The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1893-07-01
BAD ROADS ogsrRuc7 PROGRESS.
A Perfect Highway Is JOY Forever and
Blesses ..very Home II Passes.

breeding have centered in cities. This is
fact which it is futile to deny. The
words we use to express these qualities
prove it beyond cavil Polish, polite,
urbane and civil are derived from the
Greek polls or city, the Latin urbs,
city, and civis, a resident of city How
shall we account for this? Science has
shown that all differences and peculiar
tiles among men are traceable directly to
either heredity or environment.
1t follows, then, that the superior re-
fnement of manner possessed by resi-
dents of cities is wholly due to their sur
roundings, since they and their more
sturdy country cousins are of the same
race This shows that the more men
rub against each other the less friction
is caused by such attrition. Rough cor
ners are rounded, asperities softened,
rudeness checked. While mere smooth
ness of manners and an outside show of
politeness result from dealing with
strangers, it may be safely said that
sturdy integrity and true culture spring
from long continued association and con-
slant business relations among the same
persons.
Now, every impossible road is an in
superable barrier to local advancement,
cutting off all intercommunication and
closing all avenues which lead to social
and intellectual development. By in
generating every family in the farm
prison we shut out the leaven of progress
which the spirit of emulation arouses
among people who often meet to discuss
matters of mutual interest, whether ma
terial and local, or literary, scientific,
spiritual and general Such Chinese
wall separates each man from his fell
lows, from every spur to improvement.
from every incentive to mental and moral
growth.
For the highest good of the people Of
any community it is quite essential that
facilities be established for communica-
ton with the outside world, especially
with the great centers of civilization,
literature. traffic and art. This may be
carried on by travel, or through the me.
dunn of the-mail service, preferably by
both, but bad roads obstruct both
Good roads will metamorphose the
present unfortunate state of affairs in
country towns and introduce the advan
tages, the polish, refinement and civility
now supposed to existalmost exclusively
in cities The quickened intelligence and
stimulated thought which result from
the constant watching of the political,
scientific and religious movements go
ing on around us constitute the most inn
portant factors in the education and adj
vancement of the age. 1t turns atten-
ton away from the petty quarrels of the
neighborhood to the great affairs of the
world and leads to higher and nobler
plane of life.
The daily communion with the world
and consequent acquaintance with its
needs, with the necessary work to be
done and how to do it, will largely bene-
fit the mental vacuity which sooner OF
later takes possession of those whom cir
cumstances consign to isolation.
A perfect highway is thing of beauty
and Joy forever. 1t blesses every home
bywhich it passes. 1t brings into pleasant
communion people who would otherwise
have remained at a perpetual distance.
1t awakens emulation, cements friend
ships and adds new charm to social life.
1t makes the region it traverses more at
tractive, the residences more delightful.
1t stimulates a spirit Of general improve
ment.
Fields begin to look tidier; shabby
fences disappear; gardens show fewer
weeds; lawns are better kept; the houses
seem cozier; trees are planted along its
borders; birds fill the air with music; the
world seems brighter; the atmosphere
purer. The country is awake; patriotism
revives; philanthropy blossoms as selfish
ness fades and sinks from view. The
schoolhOuse and the church feel the mag
ic infuence-the wand Of progress has
touched even them-the old are young
again. the young see something now Il
live for, and to all life seems worth the
living. The daily mail reaches eacl
home. The rural cosmopolitan feel;
the daily pulse of the world" The gold
en- days of which the poets long have
sung are upon us. The dreams of the
past are coming true. Nothing car
thwart the will of fate. Put your ear t.
the ground even now, and you will heal
the footballs of the good time coming.
Professor w. w. Prendergast at the
Minnesota Road Convention.
L