The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1921-04-22
PLAN FOR A COMMUNITY GET
TOGETHER.

Newbury, Vermont.
April IL, 1921.
Dear Opinion Readers
We have very interesting class
for men in our church, and the dis
cussion today led me to think along
the lines of Community welfare. Why
wouldn't it be a good thing to re-
vive some of the old time customs
that were worth while ? This seems
to be an age, or a time, when people
are holding their breath, wondering
what is going to happen next. 1t
seems that it is at such time that
people should get together. Really
get together, to share each others in
terests, and ideas In Union is
Strength. Not simply the meeting to
eat sugar and doughnuts, and play
games and frolic, and chatter, and
gossip. That's all right in it's place,
but the getting together that / mean
is like the running to common
place of meeting of the Minute Men,
to hurriedly plan for defence, to con-
suit, as friends and neighbors, con-
corning the dangers from common
enemy. Our problems are not those
of 1776, but they are just as real. ***#
One old time form of public meet
ing for a purpose, that / recall, is
the "Lyceum." The modern name
for it is the Forum" The open dis
cussion of timely subjects is the inn
portant motive. 1t used to be in the
form of stated debate of chosen
Question, with judges elected from
the audience. The meeting was en-
livened with a paper" giving the
news, guesses, gossips and suppose
tions Of the community, sometimes in
humorous, often in rythmical form;
but the big thing was the discussion
of the live subject, first by the
principals, affirmative and negative,
and then by volunteers. Why not
revive it or something like it :?
Any getting together of the people of
community in any capacity, is, to
me, an important event. But so
many of our gatherings are wasted.
Another old time custom, or insti-
tuition was the "Singin' School"
Everybody loves to sing. The modern
name is Community Sing" Some
towns have one. But these things
don't start themselves, they have to
be started. But how can they be if
the people of the communities never
get together in any sensible capacity?
would suggest that any group of
men or women or both, Sunday
School Glass, A Club, A Seminar, A
Society who is not entirely selfish
and apathetic concerning the neigh
borhood, be the nucleus, to make the
first push. | am convinced that the
mass of the people would splendidly
follow enthusiastic leaders in any
worth while direction. Why not have
a Community Evening, one night
every week, for which every other
concern Of lesser importance is laid
aside, the big evening of the week at
which every subject under the sun that
is for the good of everybody will be
discussed ? Village improvement, Viii
lage Band, Village Orchestra, Com
munity Singing, Movies, Dramatics,
Schools, Forest Preservation, Fight
ing Insects, Public Nursing, all the
interests which are so important to
all Ct us | have been in towns in
other parts Of the nation where they
have Just this thing. In one town |
recall, the Village Hall was crowded
every Wednesday evening. A com
mittee was appointed each week to
make plans for the coming meeting.
The Community as a whole regulated
everything, worked together, played
together, danced together, sang to-
pether, and with healthy results.
Think it over.
C. r Tapoart