Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1911 — REMINGTON. [ARTICLE]

REMINGTON.

Fortnightly Club Meeting. f. Mrs. Hitchcock was hostess to the Fortnightly Club Wednesday afternoon, March ,29th. The following was the program: Roll Call—Current Events. "The Educational Value and Moral Influence of out Newspapers”—Mrs. Hargreaves. “Development of the Magazine”— Mrs. Balcom. “Public Events that are making History"—Mrs. Barnes. s*. “Blots on our Beauty”—A paper prepared for the Civic Improvement day. Dainty refreshments were served by the hostess and her daughter, Miss Bessie. The club meets with Mrs. Lough next week. o Blots on Our Beauty. (A paper prepared for the Civic Improvement Day.) Of course, Remington Is dear to all of us, with its pleasant memories and associations, and sometimes we are inclined to shut our eyes and overlook her many shortcomings, or very often our accustomed eyes fail to see the ungainly or ugly spots that a stranger would see. There is an old saying that if you want to know the truth about a place don't ask the man on the spot. He has, probably, been there too long. Let us begin at the outskirts or approaches into our town. As one enters from the north, south or east, Carpenter Creek is crossed, and surely our little old red bridges are not things of beauty. They have done faithful service for many years, but the time Is coming when they will be replaced. In my mind’s eye I picture substantial cement bridges with low broad cement or stone railings, such as are becoming so common throughout Indiana at the present time. But even if our bridges were beautiful, the view up or down the creek bank is far from inspiring. Where do we dump all the tin cans, old boilers. Jars, pails and all trash or refuse? Oh, down the creek bank. Out of the way—but not out of sight. Could not a better place be found for the trash than to have our creek banks spoiled or made unsightly?

In summer time Remington’s chief claim to beauty lies in her many beautiful trees, lining the streets on either side. Perhaps you think no blots are found there. But how are those trees trimmed Notice, if you will, the crooked and dead limbs that hang over the walks in many places so low it is almost impossible to carry an umbrella. Not so bad now since we electric lights. But notice this summer, if you will, the trees on either side of the street. In many places their broad branches spread nearly across the street, making a shady, cool avienue. Suddenly you pass into the glaring sun and wondering what the reason is for the sudden change, you glance up and see that Mr. So-and-So evidently believes in trimming trees, and aside from a few bobbed limbs and a few bunchik of leaves, his trees are robbed of their natural beauty. A little judicious trimming is necessary, of course, but why rob our trees of all their beauty and usefulness? And now, about the blots on our streets. Almost all are covered with white stone or gravel, but how about the space between the road and sidewalk? Is it leveled off gradually to a curbing, with well kept sod next to the sidewalk, or do they suddenly drop into a gutter or ditch, making it almost impossible for a horse and buggy to drive up? And where are the ashes from our stoves carried the whole winter long? In heaps along the street, making another blot.

Aside from ashes—look at the brush, tin cans and paper thrown out to collect on fences, weeds, etc. In many places the weeds are allowed to grow nearly over the sidewalks, making it very disagreeable after a rain or heavy dew. The greatest blot we find on the sidewalks is the filth of tobacco chewers and smokers,. How disgusting, especially Saturday afternoons to walk down town and see the condition of the walks —so >ery unsanitary. We talk and give money to fight the White Plague—why not enforce the law against spitting on the walks? We have noticed little children drop candy or cookie; stop, pick it up, and eabiL Terrible! And shame on the one* who uses the filthy weed. Another blot is the town park, which was purchased by the town board a number of years ago. We should not like to tell strangers or visitors to our town that it is a park. In summer it is as a hay field, grass and weeds growing all over, making it very unsightly, whereas we think it should be kept mowed and flowers planted, trees trimmed, etc. The view along the south side is far from being beautiful, if the reader will notice. There are many blots that should not be and would not be if we would each and every one try to make our town beautiful.