The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-01-16
Deoadenco of New England DspopalatiOn o
Country Towns.


The decrease in population among che
country towns-of Massachusetts Is quite
startling. The may be said of Connecticut,
New Hampshire and Vermont. Railroads ana
factories have changed the ancient order OF
things FheSpopulation of the nils mas shu
into the valley, and with it the wealth also.
Farms can now beSAonght for less than the
buildings are worth, and several farms are
often merged into one, and briars and brampies
spring up where once was the garden ana inc
rose Rev, DR.. Gale, of Lee, in recent sermon,
drew agloomy picture of this decrease ofpop-
tflation in the hill towns of berkshire county.
He stated that four towns now contain nan
the populations. and half the wealth of that
county. Ofthe remaining twenty seven towns,
fourteen have less than thousand inhabitants.
There are thirty-three Congregational shurches
in the county and only G5nrt ecu settled pas
tors Five of these churches have no regular
service, and fourteen hire dergynen Tor a
stated time. In 1S29 there were twenty-six
Congregational churches, and twenty-siX pas
tors The membership in these churches has
increased only thirty -fotif-iR +Ae-laSt- forty
years, being -4544 in 1899, and 1873 an 1869. In
ten of the churches the membership is less
than fifty each, and in these ten churches the
number of male members averages only ten.
In most of these mountain towns were once
largo churches, and the sanctuarles on the
Sabbath were filled with devout worshlpers.
Now, in some five places the people have for
saken assembling themselves together on the
Sabbath,-and in mary towns the minister
breaches to very lean congregation. We can
add our testimony to that -ef" DR.. Gale, and APP
ply the same to other counties in western Mas
sachusetts. In the last four years we have
travelled thousands of miles among the hill
and mountain towns, treading their backroadS
and by-wayS, wherever, the remnant of n once
prosperous. population fingers. One is surprised
at the indication of decay witnessed ut almost
every mile. For long distances there are no
human habitati0ns. You pass the-wreck of
once elegant mansions, the foundations
where they stoad.--. Others are CrIlmbug back
to dust, the outside covering hardly keeping
tho elements from reaching the inmates withinA
There are scraggy remaiiis of large and once
fruitful orchards, now s-grown and choked
with under brush Occasionally, at the cross
roads, may be seen dilapidatcd schoOl-house,
long since deserted by children and teacher,
and oftentimes we have travelled ahalf day
without seeing solitary human being, except
as we entered dwelling. \ thickly tenanted,
bat sadly neglected burial place, is evidence
that there once dwelu among the hills and
mountains more numerous population.
These signs OF ,desolatI0n and decay suggests S.
inquiry to the cause, and the answer
comes in the conclusion that they have been
brought about by extravaganza and fashion.
1t has become the fashion to have fewer chill
dren, and the farmer who once raised dozen
boys who helped carry on the farm prosperous
", js succeeded by one who hires his help out
door and in, and finds at the end of the year
that he has scarcely saved enough to pay his
employees If he has one or two sons or
daughters, they cannot be content with humble
fare at home but must ape the fashions of the
city or village, and force the !" old folks at
home into more style in living than they
can afford. The result is soon reached. The
farm runs down and is ultimately sold the
proprietor moving away to seek his fortune
whore money is easier 10 be got, and his family
can move in more fashionable society. DIR.
Allen, of Lowell, has shown by reliable
statistics that the Yankee race of New England
is running out, and the reasons for it are those
we have given above. Extravaganza and
fashion are extermnators more potent than
all the ills that flesh is heir tor Unless II
reform is commenced in this regard, the Hill
and mountain towns of this and other States
will soon become n Wilderness. Every year
they decrease in population aud valuation, and
every succeeding generation will have Trailer
hold upon life. While all urging reforms
of other kinds what pity it is we cannot re-
form the fashions and habits Of our men and
women, wherein lies the only hops Of per
petuation of our name and race. Palmer Mass
Journal