The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-02-21
Somerset County Agricultural News
at Isn't the Town, IFS YOus
Contributed

(COntflDuteQ)
We all, no doubt, have heard the
cry The place is dead No mat
ter where they live, unless in large
city. II seems, though, to. be mostly
IN the village. Take Athens for ex-
ample. One hears that cry nearly
at every turn, but what is keeping
1t dead? Most of you probably have
heard one OF Edgar Guests poems,
II isn't the town. it's you
Now what are you doing to help
keep Athens alive? Are you exert
ing yourself in any way? Everyone
should do their part aud not leave
it for few 10 do all, Look at the
human body. Does any one organ
keep us alive? No. indeed they all
have their part to do at all times in
order to keep life in onr body. and
this same rule works in a community.
Now in Athens there are the Odd Eel
lows. Rebekahs. Grange, Farm Bu-
reau, school and church. What arc
you doing to keep these lively Are
you a Granger? Probably. SO for
most every one around is, you keep
up your dues, but do you attend the
and keep it a live Grange Do you
help Willingly at all times on the pro-
grams or whatever is necessary 10
do? 1t was thought. by some. that
by having social hour after The
meetings it would make it more in
teresting. Perhaps it does for a
few, but do you help make that Il
success? Then others said. "if we
had someone come occasionally to
talk to us. something educational, it
would help" Last year Merle J..
Hartman, the state lecturer, also Mr..
Patten came and gave us good talds.
Were you one to help make the au-
dience? When Mr. Patten was there,
some had not even respect enough to
stay and listen to what he had toAtell
that would. help the farmer, but
left the hall while he was talking
Then some could not-ettend the even
ing meetings and some the afternoon
meetings, so this year one meeting
is to be in the afternoon and the
other in the evening, and out of a
of over two hundred.
sixty is about all who get out and
one who stays at home?
It was suggested we have a dance
to get the folks out and liven them
up, SO two weeks ago there was a
dance. Were you one to help make
that lively? They Just about made
expenses and the same at the dance
last Friday night after the school
play. They do not expect to make
Il great deal but do want enough to
pay for the music and trouble Then,
there was the school play which the
scholars have been working so hard
for. There was quite a good attend
ance but not as many as should have
been out Did you go 10 help ell
courage them?
The Farm Bureau is another good
cause in the community, being
great help to the farmer and his fam
lily. We all know What K is doing
for the men, and it is helping the wo-
men too, especially the young woman,
for it tells and helps them how to
sew-make dresses, hats, do canning,
etc. We read what ii is doing in
other states and in some parts of our
could not do the same thing in Athens
If they only wanted to- DO you en-
courage and help this cause?
There also is a very pretty little
church in Athens and a minister who
prepares a good sermon every Sunday
Do you go to hear and encourage and
keep the church alive?
There is no place on earth more
beautiful than Athens village and the
country. The ground is
very fertile and pastures the best and
lfter the small piece of road in Corn
vile is completed there will be a fine
'oad to most any place the people
want to go with very little trouble
or nearly all have automobiles.
Last summer a man went, to Water
Vile to get some repairs. 1t was on
Wednesday afternoon and il occurred
o him that perhaps the places of
business might be closed as they were
II Skowhegan, but they We're not.
rhe merchant said, 1--WE have to keep
open every day to make ends meet"
rhe writer has noticed that thosS>who
90 away from Athens to get employ
nent are glad enough to get back to
Athens for over Sunday and think
hat most would find that if they
we're living in other places, depend
ng on their days work for a liy-
ng they would find they could not
'pend an hour or so at their neigh
,ors or in the village and still have
nough to eat, wear and keep them
warm.
So now let every one try to make
Athens not dead town, but a lively
me for it's your home and beautiful.
md it's up to you to do your part.
Remember isn't the town. it's