A dozen other men , some prompted by a determination not to let a Spencer get ahead of them , others goaded into action by Improvers in their own households , had followed his example . The result was that there were long strips of smooth velvet turf where once had been unsightly undergrowth or brush . The farm fronts that had not been done looked so badly by contrast that their owners were secretly shamed into resolving to see what they could do another spring . The triangle of ground at the cross roads had also been cleared and seeded down , and Anne 's bed of geraniums , unharmed by any marauding cow , was already set out in the center . Altogether , the Improvers thought that they were getting on beautifully , even if Mr. Levi Boulter , tactfully approached by a carefully selected committee in regard to the old house on his upper farm , did bluntly tell them that he was n't going to have it meddled with . At this especial meeting they intended to draw up a petition to the school trustees , humbly praying that a fence be put around the school grounds ; and a plan was also to be discussed for planting a few ornamental trees by the church , if the funds of the society would permit of it ... for , as Anne said , there was no use in starting another subscription as long as the hall remained blue . The members were assembled in the Andrews ' parlor and Jane was already on her feet to move the appointment of a committee which should find out and report on the price of said trees , when Gertie Pye swept in , pompadoured and frilled within an inch of her life . Gertie had a habit of being late ... `` to make her entrance more effective , '' spiteful people said . Gertie 's entrance in this instance was certainly effective , for she paused dramatically on the middle of the floor , threw up her hands , rolled her eyes , and exclaimed , `` I 've just heard something perfectly awful . What DO you think ? Mr. Judson Parker IS GOING TO RENT ALL THE ROAD FENCE OF HIS FARM TO A PATENT MEDICINE COMPANY TO PAINT ADVERTISEMENTS ON . '' For once in her life Gertie Pye made all the sensation she desired . If she had thrown a bomb among the complacent Improvers she could hardly have made more . `` It CA N'T be true , '' said Anne blankly . `` That 's just what I said when I heard it first , do n't you know , '' said Gertie , who was enjoying herself hugely . '' I said it could n't be true ... that Judson Parker would n't have the HEART to do it , do n't you know . But father met him this afternoon and asked him about it and he said it WAS true . Just fancy ! His farm is side-on to the Newbridge road and how perfectly awful it will look to see advertisements of pills and plasters all along it , do n't you know ? '' The Improvers DID know , all too well .
Even the least imaginative among them could picture the grotesque effect XXXXX half a mile of board fence adorned with such advertisements .
At about among as for in of on to within