Brookings register. (Brookings, S.D.) 1890-1894, 1893-04-07
AN ENLIGHTENED PEOPLE.
south Dakota's Moral, Social and Educa-
tiOnal Standing.

We publish in this issue an editorial
from the Sioux City Journal of March
%, concerning the prospects for South
Dakota for 1893. We do not appropr-
ate the whole article, but il is all so
good that we can't decide between
which lines to run the scissors. 1t is
the unsolicited and disinterested testi-
mony of an influential paper outside
OF the state, and ought to have weight
abroad as words spoken from the con-
yictions of truth.
We take this occasion TO say few
words i'm reference to the status of the
people of the state outside of material
attainments or prospects. We do this
the more readily, because, in nearly
all the representations OF South Da-
kOta ) advantages, here growth in ma
terial development has been paraded
before the eyes of the outside world.
and the equally important matter of
Sociality. morality and education left
to be guessed out or cOnjectlred.
The strides that South Dakota has
made in material development are of
that phenomenal character to surprise
and excite admiration. yet. the more
important matters of an admirable
and progressive civilization has kept
even pace with the accumulation OF
wealth and the building up Of future
advantages. 1t seems as if the east
ern immigrant, when ne packed his
goods for the journey to the western
prairies. also garncred the seeds of So
cial refinement and planted them
around his new home. where they have
root and flOuriShed, till we can boast
of a social and moral condition equal
to the deserved reputation of the east
The characteristics of lawlessness and
defiance of the arbitrary rules of a
'christianiZed society which were car
ried to eastern ears not many years
ago. have gwen away before the on
ward march Of a higher civilization,
so that we may point with pride to
the growth of the better elements of
human character. Institutions to pro-
mote the growth of these elements are
everywhere established as fast. yea,
faster, than the increase of pOpula-
tiOn. Every town has it's literary So
cieties, reading circles. EpwOrth
leagues, various christian bands, and
every new method of social and moral
improvement. The Lake Madison
Chautauqua, inaugurated at Madison,
has proved by the success of its two
annual assemblies, that the people of
the state are in close contact with the
higher grades of mental attainment.
Their patronage has been SO generous
that the Lake Madison Chautauqua
has been able to take rank with the
best and highest: il is an honor TO the
state.
Two hundred and SiXty-One papers
are published in the state, of which
twenty-One are daily, two semi-week-
ly, sixteen monthly, one Semi-mOnth-
ly, and the remainder are weeklies;
being one publication to l.l5O of the
population. New York has one paper
to 1900 of population, Massachusetts
one to 1900, Maine one to 200, Ken
tucky one to $500. Connecticut one to
5000, California one to 1000. WiscOn-
sin one to $500. and so on. In addi-
tion to the reading matter furnished
by the 26l native papers, the dailies of
Sioux City, St. Paul, Minneapolis and
Chicago are largely patronized. South
DakOtans are reading people, and
keep posted on the current events Of
the day and age.
The state has wisely made prOvi-
sionS for educational and refOrmatOry
institutions, so that one of the most
prominent objects in the country is
the school house: while the high school
and all that pertains to it is matter
of the highest importance and solici-
tude in our towns and cities. OF the
Agricultural college in BroOkings. and
other state institutions. we cannot
speak for want of space; all we can
say to our eastern friends is, come and
see for yourselves. - Dell Rapids
Times.
Lost His Fingers.
A few weeks ago John Matter came