The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

14 WINNETKA WEEKLY TALK, SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1924 Winnetka Weekly Talk by LLOYD HOLLISTER, INC. 1222 Central Ave. Wilmette, Ill. Telephone ........... Winnetka 2000 Telephome .._ i... se, Wilmette 1920 SUBSCRIPTION $2.00 A YEAR All communications must be accom- panied by the name and address of the writer. Articles for publication should reach the editor by Thursday noon to insure appearance in current issue. Resolutions of condolence, cards of thanks, obituary, poetry, notices of en- tertainments or other affairs where an admittance charge will be made or a collection taken, will be charged at regular advertising rates. Entered at the post office at Win- netka, Illinois, as mail matter of the Second class, under the act of March SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1924 Depress the Tracks. Give the Business Men Fair Play. Build a New Village Hall. Enforce the Traffic Laws. Build the Truck Road. NOISES We speak not of noises in gen- eral, but of noises in particular, of noises at out-door public meetings. There's plenty of noise at political meetings and at grammar-school commencements, but that's to be expected and in- deed is almost essential. Out-of- place and a nuisance it is at an out-door meeting where there is a speaker. At the best there are only a few men whose voices are strong enough to carry an intelligible message to hearers over twenty- five feet away. Most words after leaving the ordinary orator's lips are blown to shreds or float up and off into space. And even the most stentorian needs all the help he can get from favorable condi- tions if he is to get his words across. He must be allowed to speak without competition. He must have silence! We attended a Memorial Day meeting. There was a speech. But there might just as well have. been none at all so far as our getting it was concerned. There was noise around us, mostly children shouting and babies cry- ing, and dogs fighting, and adults talking. At first we did our best to hear, straining our ears and necks. But soon we gave up and contented ourselves with admir- ing the looks of the orator of the day and thinking in a mild way of our own virtues and vices. Why allow children under a certain age to attend an out-door public meeting at which there is to be speaking? The little boys and girls don't want to hear a speech? And babies sleep better where they are not troubled by words. On the Fourth of July we hope to get a message that we can take away with us. LET THERE BE SILENCE! RAVINIA If you've never been to Ra- vinia--there are some who hav- en't--be sure to go at least once this summer. Go up to the after- noon concert prepared to remain throughout the evening. The music will sound much more de- lightful than any you ever heard in any ordinary closed-in room. The difference will be as great as that between the singing of a caged-up canary and the war- blings of a thrush in the thicket. You will also enjoy the interim between afternoon and evening. You can lunch al fresco with your friends or get dinner at the res- taurant on the grounds. Then after eating and resting a bit you will enjoy strolling about the park across the athletic field or among the splendid trees. If you prefer a little mild exercise why not join the boys in an in- formal game of ball? Probably, in the evening, you will have the good fortune to see and hear a presentation of some operatic master-piece by a com- pany made up of the world's greatest artists, accompanied by an excellent orchestra. Last year we heard a performance of The Barber of Seville, that for speed and spontaneity was unmatch- able. When the opera is over you can reach your home in a very short time either by motor or train. The season opens this year on Saturday, June 21. The price of a book of season tickets is only eighteen dollars, "only," when you consider that it covers the entire series of afternoon and evening entertainments. A MONUMENT It seems likely that on the Fourth of July there will be on the Winnetka commons a monu- ment to the memory of the Win- netka boys who in the recent war "died in the honorable service of their country." It will be a per- manent rostrum, a speaker's stand that ought to be both good to use and to look at. We have not seen plans for the structure, but we do know that the situa- tion and the purpose demand something that shall be a delight to the eye and an inspiration to the spirit. We have the right to demand that the artistic value of the piece be rated high by the most competent critics. We don't want to see on the most sacred field in Winnetka a monument that has called forth the mass of adverse criticism recently elicit- ed by the Thomas memorial op- posite Orchestra Hall in Chicago. Let us rather have an artistic product that will compare favor- ably with the St. Gauden's monu- men on Boston Common. We call upon the appropriate authorities in Winnetka in the council or elsewhere to make sure that the proposed monument will be a real improvement. If it seems likely to be a blemish, don't allow it to be built. Let us have something that we can be proud of. DECENCY There is a becoming way to do almost every thing. Judging from what one often sees and hears we know that everybody does not believe that this statement is true. But a little reflection will prove its truth. For example, there is a becom- ing way, a decent way, to dis- play the flag. To display it in an advertisement is indecent, be- cause it is there used subordin- ately to some commercial prod- uct. To use the flag as drapery is not decent, for a reason that is obvious. We are sure that every real patriot, whatever his country, desires to treat his flag decently. There is a decent way to greet ladies, to talk with them, to deal with them. Courtesy is a form of decency. There is a fitting way to invite guests, to tender regrets or acceptances. We ourselves be- lieve that it is about as unbecom- ing to exaggerate politeness as to slight it or neglect it alto- gether. We have noticed that in north shore society (our knowl- edge is limited) not so much at- tention is paid to etiquette as in certain communities some miles away. It's not a bad idea to discharge your responsibilities decently. IDEALS What can a newspaper do for the community it represents? In the first place it can keep the members of the community well informed as to what is going on round about them, in their own particular civic neighbor- hood. It can give all the news that's worth being told. It can give this news fully and truly, using common-sense in deciding what to publish and what not to. In such papers as those printed weekly on the north shore, papers that perhaps lie upon the library table with the current magazines for a week or more, there should be nothing of a merely sensa- tional nature. It can publish announcements of meetings to be held in the im- mediate future, thus linking the past and future of the commun- ity. It can tell where and when elections are to be held and give the names of candidates, by this means helping the citizens to vote intelligently. If its editorials are timely, thoughtful, and concise they can do a surprising amount towards promoting beneficial institutions and enterprises. Nor is there any reason why these editorials may not assist in the shaping of progressive public opinion, which in its turn may build up a better community. Advertisements, too, if they tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, can help buyers to get good things at economical prices. We trust that our paper is in some considerable measure doing these beneficial deeds for our readers and the community in which they live. VANDALISM If you had in your garden a beautiful display of choice tulips and one morning you should find that during the preceding night some vandal had torn up every single one of those beautiful flowers you would feel just as outraged as the Wilmette citizen who actually had this distressing experience. How could any human being so violate another's rights? We do not know whether the one who had committed this depredation has yet been found, but whoever or whatever it is-- man, child, or animal--we give our entire sympathy to the in- jured home-owner. COMMENCEMENT TIME It is Commencement time. June is the month of roses, brides, and commencements. These are the days of beginnings and beauties. This is the month as far as possible from December, whichever way you look. As the poet queried, "What is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days." Well, that's the way June strikes us. Pretty soon we'll be knee-deep in June. All over the country, boys and girls, and young men and women, are commencing. Having finished they are beginning. It's a pretty poor notion-- this idea of prepar- ing and commencing, and we un- derstand that the American schools are getting away from it. Graduation is an important oc- casion, but those who think of it as the ending of a preparatory period are making it less impor- tant than it really is: the years leading up to graduation are as valuable in their way as those following it. But, whatever the name may be, let us in these days of new be- ginnings stand - shoulder to shoulder with the youth and give them our hearty cooperation. Whatever the Circumstances the same courtesy--the same helpful service in managing all perplexing details--are ac- corded whether you desire an unlimited expendi- ture or whether circumstances suggest that you refrain from 1124 Central Ave. Wilmette The Charles A. Coffin Medal awarded to the North Shore Line for distinguished contri- bution to the develop- ment of electrical transportation for the convenience of the public and the benefit of the industry. NORTH SHORE Charles A. Coffin Awards Now Held by'TwoNorth Shore Utilities E WISH to congratulate the Public Service Company of Northern Illinois on being awarded the 1923 Charles A. Coffin Medal for distinguished achievement in the electric utility operating industry. To residents of North Shore communities, this award should be highly gratifying. For North Shore com- munities are now served by two public utilities holding Charles A. Coffin Awards--the North Shore Line and the Public Service Company. The Charles A. Coffin Awards are named for the founder of the General Electric Company, now retired, in whose honor the Charles A. Coffin Foundation has been established. Each year, two medals are awarded by the Foundation for the pur- pose of encouraging electrical progress. One medal goes to the electric railroad company in the United States which has made the most distin- guished contribution to the development of elec- trical transportation for the public and the benefit of the industry. This medal is held by the North Shore Line. The other medal goes to the electric utility operating company making the most progress in the field of electric light and electric power. convenience of the This medal has been awarded to the Public Service Company. In making these two awards, the records of elec- tric railroads and electric utility operating com- panies throughout the United States are thoroughly reviewed. That both awards should come to util- ities serving North Shore communities is an indica- tion of what these utilities are doing to give their customers the very highest type of service. Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad Company Winnetka Passenger Station Elm Street Telephone Winnetka 963 "