Smyrna times., 1878-10-02

an address before the Maryland State Fair
at Pimlico last Thursday which like all his
addresses contains much for thoughtful
consideration. The most interesting part
says the Baltimore Sun, was that in which
he deprecated the ambitions, discontents
and ennuis which tend to aggregate popu-
lations in cities, and urged the need of a
return of people to the fields and forests,
and the life which men lead there. He
said with emphasis, and with apt illustra-
tive instances, that "country life gives not
merely the leisure for study, but especially
is fitted for meditation and reflection needed
to counteract the heated sensationalism and
feverish thirst for novelty so painfully
characteristic of the time and country in
which we live. From homes in the country,
oftentimes obscure and sometimes impov
erished, have emerged those men who
most potently and benefcently have infu-
enced the history of our country" But in
spite of the better mental and physical
growth which man secures by means of
country life-in spite of the waste, riot and
fever of city life-in spite of the bad and
corrupt governments of cities and their
heavy taxes, this tendency of population
to accumulate in cities at the expense of
the country still exists unchecked, and how
to arrest it is one of the most intricate
problems of the age. Mr.. Bayard has but
touched upon the edge of the problem, but
he has done so in a way that cannot fail to
set people thinking. "Has there not been
for more than twelve years." said Mr.. Bay
ard, ga steady exodus of our young yeo-
manry from the country districts to the
towns and cities? Is it not fact that the
steady labors of the farm and the duller
occupations and amusements of the home
to many of the present generation, who
have sought in the hot-bed growth of trade
and speculation, fostered by paper money
in our centres of population, more profit.
able, an easier or more exciting kind of
life? What has been the result? The cities
are filled with the idle victims of over trade
and exploded speculations. Agricultural
labor has been abandoned by those most fit
for it, and our farmers have been compelled
to get along with less competent hands and
pay them higher wages" This is all true,
and true in much greater measure than
appears from Mr.. Bayard's remarks. Those
who have examined the statistics have
found that throughout the United States
the ratio of the growth of population in
the cities is more than double that of
population in the country.
In most parts of New England the entire
increase in population has been absorbed
by the towns, and some of the rural dis.
tricts are sensibly falling off in the number
of their actual inhabitants. The causes of
this deplorable tendency are not hard to
find, but how to provide the remedy, how to
remove those causes, is a puzzle indeed.
People do not flock into cities merely be-
cause they find business there. They leave
the country because it is dull. Life stag.
mates there. Machinery has broken up
the old-time diversity and continuity oi
farm employments, under which there was
easy and steady work for man and woman
all the year round. Country life has thu:
lost its zest in one respect, though the
change affords more time and greater op
portunity forrecreatiOno or rational pleasures
When this is denied, the more active anc
enterprising of its population will probably
continue to find relief in emigration. Or
the other hand the whirl, the excitement
the passion, the variety of the attraction
and fascinations of city life are increasing
every day. How shall we strike balanc'
between these things, and teach men hov
much better it is to live we'll in the dul
country than to starve and die in the reek
ing garrets and cellars of the over-crowdeC
town? That is the great problem, and tn,
philosopher or statesman who will solve i
effectually will earn and deserve to wea
the civic crown indeed,