St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-23
RURAL LIFE EAST.

eflA
If there is any part of the country
where one might expect to find the re-
lentless virtues of the Puritans still
in full bloom, it would be IN the
the rural districts of New England.
The descendants of the stern, self
denying men of invincible purpose. who
have been content to remain i'll the toll
some quest of livelihood from the uil-
generous lands of their sturdy ances-
tors, might be presumed to be shielded
from the giddy rays of the outside
world, and not infected with the frivoli-
ties of less segregated life. Yet at the
session of the Episcopal convention
at Washington. some time since, Rev.
DR.. NICHOLS, of Hartford. one of
the leading clergymen OF New Eng
land, with his own section spe-
cially in mind, asserted that ''coun-
try people are more wicked than
city people," and consequently the need
of missionary effort among them is
greater. The idea of sending mission
aries to the descendants of the Pilgrims
is suggestive. The controversy over
his unpalatable declaration has induced
the reverend doctor to support his state
mentS in strong article in leading
magazine. Whatever those who have
grown up in the district referred to
may think OF the observations of the
gentleman, they are of interest.
Il have he said, for years been close
student Of country life. BY country life
mean the type of civilization one finds on
the crossroads and in the back towns of
New England. have also been much in
the slum quarters of the city, and | speak
with deep conviction when 1 say the type of
wickedness found in the country is more re-
voting. SO far as petty vices and immortality
are concerned, than that found in the cities.
Much that is good can, of course, be said of
many country folks; but those of us who
have studied country life closely have
found it marred and polluted by vice,
DID you ever think how frequently
country people indulge in back-biting
and personal abuse? 1 consider the
gossip that one hears in country store, at a
country sewing circle, and about country
houses and barns, most degrading. Children at
district school hear more degrading CONVEX
sation and indulge in more petty vices, many
times over than do the city children at our
city schools. The country of today is not the
country of fifty years ago. Then singing
schools. husking bees. surprise parties. etc..
served to enliven country life and elevate it.
Now, in the pack towns. such things are
almost unknown Our city schools are mod
els of educational progress. The mind of
youth is constantly stimulated to better en-
deavor. In the back towns there has been
little progress in educational lines. Thus the
country boy grows up in ignorance, and vice
clings to him and becomes part OF his
nature" 800
A st. Paul resident, who had been
pupil and teacher in the country schools
of New England, says it is not pleasant
to make the admission. but his expert
ence and observation have very little
quarrel with the picture drawn. He
attended schools in the immediate dis
trict where DANIEL WEBSTER was
born and received his early education,
and asserts that his whole life has been
married by the vileness that permeated
the youthful society of which he was
part. The literature most in vogue was
under the ban of law and abhorrent to
decency. He is inclined to the belief
that, while the same conditions may not
be universal in those states. the gen
eral tone of rural life is : exceed
ingly meager and unprogressive.
1t is true that New England
has furnished the nation many noble
specimens of manhood and woman
hood, and the West is indebted to it,
the country districts not excepted, for
some of the most enterpriSing, saga
cious and valuable elements of popula-
ton. The new Northwest has been
particularly fortunate in this respect.
Possibly it has been the misfortune of
the rural districts of New England that
their contributions to the new regions
nave been of the choicest of their pop
ulation. The bright, hopeful aud ener-
getic young people have come West and
England picture will apply in some of its
phases to other rural sections of the
old states. Whatever the moral con-
ditions, rural life there has lost much
OF its geniality and brightness. The
Alliance lecturer OF this state spent
part of the past year visiting the farm
ers in Pennsylvania. New York and
other states, and in a public narration
described the rural life as surprisingly
narrow, unsocial and unattractive. 1t
had grown away from the merry, glad,
buoyant and festive condition of the
times when great centers Of population
were almost unknown. Such things as
picnics and husking bees were faded
"reminiscences. In the West the lines
between rural and city life are not very
distinct. and none have asserted moral
advantages in favor of the city life.
Neither is ideal. but both are progress
i've, and warrant optimistic views.