Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-06-01
Is City Life Preferable to Country
Life!
For the Herald and Tribune.

AAo
Man is a social being. All who have
been blessed with bible privileges have
heard the story of Adams loneliness even
in Paradise, until God gave him a COM
panion.
Did this spirit die with mans fall? p
We thank God that it did not. In His
mercy He left US one spark of comfort
that can be kindled into a fame of Joy.
This spark is sociability. Behold the
misery of that man who is shut up in yon-
der cell, cut off from all association with
his fellow man. Where then can we find
sociability? Surely not in the loneliness
of the wild wood where is heard no music,
save the boot of the owl, neither in the ex-
tended acres where the Hare delights to
leap, and where the eye is strained to the
utmost tension to catch a glimpse Of the
old log house whose inmates meet to con-
verse only at their meals. or the end of a
''corn row." So t~aciturn do many of
these "clod- choppers" become that they of
ten pass days without speaking, This
then cannot be the place for mans enjoy
ment, if he be a social being. How diff
erent in the city, where all is activity and
rife with generous excitement and social
rivalry. s.au Ha
But to live in the city is intellectually
beneficial. Here professional men meet
to measure intellects and vie for superior
ity. This stimulates the cultivation of
the mind and as iron sharpens iron, so
the mind of one man sharpens that of his
fellow-man. IF the city is socially and in
tellectually preferable, it is more so Pc
cuniarily. The mind that is clear and
elastic will perceive means for procuring
wealth, of which the inactive and uncon-
cerned would never conceive. Like ge-
NAL rays of the midday sun contracting
to a focus, so for hundreds of miles around
the trade of the country, collects in the
city. Here men of every class and con-
dition in life, find business suited to their
capacity. The city then is the place to
make the money.
But life in the city is preferable in a
moral light. Churches of all denomina-
tions are at hand, whose pulpits are filled
by men of the highest ability. While
their logical ~eloquence expands the mind
it enforces truth upon the heart. A wise
man says ''The proper study of mankind
is man." If we would study mankind we
must compare their natures and to do this
we should live in the city, where men of
all grades and occupations are found.-
GLORIOUS are the works of God around us,
but more glorious His works within u.s."
This work within us in the mind. This
is best cultivated in the city where men
~ .,-. o.1 e,l1a ooal H.. -
lively action. Here are our best schools
and colleges, whence flow streams of sci
ence and literature to the utmost parts of
the earth. making fertile many valleys by
their crystal tide and where the mind is
cultivated the heart is usually purified
Here we find the most competent teachers
for the wealth of the city is able to pro-
cure them. Here too are the magnificent
Libraries which contain the accumulated
knowledge of the world and here, within
the city hall we may listen to the most in
tellectual and instructive addresses
Would you hear Munsey, or Beecher, or
Then go to the city and you
may listen to them or their equals almost
every sabbath.
But it is objected that in the city we
are subjected to temptations and contami-
mating vices. These are found in the
also. Nor shall we be free from
the influence of evil, till this mortal shall
have put on Immortality and the spirit
shall have passed on Angelic wing to the
city of the New Jerusalem-the bright
Mansion of the saints. But if the evil
are in the city, then WI must go there. if
desire to accomplish good, for Christ
unto the lost sheep of Israel and
commanded us to follow his examples.
Lastly. the city is demonstrably prefer
able, because a greater number accept it
and cannot be induced to forsake its adj
Vantages.
OMEGA.
Hoiston Male Institute. NAV 1871. |