RURAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS. 



When, over ten years ago, an effort was begun to improve 

 and build up our country towns,* it encountered, as I then 

 predicted, some misapprehension and ridicule. During this 

 period of quiet work, my faith in the final result has never 

 faltered. But sooner than I expected, this Rural Improvement 

 movement has assumed such large proportions as to silence 

 cavil, and command the respect and cooperation of the wisest 

 and best men of our State. There are now over fifty of these 

 associations in Connecticut which speak for themselves. Their 

 objects are manifold, of which the following are the more 

 important : 



1. To cultivate public spirit and foster town pride, is 

 an object which should enlist the sympathies of all our 

 citizens. Our youth should be trained in their homes 

 and schools to be jealous of the good name of their town 

 and State. Hence the history of our towns and our State 

 should be generally taught in order to develop a just town 

 and State pride. We are prone to underrate the great value 

 of this feeling. The love of home and the love of one's 

 town and State are akin. This sentiment formed in early life 

 should grow with our years and attainments. The want of it 

 indicates a serious defect of character. I believe with Dr. 

 Bushnell that u the man who does not wish to love and honor 

 the town and State in which he and his children were born has 

 no heart in his bosom. We are too little aware of our noble 

 history as a State, a history of such transcendent beauty, ' 

 freshened by so many heroic incidents, having so great a 

 wealth of character and achievement. This early history of 

 Connecticut is really the most beautiful that was ever permit- 

 ted to any people in the world." This cannot justly be called 

 a partial but unfounded laudation of one's State. The Histo- 



* " How to beautify and build up our country towns" was the title of an article 

 In my Report for 1869. 



274435 



