re any one in charge of the
waiting-room? Is the town jail sanitary? How is the poorhouse managed?

Are there tenements? Are they sanitary? How many churches are there and
in what financial condition? Is there a town library? Is it up-to-date?
Is there any town nuisance, such as soft coal smoke or malodorous
factories? Are advertisements painted on rocks or put up in fields?

These are only suggestions as to lines of investigation. When finally
the needs and shortcomings of the town are known to all, practical work
to improve conditions may be undertaken.

The best plan is to get a few of the many books on town betterment and
read them before any reform is undertaken. In addition to readings from
these, and papers showing what has been done in other towns on similar
lines specialists should be asked to speak to the club, and the public
invited to hear them. For instance, a professor from the nearest
agricultural college may lecture on pure milk; on water supply the town
engineer may speak; on the question of bettering the public schools the
state superintendent may be invited. It is better to spend a whole club
year in study and accomplish only one practical work for the town
betterment, than enthusiastically to begin on a dozen lines and yet
really gain nothing substantial in the end.

II--THE BEGINNING OF SOCIAL SERVICE

When at last, the town is clean and sanitary, and the improvements made
which have been outlined, then, and not till then, some of the
interesting new lines of social service may be studied and put in
practice.

And first, a charity organization should be founded, no matter how small
the town may be. All the churches and every individual should work in
cooeperation with it.

After this, if there are mills in the place these may be visited, and
with the consent of the owners night schools and recreation centers of
all kinds for the employees may be established.

Another committee may get new books for the town library.

Medical and dental inspection of school children will also be of value,
and the town doctors will aid in it.

Pure food should certainly be studied, with investigations and
recommendations of clean markets and groceries.

Child welfare is a most important subject. Fresh air funds, children's
summer camps, the prevention of infant mortality, children's clinics and
the like will grow out of its study.

Child labor comes in this connection. If there are mills or canneries