464 RURAL SOCIOLOGY 



as a whole, showing street extensions and public reservations to 

 include such features in such a way that they may become a part 

 of a more extended system, if this should be brought about in 

 the future. These societies should not undertake the legitimate 

 work of town officials, such as street-lighting, street-tree plant- 

 ing, repair of roads and sidewalks. They should compel the au- 

 thorities to do such work properly, by gathering information and 

 securing illustrations to show how much better similar work is 

 being done in other places, very often at less cost. They should 

 inaugurate activities of which little is known in their community : 

 such as the improvement of school and home grounds, and the 

 establishment of school-gardens and playgrounds. If the policy 

 of such a society be not broad enough to admit the active coop- 

 eration of the ablest men and women of a town, it can accomplish 

 but little. If its methods are not so administered as to instruct 

 up to the highest ideals, its efforts are quite as likely to be as 

 harmful as beneficial. 



SOCIAL PRIVILEGES OF VILLAGE OR SMALL 

 CITY 1 



C. J. GALPIN 



THE general law has recognized the village as a community. 

 The Visible unity of the village group of houses, stores, and shops 

 has been the main warrant for treating the village or small city 

 as a community all by itself. The people are closely related in 

 business and life and come to feel a real solidarity. The legal 

 provision for incorporation is a presentation of a set of new 

 powers, and new duties to this group of homes as a comprehen- 

 sive social unit. A village legislature, a village executive, the 

 thinkers and actors who individually have succeeded by fore- 

 cast, insight, integrity, and perseverance, are now banded for 

 the village interests. The president or mayor now begins to 

 have his vision widened from a community pedestal, and a new 

 social machine for progress with power is put to work for the 

 common good. 



i Adapted from Rural Life, pp. 92-94, Century Co., 1918, and Bulletin 34, 

 "The Social Anatomy of an Agricultural Community," pp. 24-28. Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Station, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison. 



