Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-10-26
Back Places

We have a few words to saw on this
tonic this week. suggested nv "Mrs. c. F.
D.'s" communication printed LAST week.
Back places" are those localities some
what removed from the great local centres
of population, or from the routes of travel
and commerce. II Is term of location
and not of condition. Back places and
backward places are nv no means svnony-
nous terms, and If the term is sometimes
used as a sheer or term of reproach, it is
done by those whose estimate should secure
for them our pity instead pricking our
sensibilities Back places have their dis
advantages. but they have their advantages
as we'll. While cities and large villages
have their greater advantages for culture
and refinement it has them only for those
who desire culture and refinement. and for
such there are advantages in back places
as we'll; and back places have far less of
opportunities and temptations for spending
time and money for that which conduces
to neither culture or refinement. The wise
and good men are as well known in the
country as in the city. Though we on the
farm have less opportunity of their per
sonal presence. their thoughts and words.
those things which make them good and
great, and famous. are ours. and read in
connection with the great book of nature
ever spread ost before us have an added
power to impress on the mind. whose sur
roundngs ever each the same great truths
Large places have many tempt ttions to
spend time and money in trivial things;
more people take your time; acquaintance
is wider; more calls to make and receive.
Theatres, concerts, minstrel troupes, and
parlor amusements,-allt take up time and
distract attention from more solid mental
employments.
People from back places, from the back
farm, who go to the village are called
green" and it is term often resented,
but it is true; and it Is just as true that the
man or woman from the large village who
goes to the city is just rs green. The
term, as used, means that persons to whom
it is applied are not familiar with the loca'
customs, manners and usages of place
The objects they meet are new and theil
uses often novel. But did you never think
the matter reversed was just as true. Who
could be greener, more piufully ignol an
OF the customs of the country than the p r.
son born and always resident in the CITY
not ignorant of human customs and habit:
of life and thought only, but of the opera
tons of nature as well. the habits of bpus
and bird For such, our common tOil pre-
SCENTS unfathomable mysteries The i'm
pements of our labor are rs novel obj ct,
as any the countryman wo I'D see in rhr
city. Then the greater mystery, the old
yet ever new miracle which changes The
summer mantle of beautiful green and
bloom into the more gorgeous colorlng
which turns every nil side and mountain
into mass of fl lming gorgeous color; the
fall brown AMI sere, when nature seem
from and dead and is covered with II
snowy mantle as with a garment. and
later when nature comes forth resurrecled
to II new life like L zlrus from his grave
and aglin being "clothed' with It's dress
of green. All this is something unfamiliar
to the city Ore person. ami We never re-
meuber it without plying them for VIII t
they have missed.
After all it is not Locality nr stu ttion
which governs mans requirements, Tue
will, the desire to know, the thirst lo
greater and better things is 10 II grea
degree above and beyond these accIden''
OF place, and while no place compels cul
ture and refinement, so no place iorblds il
To US it has been matter of very grave
douot whether the schools of the large,
villages and cities are so much superior II
those of the back PAGES, when judged BY
their results. 1t has sometImos been a
query whether there was not a tender cy
toward too much system to the negl' c
of the individual pupil and his persona
requirements; but competent educators
have this interest at heart, and the bes
way will be reached and adopre though
many theories may be tried and founc
wanting before that time come.