St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-12-29

differentiate the citizen from the coun-
tryman In the country one is at home |
with nature; there is a largeness OF |
scope and breadth of view; the free
fresh air, the ever-changing aspect OF
the scenery, the leisure--all these have
the effect to make rural people more OBJ
servant and studious OF their own al
fairs. In city men study men; IN the
country they study things. Perhaps
there are no other books that mark
these differences more perfectly than
the writings of Charles Lamb, who was
city man, and those of Wordsworth,
Donald G.. Mitchell and others. whose
thoughts breathe of flowers and fields
,, and rural scenes. Perhaps no writer
more enjoyed a city life, in spite Of all
his unhappy domestic and family asso-
Citations, to which he lovingly sacrificed
himself, than Charles Lamb. Ills So
| cial enioyments, his pursuit OF lltera-
ture, and his love for the very stones
and bricks with which he had been ac-
auainted from early boyhood; his strug-
giles and disappointments, and his fnal
easy old age, after his long mechanical
routine of bookkeeping and counting
up figures his history, in fact, as
told by himself in the most charming
manner-gives us a picture. OF man
born and bred in city and enjoying
all that could be made pleasant OF 1T
while he chafed and fretted at
its restraints. But one reared in the
country, after reading Lambs expert
ence, never ,envies him, but rather
thinks how much more he might have
/ enioyed rural life had that been his
fortune, and as one reads thoughtfully
he tinds himself continually comparing
the two lives, but all to the advantage
of his own. The sun rises, shines and
sets differently to the city man and the
country man; the rain falls drearly to
the one, but pleasantly to the other;
the patter of the drops on the leaves IS
} musical; the winds, too, make melody;
the gentle rustic soouhes, and the
clustering storms make the blazing fire
and snug shelter full of comfort in a
country house, while the city man
shivers as the winds howl dismally
about the roofs and chimney tops. just
at this season the differences become
5 more marked and better defined. We
) can even admire the snow crystals in the
/ country. and .sthe beautiful snow, =
J frineing the trees and shrubs, covering
l the fences with borders of lace-work,
f and hiding, as under a covering OF
r gentleness and mercy, all the evils in
} the world, can only be fully realized in
t the country. In the city there is none
of this beauty and purity; but as the
4 clear white becomes smirched and
1 fouled, and soon changes to a mass OF
/. disagreeable and filthy slop, it seems to
: represent all that, once pure, has be-
s come degraded and foul in the lower
e stratum of the city life.
# But there is practical and materia
e view to be taken of this question which
y we can only merely touch upon, but
e which occurs to any one who thinks
e upon this subject. The excess of wealth
e and the corresponding depths Of pov
h erty, the uncertainties of life, the cor
o rosive cares, the weary struggles witt
Q adversely, the hopeless defeats. thu
: furious competition, and the crush ant
C strife for existence, in which thousand
&c are trodden under and disappear with
y out leaving any traces, just as browne.
If body sinks under water. and the las
e bubble of the breath floats down ant
u breaks-all this is unknown in thu
/. country, where industry and careful
h ness secure comfort and independence
ic and where one can very well afford t
l. help brother along rather than crow
q him down to rise upon his ruin.-N. I
N Times.