Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-03-04
City versus Country.
TFor the SPEcTAToR.1


In the issue of the SPECTATOR of Febru-
airy 18th, noticed an article from the pen
of one of Augustus earnest workers in the
cause of Temperance. In this he attempt
ed to set forth the fact that vice was more
prevalent in cities than in rural Districts
have heard this theory dwelt upon, and
believed it true, as many others do, and
have done, until I, from observation as a
dweller amid the busting busy throng, have
fonnd it otherwise. We will take for ex-
ample city covering an area of five miles
square, peopled with one hundred thousand
men, women, and children, with the same
tastes, the same ambitions, the same temp
tations thrown around them that this num-
Der would in rural districts, and you might
analyze but analyze in vain to find great
er degree of vice. On the other hand, you
take this population in city, and the same
in rural districts, and compare them in re-
gard to independence of thought, indepen-
dence of action, freedom from the love of
gossip, and being busy about the affairs of
their neighbors, helpful in all works of
charity, diligent in business, earnest in the
cause of right living, acting, working,
christian men and women; clinging to their
firesides as the shrine whereat to worship
when the days work is done giving earn
est admonition to their children in regard
to entering places of wrong doing Com
pare them in this and the city will be the
winner every time. The gas lighted streets
to the latter are as common as the rail-
lined by.ways in the rural districts are to
the former. The masses shun the dens as
they would an infected region, and not be-
cause they are fearful Of their neighbours
opinion; but through principle; we have no
ear for, nor care, what our neighbors may
say, let it be good or evil; city has no
time or desire for gossip; so with the great
mass it must be matter of principle. Of
course, we know every city has its dens and
TAPS, and brothels, ESQ have the country
districts) and these are often filed with
victims from the rural districts, who are led
thither by too great curiosity, or lack of
the sterling construction of the injunction,
"Enter not into temptation"
Then, we must remember the advantage
cities have in fereting out crime. The po-
lice force, with it's vigilant members sta
toned at the various crossings, ever on the
alert night and day to punish the offender.
The detective corps with their argus-eyed
power for prying into deeds that are evil.
can call to remembrance crimes commit
ted in a rural district which were left I'M
punished, that in a city would have ended
the perpetrators on the gallows, or in the
penitentiary. Then we have the daily corps
of faithful Editors of morning and evening
papers, who demand, as the peoples lead
ers, that the laws must be enforced. And
so it runs all the way through the various
agencies of city's defence against crime,
morally and religiously. Our city is GER
tainly well classed amongst the corrupt of
the land; but dweller within its walls
may not see this in the same light as cas-
ual visitor, or passer-by. We will take the
Sabbath before our late Presidential cleo
ton for example. The night before, until
the hour of eleven, the streets had been
ablaze with the torches and transparencies
of s, 1000 voters of democracy in procession,
all within our city's limit-none from
abroad. The next day being Sabbath, a
Sabbath stiffness, indeed, reigned supreme.
No drunkenness, no arrests, no excitement.
Election day followed-this passed off as
quietly; then came the excitement of cleo
ton returns, and hilarity ran rampant, but
all was decent and sober Notification. This,
Zoo, III CITY VI 1Vo,OUo soulS, WHO nave To-
spect for the law. The great charm Of city
life (and this coils around so many hearts,
who would rather live within city's
limits on less, than with greater abundance
in the country is the protection of law, the
freedom to do as you please SO you do right,
the facilities of culture, and the open door.
ways to knowledge for all those who choose
to enter. We are willing to draw the COM
parison every tine that the masses are just
as temperate, and just as good, if not bet
ter, in the city than in the rural districts.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. L. M. L.