Smyrna times., 1875-12-22
Town and Country.

| 9t"NN9' HldrI4dSeS are reported as unusually
numerous this Winter, and crowd faster on
each other in these weeks which preccdc
the holidays. Not marriages of the showv
sort, either, where point lace and presents
OF plate and diamonds argue foundation
OF comfort and ease, at least for the
present.; but quiet little weddings, where
the bride wears muslin and the bridegroom
MS one Sunday suit, and there are no rich
klndstolk, and no money in bank. and
nothing but love and hard work to depend
| upon Tor the future. Whether Tom and
Amelia are wise in marrying at all on such
foundation Is a matter safely to be left
for the gossip of their friends; it is one
which will settle itself by the amount of
love, common sense, and ability for work
which each takes into the partnership
Next to this general question comes. now
that they are married, the point for decision
as to where they shall live. Will hard
work, economy, and affection bring them
comfort and happiness sooner in the town
or the country? In such a question the
chances and advantages for a probable
family are always to be taken into account
II Tom IS tree-footed as to business enrage-
ments, his prudent friends are ant to urge
nm to go West, take his little capitol o,
SklIl IN business to some new settlement
and grow up with the town" Health.
wealth, virtues OF every gEade, he is assured
VIII be promoted by such change. There
VIII be overpowering arguments. based on
pufer ar, purer morals, the lack of tempta.
ton to display, and the cheapness of living.
winding up with the general assertion that
God made the country after the very best
model OF Arcadia, and left the towns o.tbo
making OF man or the devil. Now, the
tribune has always urged this side of the
question, founding, however. its arguments
on the plain facts that the cities were over.
crowded; that the markets for small cani.
tal' for ordinary skill or knowledge Law in
the halt-settled tracts of the West rather
than In Broadway or Chestnut-st. that
simply from the vast amount of competition
III town, the amount of intelligence. pluck.
endurance whichwouId givea young trader
or professional man certain success in n
growing village would not carry him THROUGH
the first year in New York Wedo not re-.
tract these assertions. If Tom has neither
secured position, money, family. nor DO.
litlcal influence, there is not much chance
lor hlm this Winter in New York; while
without any of these he may make fair
success in a Western town.
But let US suppose he has what he calls a
" fair start " in this city; he is mechanic
certain OF work; a clerk on small pay;
doctor, clergyman, journalist with very
moderate but sure income Tom and I
Amelia weigh this income in their minds /
necessarily, and it appears such misera.
Die little sum! If they measure it against |
Their actual needs, it is small enough. but
II las is most common) against the income
Oh ION S employer or that of the millionaire
whose carriage wheels throw mud ON them
at the crossings, it shrivels and withors
quite out of sight. On half the sum. Toms
COUSIN, out in Smith City, lives in a double
brick house, drives his wagon, and as
Amelia cries ecstatically, has farm of ten
acres, Tor the vegetables, hens, COW, and
Still, the present income is n
bird, though a small one, in the hand. and
t Is not at all certain that there are any in
he bush. Therefore they resolve to STAY
II town, at least until "thc times lift
little" Having so resolved, we have a
word or two of consolation for them. To
sensible, genuine people the scale of expen.
litures is very evenly balanced between
New York and Smith City. Toms work or
ervices, to begin with, command one.half
IS much more wages in the larger CITY
ent and provisions are double or treble the
rice in New York; fuel and lights about
quail; the wages of servants of tho ordi.
iary sort, as Amelia will probably not re.
uire skilled cooks, buffers and other mas.
ers, range very nearly even; if she chooses
do her own work, it will cost half the
lme and strength to do it here as it will F.,
the country; clothing of all kinds. in
luding shoes, are treble the price in the
lliage, and more costly in proportion as it
distant from the seaboard cities.
" But" cries Tom, "the temptation to
utlay here Society, dress, amusement 6
Il these are exigeant in their demands in !
ne city, And the children-if God sends .
lem-I don't want to bring them up in .
where they will be reminded of
heir inferiority at every turn. want q,
hem to feel as good as the best" Tom, in >
hort, regards Smith City as a Utopia where
O. shall find the sublimer virtues and
partan simplicity of life It is nothing of =,
ne kind. There is no such place in the :,
Inlted States. II you go to the top of the i
lghest peak and find cabin there, a
oman shall come out Of it with her calico ;,
Sirt pinned back after the last fashion.
late known to her, and judge of you by 4
our clothes, In fact, in small towns there .,
more anxiety to follow g the style,r moro
lind, idiotic subseryence to fashion in :,
ress, furniture, and habits of life, than in .
ie metropolitan city. Amelio, in her third