The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-09-29
Written for The Spirit of Democr,
FROM COLUMBUS.

COLUMBUS, ONO, Sept. 16, 1874
Ed. SPIRIT: When person changes
his residence from one part of the coun.
try to another there are many scenes,
circumstances and peculiarities that sur
round the new home with which 10 COM
pare the old one. All these many little
circumstances (aud they may be said to
be legion) enter into the comparison.-
Many of them enter the mind almost in
stinctively, and, like the leech when ap.
| piled to the body, attack and fasten on
the mind imperceptibly and without ef-
fort to take them in.
You are always expected when you
meet friend, whether of the new resi-
dence or the old home, to be able to
promptly answer the never failing ques-
ton: Chow do YOU like it here p In,
stinct alone would prompt you to deter.
mine that you do like it or that you do
not. The answer to the question carries
with. it more than that. namely, how you
like it, and the reason you do or do not
like it. To know you do or do not like
it, is always easily given, but the reason
is more difficult. To give the reason, you
must take into consideration and COM
pare all the actual surroundings Of your
new residence with your old home; not
only these, but there will come up many
imaginary comparisons which have no
actual existence except in the taste OF
the person.
1t is now seven months since I left
your ever pleasant town, with its very
agreeable surroundings, of which l can
truly say was home to me. l knew all ::
its stores and workshops. its churches
and schools; even knew many Of its
dumb animals Il knew lis birds and flow
ers; loved all, because every one was
kind, social, agreeable and equal l do
not feel that any of those attachments
have abated. There, every one meets
you on the street with smile of recog-
milton. almost knew what every one
was doing. l knew the character of
every one. The gossip of the town, If
detrimental to the character of any one,
(which was seldom the case, had but
| little effect with me, because l knew the
party as well as the reporter.
Here, find it very different The
advantages for social aud intellectual
Improvement are superior,and especially
so to one who depends more on sight
seeing than study for improvement
There is always something to see, some
thing to amuse. Every one moves hur-
riedly, and the railroad and telegraphic
age, seems to have fastened on the &C
tions of the people.
You know your friends and associates,
all others are outsiders to you. Almost
every one you meet on the street is cold
and Indifferent to you-a stranger to
you. No pleasant smile of recognition
is exchanged as you pass Your friends
and associates are as likely to be in some
other part of the city as in your imme
diate vicinity-Ihave sometimes thought
more likely, or it would not be city-like
You know what your next neighbor has
| for dinner or tea; when they have callers
OF company ;you learu to recognize theil
countenance, or even the sound of thei
footsteps, but you do not know thei
names or occupation If your friends
from the country ask you who lives
there, you will probably surprise then
by saying: 81 do not know; l have
never made their acquaintance"
!, Why this is so of city life, I am not
able to tell; 1 only know it to be so.
ipresume it has. always been SO and al
ways will continue to be so. l do no
Idesire to have it understood that the peo
pile of cities are Indifferent, and no
friendly and social like those of the vii
ilages or country; on the contrary Il hav
found those with whom / have becom
acquainted very agreeable,and nearly al
are so, presume. My object has been
in this letter. to show some of the point
of difference by which you may max
. fcomparisons in the organization of SO
ciety under different circumstances.
E. A.