The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-10-30
City Lite VS.. Country Life.

(Ffom tho Chicago TrIbune)
OF late years, the tendency of jewellers
IN cities to find country homes has become
almost q mania. The best arts of the
landscape'gardcner and the most ingeni-
Gus devices Of the advertising.agent are
combined to allure the restless denziens OF
a crowded community. Visions OF blue
skies are strangely intermlngled with the
realities OF Communication tickets, and the
advantages Of economy are enhanced by
the prospects Of pure atmosphere, fresh
butter and eggs, running brooks, ice.cold
springs, and freedom from city taxes. Yet
there arc some drawbacks 10 tho alluring
picture. 1t has been quietly noticed that
when u business mans country house
burns down, he seldom builds II again.
Tie persists in declaring that he intends to
rebuild, but the postponement Is Of the
most vague and indefinite character. II
the rural resident has a particular friend,
he Is always willing to make the sacrifice
OF selling him his homo at an attractive
reducliOni In price. Communication tickets,
which were provided In large quantities
in the early enthusiasm Of country life,
are thrown in at great discount. There
Is solemn silence as to the prevalence OF
the ague; q Virtuous indignation is ex.
hibited OF the. mention OF mosquitoes.
No one thinks to describe the gradual
process by which the running brook has
been transformed into stagnant water,
how the dairy has proved to be a failure,
and how you must go back 10 town If
you desire to secure the choice cuts Of
beet and the early vegetables Of the sea.
son.
Yet some Of these secrets OF country
lie must have got abroad, for there is an
evident reaction in favor Of metropolitan
life DR.. Holmes, in recent instalment
of"Tho Poet at the Breakfast Table"
comes out boldly enough in defense Of
city life and concentrated communities.
Alterexprcssing tho very sensible opinion
that the prettiest and best specimens OF
womankind are raised under glass, Just
rs the finest fruit is, he adds: Keep her
in wide street Of q 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 pineapple" Furth.
er on, he says that "People don't know
what gain there Is to health by living In
cities" and that "a flrst.rate city house
is regular Sanitdrium." A writer in
AppIetOn'S journal, following DR.. Holmes,
is of the opinion that the City of
the Future is 10 be one OF sci
entit1c cOmpactness instead of scien-
titic diffusion, and recommends the build
ing Of tall houses, with steam elevators,
thorough ventilation, perfect drainage,
each floor household in itself, the roof
set aside for garden and promenade, and
the whole adapted to cooperative house
keeping. It is claimed by the new set,
thus undertaking to dispose Of the prob.
lem of city life, that there arc iresher look.
ing women and heartier old men 10 the
large towns than in the country districts;
that the city bred lady has more attrac-
tons for outdoor exercise, and so takes
more of it; that city cooking is not so pro.
duCtive OF dyspepsia as the fried grease
and hot bread Of the farm house; and that
the appliances for carrying of the refuse
matter of crowded communities leave a
more healthful condition Of the atmos-
phere than the damp fields and primitive
customs Of country life. Every one will
recall the general complaint Of mosquitoes
and ague-two scourges that might have
taken their places among the visitations
put upon Pharaoh-that has come from
the suburban villages and rural districts
during the past summer, and agree, at
least, that the partisans Of country life
have not all the arguments on their side.