The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-09-09
Owe OBLIGATION
TO HOME TOWN
BACKBONE OF COMMUNITY SER
VICE FOUND IN SUPPORT MER-
CHANTS GIVE TO RESIDENTS

debt is an intangible one, no matter
how large it is. If you do not realize
the size Of it, nobody will try to tell
you. You know what the town has
done for you, and you know better
than anybody else what you ought to
do for the town.
Two questions may serve to bring
the issue home to you.
When your wife and children were
critically i'll, was it the doctor from
the city who pulled them through?
You didn't even think Of calling
him. Your first thought was Of the
home town doctor, and he saved the
lives Of your dear ones.
Who Extends Credit?
When you lost your job, who gave
you credit and tided you over the
winter?
It certainly wasn't the store in the
city that ~advertises bargains" for
the country shopper. The merchant
on Front street" or "Main street,
stood by you then, as he has for
others, and as he will again for some
time when the emergency arises.
If these things have not happened
to you, they have happened to your
neighbors, sand you know about them.
Mere money cannot pay for disin-
terested service such as the doctor
and the merchant render under the
circumstances. And they are not cited
with the idea Of awakening a feeling
Of obligation toward those individuals
who render us signal service on ex-
traordinary occasions. They are
brought up, rather, with the view 70
making every man, woman and child
realize his partnership in the COM
munity and his responsibility in that
partnership which means so much to
him.
Render Community Service.
The doctor and the merchant are
not the only men toward whom 9TH
ers in the community owe this obliga-
ton to maintain the community as a
self-sustaining entity. They are
simply given as examples of how the
proposition works out ~concretely.
They are among the leaders who
have -consecrated what they are and
what they possess to the service Of
the town in which they live, and all
for the well-being Of its people and
their future as a community. On the
basis Of the law of compensation
alone they ought to receive some form
Of pay for their effort, because even
the Bible comedies that the worker is
always worthy of his hire.
The cure effected by the doctor and
the credit extended by the merchant
are two specific instances of benefits
coming to the resident Of the small
town. These are not all the benefits,
for their number is legion. In good
times as well as hard times they
come, because they are not restricted
by the season Of the year or limited
to periods Of necessity. Like 'the
gentle rain from heaven" about. which
PCrtia speaks so benignly in her
famous courtroom speech to Shylock
in "The Merchant of Venice" Shake
speare's masterpiece, these benefits
fall upon "just" and unjust alike.
Nobody is shut out from their enjoy
ment.
Help Boys and Girls.
For instance, there are the schools
everybody pays toward their support
in proportion to his ability to pay
They are open to all the children, and
by their precept and example they
are helping your boys and girls t.
their place Sin the SUM-" School.
bring to the younger a bigger shar,
Of life, and set before them the higl
ideals Of our democracy. They show
the son of the r~ail-splitter the roa,
to the presidents chair.
The church is another institution
that makes community life pleasan
. every member Of the family. I
stands for a better community al
around. AS the word is used here
refers to all creeds, and is in no sens
to be considered in its ~sectarian q
UNCONVENTIONAL Significance. Pastor
are leaders in all good causes an.
they rally their congregations to civil
wholesomeness in the life Of the com
munity.
Happy and Content
aappiness and c%ontentment brinl
about also a rich social life. You &c
together with your neighbors il
moments Of relaxation from you
days toll and enjoy intercourse wit
them. Clubs and organizations unit
you in bonds that hold you togethe
for One purpose or another.
Geo.. - H. ALs~~ Na II