Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-05-22
BY sIEEISs, 2URIsoG & CO.
The Rush to our Great Cities.

Not only the business, but the accrctions
to the population Of our great cities, de-
pend mach upon the country. Thousands
a,.f;,Il,, swell lii, i'd, OF 'nctr"poIitan
Ii. w;in >c"!n 10 prefer, amid It's excite
ri.tliss. ,vc.la prrcarous subsistence tp Il
Q.iirt Independence from rural e;npIoy-
mcnts. Crowds possess for them Il spc-
ces of l;4scimator The celseless cbbing
and flowing nt' the GREAT wave Of tnmani.
tv. ;Ilr;ls;:;.t !',r:'i:!. ";' ~. aud deSoIa-
the hopes u ar",i"r. presenting
every variety of character and constant
novelty of incident, like the influence of
the chatting sea upon the nlarlncr, causes
the pulse to beat with tl,robs, and the
heart to swell with pleasures inexperienced
in their rustic homes; and the tolls and
temptations, Tire vicssi;udes and the vices,
til. so!ita"lcss anl the selt.denialS, the
discontorts and the diseases, incident to
their new career OF city life, seem even
more than compensated by the gratiica-
ton Of that ambitious spirit of the young
OF the present day, 20 whom adventure is
q passion and rcStcsSncsS Il habit
But this tendency to rush to the great
centres of population is 4 very serious
evil. Fird:, soliciting by their fertility
The hand Of cultivation to deck them with
golden h:rv,at-. hv this constant drain
from The country, are left To liz untitled.
while. in ;!!c n.rrcrowdrd professions.
trades. and even meniai occupations of The
CITY. youth often ri pens into manhood ard
manhood declines into age with hopes ur-
realized ana sincws and muscles ullstrung,
fortunate Indeed if the ScductionS of vice
have not aided criulnatity to the record
ot' 4 useless l;t,.
Great cities are beginning to beplague
centres in the social system. DchnSing
pleasures there have temples ovcrcrowdcd
with devotccS; depravity finds cor,aI
fellowship: and even vagrancy and crime
have their annts. in which the one brings
no blush of shame and the other no word
nI rrrr"ach. The wrecks of manhood.
the floating tlrit-wnod of society, are
c.neht in l!le circlng cldics OF human
lii;;. il, our great cities and rs filth gene
rates pcsticnce. so this congregation Of
81! that is offensive to virtue corrllpts the
morality of society. Willie the influence
they exert for good as the centres of
trade, of wealth ald OF intelligence, IN
crraSrs. their power for evil also grows
As they plume the wings of enterprise" or
r"orrl he wheels ot progress, they also
scatter the seeds OF luxury and dcmorali-
2a:inn. If the rcins Of government are
permitted 10 hang loosely. if gigantic
measures be not atinpcd to cni;gllicn the
rapidly increasing thousands and to liSin
i..t: the sec;l,ing pools OF moral pollution
even The country will at length come to
feel their deadly influence. Paris has
grown virtually 10 be France, and other
commercial centres are fast acquiring u
similar position i'll regard to other rural
s:iStriCts
Cannot this eager rush of population
from the cUuntry to our great cities be
partially arrested? Is no plan possible
10 satisfy TIC pr,iscworlly aspirations
the restless warnings of the young ncn
ot the country for something better tliam
The dull routine OF more physical toll
with the same unvarying face of nature
ever before them, and no motive to stir
industry but necessary wants, and no
modes cf action but those that buried
generations have followed before them?
There are cilarmsn uncultivatcd nature
herself. If the eye We're uusealed TO per
ccivc them, that cannot fail to encaant and
chain him who has learned to commune
with her in her fields, her valleys, her
mountains, and her streams. Her woods
are tili of music her fields cXhae the
perfumes of q thousand modest flowers
her waters ever glitter with the changing
pictures Of the skies; and even wilcu
da,knc2s mantlcs the Garth