Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-03-29
THE EAST AND WEST.
A Very Nice and Delicate Question


Very Nice and Delicate Question In
Ethical Geography.
II there is. as legend says there Is.
such thing, seen through Western
eyes, us an "effete East" what are its
precise territorial limits9 In other
words, where does such an East really
end and the West begin9 Or, to state
1t still differently, at what point on the
map may one, II so disposed, put ones
finger confidently down and say;
Here is the spot where the efIeteness
Of the arrogant East abruptly ends.
ind in its stead is the unexpended
fecundity of q liberal, untrammeled
West?" While the matter Is not one
that will, apparently, in the imme-
diate future give rise TO serious in
ternational complication, it is. never
theless. OF no little domestic momen mt,
and may, at some distant day, even
call for State interference and adjudi-
cation at the hands OF boundary
commission, to be chosen from the i'm
partial outlying districts in the ex-
IRENE North and South.
In reality. the problem OF geograph-
ical separation would be one extremely
difficult TO solve TO the complete satis-
faction OF all concerned. 1t Is, for in
stance, not merely broad question
between Maine and Oregon. between
Eastport and Portland. or even, pos
sibly. between New York and San
Francisco. On general grounds, II
might be admitted that somewhere in
the intervening space the line would
certainly fall. On somewhat closer
examination, however, it will be found
that facts other and more minute than
mere latitude and longitude must be
seriously taken into consideration. II
may even be not unfairly assumed that
the fundamental idea OF East and West
itself is only relative, and can not be
thus recklessly applied. Schenectady,
where Daisy Miller lived, is west OF
Jersey City; and VIC all know that Osh-
kosh lies far to tho westward OF Kala-
mazoo. II, in the inquiry thus set on
foot. the reasons for the necessary
distinction were still more closely in
quired into. it might even be shown
that they who have thoughtlessly used
the epithet in question themselves
may fall under its ban.
When the division is finally made,
it must he wholly irrespective Of any
mere sectional prejudice. to which. 1t
should rise superior The, West, IT
may be supposed, will accept the judg-
ment joyfully; while the East, from
the very nature of the case, will be
sure, wherever the line Is drawn, TO
regard 1t with its accustomed equa-
nimity. Only those who. In possible
redistribution, may now for the first
time be included under tho term
East" will become even II little more
intolerant than they who have longer
borne the name. For purely practical
reasons, apart from mere sentiment,
the distinction here suggested ought
soon TO be made. 1t was on the island
of Grand Manan, down in the Bay OF
Fundy, last summer, that comment
was made upon the scarcity in the
community OF young people of both
sexes. slow is 1t" we asked, "that
we see so few young men and women
hereP" WELL" the captain replied,
"a great many have married and gone
west. v" "WestYn we said. ITO what
part OF the Westp't Well" said the
captain, mostly to Boston" At
lantic i Af4