The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-04-12
Applied Science-In Agricultural and
Rural Economy.

We have letter before us from
very earnest friend out in the far
West, referring to an article on the
subject of decline in rural life
which appeared in these columns.
The letter describes the efforts to
better the surroundings of country
homes in which our friend has been
personally active in his own com
munity. He thinks library ac-
cessible to all the members OF
sub Alliances and clubs a great
desideratum. Such library, he
thinks, should provide not only
standard works, but also several
copies of local and national reform
papers. That a wholesome litera
ture accessible to farmers families
is a thing greatly needed in coun-
try life there is no doubt. 1t is not
only by it's educational value that
it does good, but as recreation
and rest from the s;lmeness of the
daily routine of an isolated home.
1t not only enlarges the mental
resources, but it makes broader the
feelings of charity and fOpbearance
for the weaknesses and failures of
neighbors. 1t makes life better
and more enjoyable and better
worth living, and these things
tend to good health and long life.
They help to bring us to green
old age more pOtently than is gen
orally understood even by medical
men. Purity of mind and heart
bring length Of days.
1t is in the country home in its
perfection that men grow old III the
midst of peace and plenty, and as
they draw nearer the time of their
departure, they ripen visibly for
the final change. To such the
hOary hairs of age are "a crown of
glory. They love their fellow men.
There is halo which surrounds
their presence wherever they ap-
pear; for the path of the just is a
shining light which shineth more
and more unto the perfect day.
Old John Ruskin is right in declar-
ing that the true ideal home is pos
sible only in the country. Where.
fore then we ask once more has the
nrban population of this vast ccun-
try Of virgin and unOccupied soil
doubled itself in single decade,
while at the same time the rural
population has declined! When
Rome became plutocracy and the
wealth of the nation passed into the
hands of a few debauched and vile;
and they made the conditions of
rural life so hard that country
homes were abandoned by the
pOpulace, who herded in the streets
of the metropolis; then "anarchy
came down like night, and Rome's
eternal grave was sealed" Now
let the United States of America
profit by the example Of Rome.
The wealth of this nation is passing
rapidly into the hands of an ire
sponsible few. The country PEG,
pie are deserving their homes
and throwing themselves into
the towns. What is the mean
ing Of these things? This is what
they mean They mean that the
vast amassments of wealth in tn,
hands of individuals and corpora
lions has got to be stopped before
it is too late to stop it, and if it il
not stopped in time destruction vii
come. MutUerings of anarchy arr
already heard. 1t is evident tina
the history of all the past afford
no hint of a remedy able to aver
the danger. The decline and fal
of the Roman Empire and tn
French revolution throw light upol
the diagnosis of the national disease
but the only remedy they sugges
is blood. Terrible too terrible +
think of. Society must be peace
fully recast in the mould of legis
lative reform. The American pee
pie must show to the world tina
self-goyernment by the people
not failure. 1t rests with tn
great conservative rural masses t
make the demonstration before the!
are hopelessly overmatched by tn
evil powers which plutOcraey j