The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-01-13
LIONS AND FRIENDS
HEAR SPLENDID TALK
ON THE "C|Ty WORTH
WHILE" BY DR. DAVIDSON

A large group of Lions with a few
guests listened to one Of DR.. K. l..
Davidsons characteristic addresses OF
good cheer and inspiration today noon
at the weekly session of the club at
the Chamber OF Commerce
AS announced BY LION President. ..
G. Lasher this is the first of a series
OF talks TO be given at every weeks
meeting, by the ministers of the
city, followed by prominent business
men. Next week DR.. c. c. Wei.h, pas
tor of First Presbyterian church, will
talk His subject is Plus" and those
who are familiar with DR.. Weith's
direct speaking are anticipating an
other splendid address
In addition 10 DR. Davidson the
guests today were Miss Mildred Nor
ris OF Washington ID. c.. George c.
Oliver OF New York City, c. w. Herd,
Cassius Byrne, Frank A. Merrill, Paul
j. Foster Of Eel Paso, Texas, George
K. Fish and Fighting Bob" Sawn.
DR.. Davidson spoke on The City
Worth While bringing out in force
ful directness some of the city 5 assets
that should be developed and those
which should be destroyed A citizen
Vi Ardmore. less than a year, Dr..
Davidson brings 10 his hearers at all
dtmes deeper feeling of appreciation
for the city greater desire to serve,
end forgetting OF self in cooperating
with every civic effort for the bet
terment Of the city He said in part:
Some time ago | was passing
through one OF our large cities in a
neishbcrine state when my eve was
attracted 10 an immense electric sign.
| paused and read in fiery letters the
words, The City Worth While" These
words suggest the topic OF my ad-
dress today.
The problems OF our nation are ur-
ban. Our national life is becoming
more and more city life. Thirty years
ago less than ~ per cent of our pop
ulation lived in cities; today more than
80 per cent claim our cities as their
place OF residence. From all sides they
are crowding, from hamlet TO village,
from village to town, from town TO
cbsy-from the quiet country house and
the peasants freside with its prayers
20 the giddy whsrl OF the great multi |
Jude with It's excitements and its
sins, with its palaces in the suburbs !
and its sleeping dens in the slums |
with its charming possibilities and |
its actualities OF shame. The stream
OF country life is ever flowing city !
ward, TO join the river OF God or be |
lost IN the sewers Of sin
The city brings out the best or
the worst that is in men. II is the |
personificaiion OF all that is good and |
t6e incarnation OF all that is evil. !
When God sought to give the world |
a picture Of the joys and beauties OF |
heaven ne used city; when he sought |
TO picture the depravity and misery OF /
ren he sued q city. For in the city
.sre the noblest HIVES as well as the
mSnest- Christianity has there its |
'nreysst Witnesses as the world has its |
most devlhsh votaries. 1t is there 4
where We 20 TO find our eminent law
yers, doctors. surgeons. scientists, au-
thors. inventors, financiers, Statesmen,
diplomats, and philanthropists. L. is I.
We're also where We so TO find the /
thief, the robber, the burglar the /.
murderer, the despoiler OF womanhood. I
and the enemies OF our country--the |
red socialist. the anarchist, the bo.- I
shevlki. /; Is there where men am
women reach the deepest depths Of de
sresatlon and shame OF which hui
man nature Is possible. II Is there
where philanthropy and broiherly love
and imperial charity do their holiest
and grandes, works and nints and
martyrs Win their crowns.
j say u again. the problems OF our
nalon and OF modern civilization are
urban. We must malse our cities de-
cant and safe places In which 10
live or else our civilization must rar.
L. IS here like attracts like. The city
tnoi l. worth while will attract thc
worth while; the city that j. not
"orth while will dttrac, the low and
,ne mean and the depraved.
The city that is worth whllA will
have well paved and well KEEP, streets
n"t are adorned on either side by
beautiful shade trees. II will have a
system OF illumination that will turn
nleh, into DAY. Evil ilourishes In the
o1rk bus fees from the light. Il will
destroy all incubators Of vice and
crime "a good surgeon cuts Oh. the
~incer that threatens the lie of hi.
pauen.. This must be done az an cost
Vice and orm. can never b, conner.
cialiGsd 80 a. to become profitable
enough ~ recompeuse ma, for The
privilege Of debsuching his children for
mat shall % profit man II D., gains
the whole world and lose MS own son
OF what shall q man give IN exchange
Tor his SON
The city worth while mus, nut
brains anu money into its public
fchoo. system 40 that every hoy and
arl Will have chance 10 ~ them.
selves for useful and worthy cius.n.
ship Every uncducsted and unompioy.
'd citizen as a meace 10 the common
wealth. for Ignorance and idleness are
he parents of a very large pr cen,
a. crim.
The city worth while must have
fnblc spirited men who realize that
they o~e The c,y more han the city
owes them and who wili b. willing.
" recesary. TO sacrifice their priv.
s'e interests for tho public welfare.
The city worth while must have
sunday schools and churches for the
making OF character. for after ell Is
said paved streeo. water WORKS. pow
erplsnts. factories. mercantile houses
street railways. beautiful public buIl,l.