The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-07-04
TOWN AND COUNTRY LIFE,

and seek to better themselves through
city resid nee and work, in the follow
ing interesting and suggestive article:
The statistics which were recently
issued by the Census Bureau showing
the increase of the population of the
great cities and towns of the United
States have not proved pleasant read.
ing to those who believe that town life
is less wholesome, morally and physi.
cally, than country life. The cities are
constantly attracting 10 them the young
men of the country, who expect to find
in their noisy, crowded streets the
highroads of certain, if not sudden
wealth. Some of this great drift to the
towns is no doubt due to the recent
unprofiabeness of agriculture generally,
and in certain OF the States, notably
those of New England particularly;
but it has been the drift and tendency
for a long time, and is due to the COM
mon belief of the average country boy
that the town is not only more at.
tractlve place, but it affords more op-
portunities for getting on in the world.
To the few of superior shrewdness and
energy it does, but to the many it does
not, and it is among these that so
many of the unemployed and so many
of the earners of inadequate wages or
salaries are to be found. The country
has overcrowded the cities with refugees
from country labor, who have made the
rate of living higher, and the wages or
salary rate lower in too many instances.
The Canadian Minister of Agricul-
ture has, in his last annual report,
made comparison between the lives
of those young men who remain on the
farm and those who desert it for the
town, and especially those who enter
upon factory life. Naturally the
Minister advises the young men of
Canada against the latter pursuit, which,
he shows bv the citation OF reliable
authorities, has tendency to impair
health and reduce the average term of
existence. Among the other evidences
he produces of the physical deteriora-
ton resulting from continuous employ
ment in the mills Is that of the British
War Office, which shows that in Eng
land factory life has compelled the re-
duction of the standard of recruits for
the army. The Minister urges that
not only is life on the farm healthier
and happier, but that the wealth of
agricultural districts is more equally
divided, and more general state of
comfort, manhood and independence
obtains in them than in the cities. He
further says that while ninety per cent.
of the young men who leave the
country for the towns, without other
capital than physical and mental health
and strength, and have no reasonable
expectation or chance of becoming
merchants or manufacturers, ninety per
cent. of those who 60 to work early at
farming with the desire to become
owners or tenants of farms, can realize
their wish by the ordinary exercise of
the virtues of sobriety, industry and
thrift.
But after all the facts of the superior
more wholesome life of the farm are
made known, the lights of the great
cities will probably still attract the
country boy to their stony pavements,
crowded lodgings and poor rewards for
his labor. That, however, should de-
ter no one from proclalming the truth,
which is that only to the few does city
life offer either prizes or adequate
compensation, and that life in the
country, to those of studious tastes,
sobriety and energy, is not only, as a
rule, healthier and happier, but more
profitable.
The mass of people think change
Of position, like a new law, will work
great wonders and make life more
and happy. Too often we
hear only the great successes OF the
poor country lad who makes name and
fame in the city, but the thousands
who starve, struggle and die in proverty
have no record. 1t is the tendency of
human nature to dream and initiate
first, and take account of mental
equipments afterward. The man of
talent will succeed any place. But the
mass of men ha, c not talent and they
cannot get 1t either in schools, by
purchase or gift. There is no use of
them jumping from the frying pan into
the fire. II life is to be one of toll
and common labor, the work may as
well be done where it will gall the
least, and where competition is not so
great. 1t is the city and not the
which is overcrowded, and is
therefore the place where life has more
cares, less health and greater poverty.
The young man who cannot get along
in the country will be apt to starve in
the city. If he is capable of nothing
but the lower forms of work, if he has
no trade or handicraft, no special
knowledge of anything save rough
he had better stay near
home. Special talent will in time
make itself felt A Or. Johnson or
Garrick going to London has more
chance than the farm lad with nothing
but strong limbs and an honest heart.
A Jay Gould or a Horace Greeley can
go confidently into New York, but
what must become of poor simple
Hodge If he cannot get a place to
break stones on the streets2 The
problem of life or living has not been
solved vet and will not be for long
lime I, come We cannot conceive