The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-07-14
CITY LIFE.
Why 1t Proves Fatal to individuality and
the Sweeter Emotions.

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the Sweeter Emotions.
The tremendous growth of cites is
one of the most striking phases of mod.
ern civilization. London already boasts
apopulation of nearly 100000 and the
great English metropolis still grows
with the rapidity which characterizes
our Western towns. Paris continues to
absorb a vast proportion of the wealth
and energies of France. New York will
soon be to America what London lis to
England. On both sides of the Atlantic
numerous cities of the second rank con.
stitute arenas in which the great battle
of life is fought with pitiless rivalry and
savage intensity. The proper and ade-
quate government of great cities pre-
sents one of the gravest problems of the
time; for, behind all the splendor Of the
metropolis, there stalks the specter OF
the mob, whose fury is ever estimated
by the contrast between boundless lux
ury and hopeless squalor.
ClOf course, this phase of human life is
almost as old as the lace itself, but in
Vulnerable circumstances have con-
spired to intensity the strain of city life
in our money-getting age. The means
Of intercommunication are so perfect
that the denizen of the modern metropo-
lis seems to throb with all the activities
of the great world beyond The neces-
sites of the moment seem more
imperious than they ever seemed
before. Little leisure is left for thought,
action has almost come to be the cause,
rather than the consequence Of thought.
In the modern city, as in ancient Rome,
''plain living and high thinking have
a bitter struggle for place. The ten
dency is toward the protitless luxury
and vulgar ostenation which follow in
the train of superabundant wealth. In
cities more frequently than in the COM
para.ive calm of county lite is present
ed the perplexing problem which Thack-
cray has crystallized in the phrase How
sire to solve this problem lies at the bot
tom of the frantic speculation which at
tracts eager thousands to the worlds
great commercial exchanges.
The Importance of the. city to the
development of civilization is not to
be denied. 1t is in the great centers
of population that the triumphs of hu.
man genius are mostreadily recognized
and most munificently rewarded. In
cities money will command luxuries
which the country can not give us at
any price. Polish of manner, taste in
dress, cosmopolitan tolerance of opin-
ion, quiclsness and penetration oil
thought are the logical consequences OF
the daily rivalry Of great bodies Of
men. Yet, after all that can be sad
in favor of cities. it remains undenia
bly, true that the essential truth and
beauty of life are to be found beyond
the limits of unyielding brick anc
mortar. A vast proportion of thu
worlds poetry has been written il
cities, but the true poets heart is Away
in the green fields and by the gentle
streams which he has known in othe
days. The country air seems to posses
finer essence that fills the heart will
nobler impulses than are to be felt b.
him who treads the pavement in hi
round of ceaseless toll. The mos
splendid pile can rouse in the sou
no such sense of beauty as that whicl
stirs us when we see the noun
tains standing out against TIL
matchless background Of the sky, an
the weary toiler will seek in vain
within the city's confines, for the per
feet rest which comes to him VIII
hears the murmer of the winds as the
stir the fragrant pines. City life
luxurious and splendid, but it is almos
invariably fatal to individuality and t
the sweeter emotions which give to ex
istence the only enduring charm.-N
o. Times Democrat.