Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1890-07-25
The New England NIIInge.
Boston Journal

DOstOn JOulnhl.
The decline in Importance Of the New
England village and the main reasons
for it are facts which are pretty
generally understood. Whether this
deterioration is likely to continue is a
question which it would be very un'
fortunate for New England to have to
answer in the affirmative. Nothing
has done more TO give New England
life Il distinctive flavor than the exist.
enCe OF these small centers OF popula.
ton, clustered about the church and
post Office and school-the heart, rs it
were, OF the rural communities, par
taking for more Of the rural character
than the noise and hustle and com.
monplaceness OF the manufacturing
town. There are observers who de-
clare that they see indications that the
country village Of New England has
reached the lowest point OF its deca.
dence, and that its future has good
deal more Of prosperity and progress
than It's immediate past. llo J. b.
Walker Of Concord, Nil, in the course
! OF thoughtful article in the New Eng
lander and Yale Review, notes some Of
the causes Of the decline of the village,
and argues that these causes have large
~ spent their force In the first place,
h. fin DIS that the New England farmer
is fast emancipating himself from bad
farming. and that his industry is al.
ready on All upward rebound. With
this Improvement naturally comes an
increased prosperity for the village
which the farms tncircle. Then, too
Mr.. Walker points to the rapid de-
velopment ofthe steam railroad system
Of New England, and the possibilities
Of the use Of electricity, as promising
that the day is not distant when rail
road facilities will be enjoyed by al
most every town; and communities
which were blighted years ago by be.
ing passed by the first railroad con,
structiou will revive. There is a
bright outlook for the villages, Mr..
Walker thinks, in the rapid diversif.
cation of manufacturing industries.
Then there is the city boarders, an in.
dustry which IN the average season
brings some five million dollars into
New Hampshire alone. Closely relat.
ed with this Is the fact, to which Mr..
Walker gives no undue prominence,
that the thorough.going American has
an instructive fondnesS for country life,
which, though depressed for many
years by adverse circumstances, is
bound 10 reassert itself whenever ade-
quate means and opportunities permit
its manifestation. Before another
generation has passed." Mr.. Walker
argues, 1.-The true American will, when
able, have his business residence in the
city or large town and his home in the
country" That is the unmistakable
'Ch'iShSs hiiChhs, AZ etlc uI'oplIbblup
of pretty suburban villas everywhere
through New England attests. In con
Guiding Mr.. Walker says:
1.-THE New England village il neither
moribund nor dead. Better speci
mems OF it exist today than can be
found in all the past, back even &c
Plymouth Rock. New demands for il
are constantly arising. New industrie.
are enriching its people. The now
spirit of this new age is broadening it,
ideas and refining its life. 1t offers its
privileges to wider ranges OF pecuniar,
condition than does either the farm OF
the country estate. 1t extends its wei
come to the rich and poor alike. 1t il
the outgrowth OF the New England
character. 1t came here 270 years ago
and it came to stay"