The Springfield News-Leader from Springfield, Missouri • Page 13

The Meaning of a Home By WILLIAM H. JOHNSON Originator of the "Tiny Town" Idea. Civilised man dwslls In a house. situated upon a city lot or or tract bounded by highways, and subject to some kind ot civil lonrnmMt. Of 'the, things ha should be well Informed, and hit education cannot begin too early nor last too long (or his own and his neighbor's good.

The too frequent ugly structi'r of America, the 111 kept dooryan' and poorly Improved or most usj ly wholly unimproved highway due to thealmost utter failure popular education on these vim subjects. First of all. It seems me people should be taught to live. It Is well to know something of history and the Roman Caesars and to be able to square a circle, but It Is equally Important to know how to select a desirable end livable sit. and to erect there on a tasteful and convenient dwelling accea flhie te highways that can be traveled 165 days In the year.

Taught in Few ftohools. How many publlo or private schools tsaoh these things? Therel may be schools wnose siuuy rourses follow the? I'nes but lf ths writer knows fsw of them. However such a cours. Is now Installed by the manual training department of 'Springfield's public schools, due to experience gained recently through construction of Tiny Town and ma prove aturn lng point In the manner ot teaching youth not only In' Sprlnpfleld but nniion wiu. But first something of "Tiny Town," the name given a miniature city built on a scale of one half Inch to the foot, by children of Springfield's publlo schools.

In the spring of 1919. Sprlnsfield. a city ot some 45,000, found herself stagnated. In the month ot March not a building permit was issued. V.

1 nthar frcm every corner. A "Build Now" movement was being urged In many cities, and Sprlmrfleld's Chamber ot Commerce decided to launch a similar campaign. Committees were appointed, funds raised and the writer being engaged to manage their expenditure, sub mlttd plans for the construction by children of the publlo schools of a miniature city. The prime object of whloh was to start a building nnm tha vnnnffstir linnn the theory that constructive activity was rontageous and that their enthusiasm would spread to the grown ups, at the same time demonstrating a new educational feature that the writer had long advocated. Schools Indifferent.

At flrtt It seemed that, due to press of work and lateness of sea son, the public schools could not respond. Tiny Town was proposed 41,. Vf a mnA no tnia 11 school work was well advanced; Instructors were reluctant to abandon their program. The exigencies of the occasion and the fact that the Chamber of Commerce was back of the movement, together with the pressing need of community action In furthering the "Build Now" movement, finally prevailed. Prof.

W. W. Thomas, superintendent of publlo schools, an aggressive, able educator saw the opportunity and, calling together Instructors of the Manual and Art department ordered them to drop Immediate program and turn every energy on Tiny Town. But weeks of school remained. There was no time to be lost; from that day until the finished Tiny Town stood ready on the floor of Convention hall for publlo Inspection things happened that have tevr happened before In any school.

Thousands ot children turned their minds toward building a miniature city a real little city ot pretty houses, garages, pergolas, flowers, shrubs and trees. Nine hundred ana ignir ven students of the. Manual Training department engaged in actual construction of dwellings and Improvements of lota. A thousand girls of the upper grades worked at Interior decorations; other thousands of smaller children busy at some angle or other did their mite for Tiny Town. Instructor Skeptical.

Manual Tralnlns instructors at first In'litlnr their students were not sufficiently advanced to build in, war amaied to find hitherto listless scholars under taking construction of elaborate structures and enthusiastically working out every detail from blueprints, which up to that time were I as so much Greek. Five hundred dollars in cash and hundreds of special prizes were offered to stimulate the never lagging interest. Enthusiasm grew steadily newspapers, liberal with their space, carried columns ot personal Items and dally stories Tny i Town, Elections were. held, a full set ot officials chosen under the commission form of govsmment, following In every detail the procedure ouv lined In the statutes. olhclals handled the affaire ot Tiny Town later when the exhibition was in progress.

It Is sufficient to say that almost every feature of a grown up city was touchsd upon from the preliminary surveying and planting ot the town site down through every detail' ot Improving streets, selecting and landscaping lotsv planning designing, constructing and decorating, improvements and finally extending municipal government, police and fire protection to the Pnlshed city. The exhibition of Tiny Town drew a record crowd; the small admission fee charged largely repaying every outlay. As a "Build Now" scheme for arousing Improvement enthusiasm. Tiny Town was an un doubtsd success. But Tlny( Town did even more than that; It aroused the citizenship ot Bprlngfleld to the possibilities of Its publlo schools as a city developer and especially to the praotlcal result that mlaht be obtained by Inculcat 1 Ing Into their curriculum a perm profitable to furnish ths sinews ot war In the nature of cash and materials.

The park board could furnish the required open plot to be piatted as a townslte for the miniature city, together with shrubs! find flowers for Thlsj would at other times te part! the city's park system. The luiols Would provide the thou is of little Workers whose nlm 1 hrslns and Angers could col i lively construct and decorate email structures and civic lm tvements. By working from year to year an organization would be perfected In which boys and "blrls from the earliest srades aro brought Into! touch with home building and the i many pnaneH of Cliy piuiinlng, something the average citizen comes In contact with late In life tluough the hard school of experience and generally to his or her disadvantage. Project Instructive. Here a few of the things that students did learn In constructing Kprlngtleld's Tiny Town and which will be fit topics for future study In a similar Tiny Towns that may be hereafter adopted by any city.

City planning, platting and designing and the advantages of a civic center and a park system. Size. shape, drainage and suitable restrictions for business and residence lots and the location of structure and outbuildings thereon also nnture of materials used, harmony of structure and colors. Streets and boulevards, width and manner of parkings, sidewalks, drainage and paving materials, house building, room decoration, and sanitation, landscaping and grilenlng. Lastly but not least Kcmethlng of civil government practically applied as In ths case pf Springfield's Tiny Town wher elections were held according to city ordinances, with subsequent appointment of municipal employes and discussion of civil questions.

The knowledge of these things are vital to good cltlzenahlp and their universal teaching In public schools of America will do much to make Bolshevism Impossible. If boys and girls were educated to love and make useful and beautiful homes and the requirements of a well reirulated' community, "America would Indeed be safe for democracy. Let's have a Tiny Town as a permanent Springfield The Value of "Tiny Town By W. A. Mo AT EE, Chairman of the Tiny Town Board of the Chamber of Commerce.

Tiny Town has two values. They are educational and advertising. They ars both important, but the educational value is first. The possibilities of It to ths school children tn learnlnlng ths arts of city government and bulldng can scarcely be measured at thia early state of Its development. No doubt If the schools or the city decide to have such a course of study In, the curriculum for the next school year, and start on the work In September, gratifying results will be ob tained.

Preparation for the 1926 ex hibition has been done splendidly, but, with such a course of study preceding it, would have brought more of the inventive genius ot the children Into play and thus can ths greatest good be realised. To advertise Springfield by advertising her children is both uniqeu and effective. Towns are known both better and longer because of th people they have produced than for any other thing. For what la Stratford on Avon known? Who lives' In Detroit? Can you think ot the City of Brotherly Love without thinking of two men whose lives were linked with Its early history? Can a city be famous because of Its girls and boys? Why not? TINY TOWN AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The debt due to the Chamber of Commerce by Tiny Town Is a haavy one, for, of coure, without Its co operation, It would not have been possible at all. Still, Tiny Town Is but one of the many good things the Chamber of Commerce of Springfield has brought to this city.

It has maintained Springfield one and only community civic cerv ter for free use of all local and neighboring organizations. Brought 24 conventions here this year. Secured both Democratic and Republican state conventions. Conservatively estimated, those 24 conventions left In Springfield 75,000 Outside dollars. Was chiefly Instrumental la paving National Boulevard.

Actively cooperated with olty plan commission and city council tor mu These young nlclpal improvements. Publlshe and distributed large edition ot "Ozark Tourist Blue Book" an advertised It to 300,000 people. Maintained free tourist lnforma tlon. bureau, serving many hundreds of tourists, Furnished free service of a field man to work with Ozark region farmers tor evelopment of resources In our territory. Has published monthly its ogan lzatlon Journal, "The Sprlngtlvid lan," mailed to all members and to leading similar organizations throughout the United States.

JAPANESE SHIPPING IN FINE CONDITION TOKIO. A distinct revival In Japan's shipping Industry has been noticeable since January 1, 1K2B, ac cording to a survey of ths marine Industry recently made by the Kobe shipping exchange. Both overseas and coastwise trade, according to the survey, Is in better conldtlon now than at any time In recent years. anent Tiny Town, to be reproduced to th various ships annually as a part of the manual training course or study. Cost Easily The great possibilities of an an nval Tiny Town as an educational feature is apparent at once.

Cost and detail of such a program might rsem prohibitive If left entirely to be born by th publlo schools, but combined with business Interests snd In cooperation with It park board, making Tiny Town a sub Ject of community effort, th situation Is greatly simplified, and easily dvlops tinder team work. Interest would find It with a combined tonnage ot 1,056, 70, now In commission. Freight rate hav advanced 25 per cent In six weeks. Storms, a understand them, are caused by hot air currents, which may explain a lot of brain storms. New Orleans Picayune.

Prohibition agents can now sttop and search an automobile without a warant, proving beyond a doubt that a man' car la not hi castle. Indianapolis News. 1 I I I I 1 I lil 1 lill 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 I SPKINCFIKT I) MISSOURI REPUBLICAN. SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 17, 1925 1 1. TINY TOWN'S FOOD HOUSES i 'V rm, 'T MINIATURE CITY WILL BE GOVERNED BY LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (Continued from Pags Two) tertalnlng many distinguished visitors, Including national and state officials, scientists, educators, builders, architects, landscape and floral artists, material men, city builders i Mi and students of clvlo subjects.

The development of Tiny Town and Its heart throbs, and they are many, will be filmed and passed on to other communities who wish, to stir their citizenship from center to circumference In home planning and civic development. All over the country the bandits art busy. They are great believers In national prosperity signs. At tlaijta Constitution. l.rrrrrfrrdrrrdrzdr Drive Out National CaH 2357 or 2358 Salesman Will Call for You and Drive You Out Alter 5 P.M.

Call 4631VM631J State "A LOOX JEANS A LOT" 4 1 ma IWW mil Him'! Ave I tsft to rlghti Th Unwholesome Food House and the Wholesome Food House. These houses are built and made of actual food, Illustrating the proper sort of food that school children eat at lunch time and the wrong sort The wrong sort Is seen in the unwholesome house, built of wienies, pickles, pop, candy, bananas, and other indigestible foods. The other house Is mads of graham wafers, oatmeal stucco, fruits and vegetables, milk, etc. They were the Idea of Miss Eurela Brown of A grade at Keed Junior high school, and built by her pupils under her supsrvlsion. BURRO HAIR TO BE USED AS UNIQUE PREVENTIVE LOS ANGELES, Cal.

Doctors may soot) prescribe the "hair of the mule that kicked you'' as remedy for hay fever, according to reports received hers. A. local chemist hss ordered from Arizona four pounds of burro hair, from which, he claims, an effective hay fever remedy can be made. ASH GROVE, May 14. Preparation for work on a new water system to be Installed here Is under way.

Several carloads of building material have been received and work Is scheduled to start the first part of this week. These frequent cabinet crises must be welcome Interludes for a French president who Is never Livable Houses Hsve you ever studied your house and ita'furnlshlng room by room to sse how they measure up In terms of comfort and convenience to the needs of your family? The first step toward making a better home is oftentimes finding out exactly wherein the present one falls short. Taks the living room; for example. Many family living rooms have grown more or less like Topsy This chair was a. wedding gift.

That sofa was picked up at a sale. Aunt Jane presented those steel engravings and antimacassars and hand paint vases. Gradually front the tour corners of the compass and from as many branches of the family have drifted In the furnishings that now fill this room to overflowing. Some may be lovely, and soms may be ugly, Judged by the canons or art. mav be new: many are doubt leas shabby.

The real test for each article nhould be, however, whether) 1'. helps to make the room a comfortable, healthful, convenient, and at place In which family life, can enter. Walls, woodwork, floor, arrangements for hasting, and ventilating, should also be scanned critically from ths same angle. Here are some of the Important questions for you as a Judge to put to your living room: Is the size of the living room ample for the needs ot the family land li It well proportioned? Can It be enlarged by throwing two rooms I together or can the proportions be In proved by ear ranging the rurnisn ings? Have walls and woodwork a suit able finish, pleasing to the eye, iinisn, pieasing 10 Are the heating and ventilation be such that the room is comfortably warm in winter and cool In summer AGE FIVi: room provide for the needs ot all members of the family? Do the color, design, and finish of tha various pieces of furniture suit the character of the horns and of the room Does the grouping of the furnishings suggest their use. conform to the standards of artistic arrango ment, give a pleasing appearance to ths room as a whols, and make cleaning and care easy? Is the coloring oMhe room restful without being monotonous, and har.

monlous without following a stilted scheme? Do the pictures, ornaments, and small furnishings. giv the room a "ltved ln" look and ad to Its beauty and comfort? Such points mark whether the living room la livable. With some changes they csn be applied to the other rooms and will suggest Improvements to make the house mors healthful, suitable, comfortable, and convenient In terms of ths family needs. THE SCHOOLS AND "TINY TOWN" Every one knows what a i fine school system Springfield hss. but It remains for the work the high school children of Springfield hav done to show It; In its true light.

Its principals. Its manual training heada, Its art instructors, and Its civic teachers have all combined tu make Tiny Town what It Is. As for ths rest of the school system, it has been remarked by Superintend ent of Schools H. P. Study recently that Springfield la TOIAY a growing, city easv 10 cietin anu rwu i vuuuuivu, an i and of a color that rightly Influences', tn.

of wltl, thm Kiytitlmr tt ina mnm .1 an approximate enrollment ot 14.UUJ b0. tor th ear The school sn floor durable, attractive In keeping rolm.nt lncrnting and ,8 tcn. with the room as a whole, and con er, hav, ben added l0 fopC8 venlent to clean? thi. micin a. rarultv at with plenty of fresh alrT MARSHFIELD, (May 11 Ars the windows screened against Thomas H.

Wolcott, 71 years old, lnaects injurious to the health and died Wednesday at his home, four comfort of the family? miles south of here. Funeral serv 1s the lighting both by day and icei were held Thursday morning night adequate, rightly placed, and from th eMarshfleld Baptist churcn. nenra 01 at any otner time. Louis 1 go arranged aa to prevent glare? Rev. H.

N. Triplett officiating. Bur villa Courier Journal. Do the furnishings of the living lal was In Marshfleld cemetery. Beautiful UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS lies just heyond Phelps Grove just north of Sunshine Drive UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS lies right in the path of the rapidly expanding southeast residence dis trict of Springfield Lots in University Heights and homes in University Heights are sure to become more valuable each year as long as Springfield keeps growing and the State Teachers College stands.

A Home and Investment guaranteed by the future of Springfield all in one. Lots are selling rapidly. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY! Hundreds of hard maple trees Paved streets City water and lights. avings Trast J. J.

Go Rigfetin the Path of Growing Springfield Ir I Ir Ir 1, Ji rr tipaifiy "A 'LOOK 'LIE WIS A LOF.