differences among men 4noeea
the public land policy Of the United States for half cen
rv and Of some Of the states has done just that BY the
usstencs that settlers must live the land they take up
is has resulted in scattering isolated families al
the sparsey populated regions and has prevented OF al
least retarded the development Of rational system OF
rural community life.
uean where fnd the system universal Of farmers and
vinsyardsts hrdsen and foresers, living IN villages and
enjoying tie social benefits derived from community OF
ganizaton while they 90 ont 70 Their work day by day
and come back evening In most European countries one
rarely sees any habtations comparable to our farm
houses but the aspect Of the country is Of villages with
long stretches Of cultivated lands IN between
IN the san Luis valley Of Colorado the farmers have
lately undertaken an interesting experiment with view
10 improving the rural education 1achnes In certain
district there $50 school children living on widely
sparated farms The old way would have been to build
dozen little one OF two room shaeks Tor schools
with modern facilities and no accommodations 1or
teachers.
These farmers decided to build at central point in the
anTnn inns
and an auditorium gymnasium and shower baths, library
and electric LIGHTS and heating plant They built bunga-
low for the superintendent and residence for the IS
teachers Then they provided several autoons vans @
transport the children to and from school and paid the
men teachers extra to drive the vans.
It started as school But the institution became
community center Various associations Of farmers and
farmers wives parents and young folks found the audi
forum convenient place to meet New clubs were organ
lied nonssctarian church established and preachers
OF different denominations invited to come Sunday
after Sunday and fin the pulpit while provision was made
keep up the visiting and neighbory care throughout the
district during the week BY volunteers
Roads were improved in the district, telephones were
extended usiEhbors fer the first time began to take an
interest anohsT life and problems, and the entire
spirit Of the district has changed for the better
Isolated lonely the settlers life II the far west has not
been altogether attractive though there IS something
TO Be said for the sp Of Independents and self reliance
tat the American system Of pioneering has undoubtedly
fostered
CITY even city the sire Of b Paso is really only
AGGREGATION Of isolated families There little real old
time neghbory interest any more, in another among
families In spite Of living IN the same city block OF
in the same apartment house, the families isolated,
socially and spiritually.
Tbsre are various agencies through which community
interests are served There churches and clubs and
associations and the schools bring the children into contact
But there is much that might done to improve the
unitv interest in cities And Of the first and best
ways would be to develop neghborhood interests in
on-organize city by aeighborhoods, sections, streets
and blocks.
Eysry school house ought to be q community center,
every school ground community play ground Every
neighborhood ought to have its auditorium for meet
ings and entertainments its library and gymnasium
and swimming pool.
As people get 70 know another better they find out
that there really points Of Likeness than points Of
difference Let lay the beauties that bring
men into accord not the doEmas that divide them
Capt Alfred 7. Mahan Of the American navy, whose
mastery books power and world development have
been Translated into every language ard have been accepted