The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-11-05
Social Life in America.

But whatever may be true of society
in New York, outside of New York
there is great, wide, independent
world which not only receives no law
from New York, but never thinks of
New York, does not know that there
is any New York. 1t is in the city, in
the country. 1t has all the conven-
fence, all the refinements, many of the
luxuries of modern material life. 1t
has as much intelligence as New York.
1t reads more, it thinks more, it deals
more with real things. 1t speaks as
gently, it stands more firm. Perched
on my sunny hilltop survey the wide
wooded hills and the far stretching
fields, and 1 suppose there is not a sim
gle dress coat within my great circling
horizon. Can civilization be without
dress coats? see yonder in the south
western heavens the sky-light of So
cial club which gathers every known
flower and bird and bug all Summer
and classilies and analyzes them all
Winter Here is President of bank
who leaves his carriage to pluck a
green knob. cut it open with his PEN
knife and show you the worm that nes-
ties at its heart. A tradesman points
out in the smooth rock under your;
horses hoofs the track of the glacier a.
billion years ago-or is it the swoop of
Mr.. Donnelly's cometP From yonder
shoemaker's little, square, graceless
shop comes q man, learned in snakes.
who will lay down his lap-stone and
teach you as deftly how a snake walks,
as Ruskin teaches you the falsehoodi
and ignorance of the LAGOON. On the
northeast l see a man TO whom the,
light of heaven has been darkened
these 80 years, but before whom on
that account all the ways of the world
seem only the more clearly outlined
and to whose ardent patriotism the.
manifest destiny of this country IS
strangely blocked by the most hope
less blindness of all-the blindness of
those who, having eyes, see not. But
fearing lest, in that new world to which
we are fastening, he shall find light
again only to learn that his beloved
classics have no circulation there, he
is having his dearest old Greek plays
and Latin epics and Hebrew songs read
over to him by every man and maid
whose mouth is fashioned to frame
| those unaccustomed words-and-theyi
are not fewi Yonder is the simple,
sweet home of woman whose domes-.
tic virtues and gay private benefi-i
cence make You forget that the most
chill and wintry scenery of New En-
gland will grow gorgeous, vivid, senti-i
ment under her glowing pen On that
western slope gathering now the am
ethystine tint of the setting sun q,
young girl breathed the breath of It
| ally, drank the wine of Mecenas, dis.
titled the honey of Hymettus, and in
this new, fresh world wrought from
the older worlds such sweetness and
light as dared shine out full and free
| and bold even into Matthew Arnold 81
face. Time and type would fail me to
| name the names of those around me,
poor and rich. who have turned from
the mere material pleasures of wealth.
| who have forged their way out from
the stern restrictions of poverty and
by home study, by foreign travel, from
pure love. haze joined force with the
simple great of all ages and have adj
ded their own clear candor aud white
| radiance TO the sweetness and light of
the world.
1t may not be civilization, but it is a
most endearing and eXalting form of
barbarism.-Ga Hamilton IN NeIQ
York Tribune.