■ TOWN, VILLAGE AKD COUNTRY IMPROVEMENT. 29 



to study into the needs of towns and villages, to arouse and en- 

 courage general interest in the work of improvement, and to 

 suggest simple, practical methods for beginning the work. 



The cities are planning constantly to make their surroundings 

 more beautiful, thereby involving the expenditure of vast sums of 

 money. They are awaking to the fact that generous park systems 

 are essential to giv^ them prestige with the great traveling public, 

 to say nothing of administering to the pleasure and comfort of the 

 residents. These days record a kindly rivalry between them to see 

 which shall have the greatest number of acres of parks per capita. 

 We in the outlying country may admire the energy that brings this 

 about, but at the same time we should be encouraged to emulate it 

 as far as possible. The smaller towns and villages need to be 

 aroused to action, to realize the needs and possibilities of their own 

 surroundings. First of all, they should rid themselves of unsightly 

 objects, unwholesome places; weeds should be kept down on vacant 

 lots and unused streets; all tumble-down fences should be straight- 

 ened up or taken away; dilapidated buildings removed. It is a 

 mistaken idea that we are responsible for our own yards only. If 

 we through education and other advantages are fitted to keep home 

 grounds in perfect order, it is only part of our duty to do so. The 

 balance of our duty requires us to help others to reach the same 

 standard. Of course, a slovenly kept yard cannot be entered and 

 put to order, but the streets, which are the common property of all 

 the grounds around all public buildings, the buildings themselves, 

 can be operated upon by arousing public sentiment, and very soon 

 the owners of all unkempt, unpleasant looking places will fall into 

 line and keep step in the march of improvenaent, if only through 

 self-interest in the value of property. 



All appreciate the value of little things as influencing the general 

 welfare, for good or ill. "Tnll oaks from little acorns grow." The 

 tall oak if scraggly, gnarled and twisted out of shape is a difficult 

 subject to model; but the tinj' acorn, from the time it puts forth its 

 first leaves above the ground is susceptible to any influence that 

 may be brought to bear upon it. This is the idea to work upon as 

 applied to the higher order of life in man. If a child is taught to 

 be cleanly and orderly, thoughtful and considerate of the comfort 

 of others, the habit formed will follow him through life and will 

 manifest itself throughout the larger avenues of experience. 



This thought eviden'tly influenced the Town and Village Improve- 

 ment Committee to put forth the card of "Do's and Don'ts." A 

 child taught to observe its requirements will form habits that will 

 later lead him to take a personal interest in all matters pertaining 

 to his own home, that it shall be orderly and pretty; to his own 

 street, that it shall be as fine if not the finest of any; in fact, he will 

 use every effort that his own village, his own town or his own part 

 of the county, throughout its length and breadth, shall be as beau- 

 tiful and attractive as it is possible to make it. 



If one child alone is educated to adhere to these suggestions, it is 

 well. One home will be made happy. But if all the children of a 

 community, generation after generation, are similarly brought up, 

 what a paradise on earth we would have! Is it not well worth work- 



