Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-03-10
WHAT We owe
The TOWN:

NOoHClnueu from page One)
the I. & | Station is cleaned up once
or twice a year. We are the laugn-
ing stock of our surrounding towns
on account of the condition of that
station. If any of you doubt the JUS
tice of it, try to wait within its doors
for half an hour.
This same committee might be of
service by inspecting our food sup
plies, and some of the housing con-
ditions, especially of our foreign
neighbors.
Our social committee could find
much to do beside feeding and ell
tertaining our members and their
friends, by cooperating with other,
similar committees of the different
organizations in raising the standard
of shows and entertainments to a
more pleasing and beneficial plane.
The Library committee in addition
to ITS work in connection with the
circulating library, might very ma
terlally assist the librarian and board
in the management and care of our
splendid little library.
Our Civic committee is composed cf
very busy women, but if a committee
could be secured, who would give the
time. they might easily spend 48
hours every dav in civic work and
very constructive work The first
thing would naturally be boosting
the town and the means are almost
unlimited for that. This committee
with the hacking of the Woman's
Club, could am confident, secure
the appointment of a woman as de-
putty sheriff who would have equal
power with the men deputies. This
has been done in many of the larger
cities with very good results and
considerable moral uplift The very
fact of her presence in a pool room
or any other place, in her official
capacity would have a stimulating
tendency toward cleanliness, both ply
steal and moral.
Then we might help in the con-
struction of a hospital, play grounds,
a community house and theatre, pub
lie rest rooms, and many other public
conveniences, which are great assets
to any city or town. The placing of
bird houses, planting of trees, shrubs
and flowers could be given more at
tention with splendid results. You
say. so few of us can do little. It
does seem SO on first thought, but a
prominent authority on civic improve
ment makes this statement. "N,ring
many years of journeying, 1 tried to
find the origin of any CONSPICUOUS To-
cal Improvement. So invariably does
one find it inspired and started by
some one person, that its later in
stitutienalized or organic form seems
secondary and derivative."
The next form of obligation is that
of obedience. In a government by
the people, law is the expressed will
1 of the majority. Back of it stands
1.-THE power of organized community
That power exists to compel obedience
to law Obedience to these laws is
mot a mere passive condition, a sim.
| pie restraining from doing things
forbidden. It is an active virtue. The
law commands as we'll as forbids
| Submission alone indicates no apprer
citation of the dignities or duties o.
citizenship. In this stirring, pushing
pressing life, he alone enters full!
into the spirit of obedience whC
throws himself joyfully and earnest
| ly forward in the effort to do all tina
| is needed for the good of all, and alst
to secure like action from others
Sometimes it seems that law is un
Just or unwise and operates harshly
against some individual or class @
individuals. GenI. Grant very wise
/ lv suggested the best way to trea
bad law. To enforce it strict.
for then its odious features woult
soon arrest attention, and the con
siderate attention of the majorit,
would repeal it. This obligation
then, rests upon US in the active form
more than the passive. In othe
words "be not only good but goo'
for something" Too many feel tina
a negative obligation is all that reall,
rests upon them, or at least, it j
positive only in time of war or whe
there is a special call for patriotism
They are content to take what come
md doing nothing very creditable
are wont to believe themselves goo
citizens. Like the servant mentione
. n the parable, they take the talen
given them and burying it in tn
|. earth have no thought of returnin
it with interest.
The last obligation is that of striV
ing for a better life and more beaut!
The constant effort of the individuf
to create a higher thought, NOR
beauty, spiritually and physically, j
ourselves and our surroundings, wi
surely find large results in our con
munity life
!. Being beautiful and giving beaut
to the world involves no caprice, br
is the highest of all purposes, syn
bolizing human love, and the be'
there is in religion, nature and art.