Our rural village of West Tisbury has added another improvement and pleasing feature to its attractions in the fixture of a handsome clock in the steeple of the Congregational church. The four dials of the clock face nearly to the cardinal points of the compass and give a happy architectural effect to the little spire. A new bell has also been a part of the improvement in place of the former smaller one, procured nearly thirty years ago, which had not sufficient strength to correspond with the machinery of the clock in striking the hours. The present one is of bell metal and weighs about 1150 pounds, with a fine sonorous tone. This enterprise may be called an Island improvement, and will be so regarded by travellers and visitors as well as by the residents of the village and vicinity.

The first incentive of the movement toward procuring a village clock was the legacy of the late Mrs. Hannah Look of West Tisbury, bequeathing two hundred dollars toward a clock, to be placed in the tower of the village church as a memorial to her deceased husband, Mr. David Look, who had in his lifetime done much for the improvement and interest of the town and the island. The legacy referred to was made nearly twenty years ago and the fund put in bank at interest, so that it now amounts to over four hundred dollars. The credit of the final accomplishment of this good purpose is due to the ladies of West Tisbury, who, through their personal industry, persistent effort and adroit financial management, have obtained so much cordial support to their cause. One of the plans adopted was a system of chain letters, to which 386 persons have responded in sums varying from ten cents to five dollars. The total amount realized, including the original bequest, a fund derived from the issue of the “Sea Gull” of 1895, and the chain letters, has been sufficient to pay for the clock and the bell.

There are few villages in Massachusetts of so small a size and limited resources that can boast of so fine a public library in so handsome and appropriate a building and so fine a village clock and bell, each within nearly a stone’s throw of the other.