Malcing Jonesville Grow

Bv Jaik Dionne

There is a certain city the name whereof is Jonesville. And the men of that town held a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, and a visitor recited to them that little rollicking rhyme, "It Isn't Your Town, It's You."

And the men decided to get busy and make their city grow.

And they said: "We will erect a great illuminated sign and place it where all who pass may read, and we will put this town on the map." And they did. And the sign read:

"Watch Jonesville Grow !"

And they placed this sign at a point just between the highway and the railroad tracks, where those journeying through in either direction, whether by rail or motor, would be certain to see it and read it. And then they sat back with a satisfled smile on their several faces, to watch Jonesville grow.

They greatly admired their sign, and they bowed down before it, and worshipped it-speaking in a civic way. And the electric light company furnished the juice free to illumine it by night, feeling that the new people it brought to town would make it a good investment. They thought the sleeping car patrons would wake at night, read the sign, and plan how they might get back to this wonderful town of Jonesville, and grow with it.

They got the notion in their noodles that motorists speeding East and West over their main highway would read that sign, and, forgetting the beach bathing in Miami or the alluring lures of Hollywood, slap on their brakes, pitch their wigwams, and settle down to watch.Jonesville grow. Without stopping to reason why---4t1st thought that.

They hired a fair-haired gal by the name of Maggie, and they started calling her Marguerite, and they made her a part of the picture. For Maggie could punch a typewriter and bring forth letters therefrom, and they appointed and likewise delegated Maggie to get her typewriter all oiled up and be ready to answer the ton of mail that the sign would bring in, asking about Jonesville. They confidently expected Maggie to keep that machine hot telling the interested passersby all about Jonesville, and why it was going to grow.

But Lo, and Behold ! Maggie had nothing to do but chew her gum and powder her nose and drink such "cokes" as the boys would occasionally buy her. For none of the thousands who rode East and likewise West through Jonesville, cared two whoops in Hades whether or not Jonesville grew. And very soon they dropped Maggie from the pay-roll; but they kept the sign still in place, and still lighted. They still hoped.

And then one day there stopped in Jonesville a man who was wise in the ways of cities and their growth. And he saw the sign, and he heard the story, and he grasped the situation. And he spoke to the people of Jonesville, and such words as these fell from his lips:

"Folks, you're all right, but you're all wet. See ? It pays to advertise-sure ! But first you must have something to sell-you must be prepared to deliver the goods. I have been watching Jonesville, and I have been reading your sign, but there are no indications that Jonesville is living up to the sign. It ISN'T growing.

"This is an evil and adulterous generation in which we are living. It is a generation of unbelievers. The people of this day and age do seek for a sign, as did the faithful of old. And the only sign of progress they see around Jonesville is the sign down at the depot; but the town does NOT live up to the sign. It does NOT grow. If you really desire and expect to have people watch Jonesville grow-then START IT GROWING.

"Towns," said he, being wise in the ways of men as well as of cities, "are like humans. They grow from within, and not frorn without. Quit wasting your time and money just hoping'for something to happen. MAKE SOME-