Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-11-07
CltE Life vs.. OonnE-x Life.


OF late years, the tendency Of dwell
eTs in cities TO find country homes has
become almost mania. The best arts
OF the landscape and the most
ingenious devices Of the advertising
agent aTe combined to allure the rest
less denizens OF q crowded community.
Visions Of blue skies are strangely IL
terniIgled with the realities Of COM
mutation tickets, and the advantages OF
economy are enhanced by the prospects
of pure atmosphere, fresh butter and
eggs, running brooks, iee-cold springs,
and freedom from city taxes. Yet
there are some drawbacks to the aIlur-
ing picture. 1t has been quietly MOTTO
ed that when business mans country
house burns down, he seldom builds It
again. lie persists IN declaring that
be intends to rebuild, but the postpone
ment is Of the most vague and indefi-
mite character. If the rural resident
has a particular friend, he is always
willing TO make the sacrifice Of selling
him his home at an attractive reduc-
ton In price. Communication tickets,
which we're provided in large duanti-
ties in the early enthusiasm of country
life, are thrown in at 3 great discount.
There isa solemn silence as to the
prevalence OF ague;. 9 virtuous indi2na-
ton Is exhibited at the mention Of
nusquitoes. No one thinks to describe
the gradual process by which the run
ming brock has been transformed into
stagDart water, how the dairy has
proved TO be 4 failure, and how you
must 60 back to town II you desire to
secure the choice cuts Of beef and the
early vegetables OF the season.
Yet some of these secrets of country
life must have got abroad, for there IS
an evident reaction in favor of metro
pOlitan life. DR.. Holmes in q recent
instsiment Of ''Ihe Poet at the Break
fast Table" comes cut boldly enough
In defense Of city lie and concentrated
communlties. After expressing the
very sensible opinion that the prettiest
and best specimens Of wOmsakind are
raised under glass, Just as the finest
fruit is, he adds: "Keep her Ia q wide
street Of well built city eight months
of the year, with good, solid brick
walls behind her, good sheets Of plate
glass, and the sun shining warm
through them in front of her, and you
have put her In the condition OF the
Ipine-appie." Further on, he says that
s'People don't knOv7 what gain there
is to health by living in cities" and
that "a frst-rate city house Is q regular
iSaalitdriUBs." a writer In .Apoletoa's
Journal, following Or. Holmes, is Of
the opinion that the City Of the Future
is to Be one Of scientific compsctness in
stead of scientific diffusion, and recon-
mends the building of tail houses, with
steam elevators, thorough ventilation,
perfect drainage, each floor a household
in itself, the roof set aside for garden
and promenade, and the whole adapt-
ed to cooperative housekeeping. Is is
claimed by the new set, thus under
taking to dispose Of the problem of city
life, that there are fresher looking wO-
men and heaTtler old men in the large
towns than in the country districts
that the city bred lady has more at.
/ fractions for outdoor exercise, and so
takes more of It; that city cooking IS
mot so productive of dyspepsia rs the
fried grease and not bread OF the farm
ihOuse; and that the appliances for
carrying ofthe refuse matter oferowd-
cd communities leave more heSlthfrl
condition of the atmosphere than the
damp fields and primitive customs OF
country life. Every one viii Fecsll
/ the general omplaint Of mosquitoes
land ague-two scourgeS thst might
/ have taken their places among the Wis
| iitations pat upon PharaOh-that has
lcome from the suburban villages aud
rural districts during the past summer,
land agree, at least, thatthe partisans OF
eodntry life have not all the arguments
lon their side.