The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-13
OUR ovERCRoWpEp CITIES.


drift of the rural population into the towns
and cities, and, among the young people of
both sexes, general breaking away from
farm life and joining the ranks of the pro-
fessons and other supposed lighter employ
ments about the cities. But the present
.overcrowded condition of all these voca-
tions suggests reaction, and there is already
a tendency setting in which may restore the
equilibrium that is becoming so seriously
unbalanced. This unusual influx, especially
of the younger classes, is brought about in
most cases by false notions both of the
country life that is given up and
the city life entered upon. The
farmers son who spends a few
terms at the neighboring academy in
nine cases out of ten comes home completely
divorced from the idea of further following
agricultural pursuits His stay at the acad-
envy ought to have had the opposite effect,
but it hasn't. He has heard so many trite
speeches about the possibility of every school
boy gracing the learned professions and fill
ing the halls of Congress, and none about the
beautiful, boundless field of the farmer, that
there is no great wonder that so many are
misled and the timber for thousands of first
class farmers thus wasted in working it into
third-rate lawyers. Another false impress
sion that has wrought untold mischief and
is still at the work is the idea
that upon the farm the op-
portunity for intellectual improvement
is not equal to that in the cities Barring
the superiority of the primary schools in the
city, the chances in the country are far su-
perior. The business of tilling the soil in
cludes the entire circle of the sciences, or
more nearly so than any other calling. And
the daily work affords a field for thought, ex-
pertinent and pleasure without limit Many
of the destinations of city life that attract
the poorer classes from the country are after
ward found to be dearly purchased, and fall
far short of the comforts of the old home in
the country. The question in our large
cities is becoming so serious that the
authorities are discussing the proposition
of compulsory measures to thin out the
densely populated districts. In certain quar-
tiers in New York the lower classes are
crowded into tenement houses in the same
manner almost that hogs are in pens. This
condition of things is simply appalling. 1t
breeds bodily, mental and moral sickness
that has no end. If this country were
densely populated, so that this horrible con-
dition should be the outgrowth of necessity
there would be no grounds of a complaint or
cause of wonder. But land is yet cheap
comparatively, in the older States and can
be had for taking it in parts of the new and
in the Territories.
For humanity's sake, there ought to be
brought about strong reaction against the
prevailing pell-mell rush of people into our
large cities, where they must encounter such
experience. But the poor man asks, "Have
I not right to go and live where 1 please?''
He has still a greater right. He has the
right to go where his child can breathe the
pure air of heaven, be surrounded by whole
some influences, that In after years its life
shall not be a foul blot upon society.
Taking this question in all its various forms
and vexations. there is no social
problem that demands more attention
There is abundant philanthropy among our
people, when once aroused, to enable them
to take up this pressing matter and work out
remedy. 1t ought not be neglected until
the stern necessities of police and sanitary
considerations compel action in the premises
There is labor of love in it and field for
Christian charity that ought to be filled by
volunteers. To wait to be drafted to do this
good work cuts down the reward But
whether done by volunteers or drafted men,
it must be done and should be commenced
without delay.