The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-11-14
A TOWN PROBLEM.
N(sTNNDENCIES ARE
SAPPlNG COUNTRY LIFE.
How to Rescue Small Country Towns
from Premature Decav-A
Great Danger to Our
National Life


Y v S. Reinsch says in the
New York Independent:
No traveller in the rural districts OF
our country can fail to notice the
dreary desolation, the premature de-
cay. Of many of our smaller towns. A
cherries vista of ugly stores, tumble
down factories, lonely chlmneys.
empty, staring shop windows mark
the stagnation and tediousness OF ex'
istence, the effects of over-centraliza-
ton of industries and population in
the large cities.
The people too often appear listless
and drowsy, the groups of loungers in
front Of postofice and drinking pl:ce
look bored and dissatisfied. Gossip,
small.beer politics, patent medicine
shows and dances make up the rcund
Of existence, enlivened only by marrow
jealousies of UNCONVENTIONAL and
political cliques. The younger people,
Disguised with the pettiness aud mo-
notony of this life, yearn for the
whirl and excitement of tho metro
polls. They leave their native towns
in swarms to swell the clsmoring,
rushing multitude. The centralizing
tendencies are given full sway to sap
country life.
The result OF this constantly in
creassng absorption of young blood by
the cities is not far to seek. The
strength of Nation abdcs in its rural
classes; their condition IS the criter'
ion of it's civilization. Large cities
arp much the same the world over;
st. Petersburg differs but little from
Paris or Berlin. But who would
compare the peasants OF tho
Rhine, the children Of Provence,
with the dwellers on the Volga:
England drew her greatness from
the soil, and Englishmen always
keep in touch with nature and rural
life. Our own country districts have
been the best repositories of true
American ideas; any retrogression
there may we'll fill us with alarm. Our
city populations are swayed by forces
they cannot command; not masters OF
self-governmeut, hound hand and foot
to monopo]ies. bribed politicians and
machines, they are long.suffering and
helpless in matters OF the common
wealth. It is to the rural districts
that we must look for social and pollt'
ical stability; thence must come the
strength to preserve our institutions.
The depopulation OF onr country
towns to increase the already over
grown cities is therefore great dan
ger to our National life.
The practical problem, then, is how
to countera:t the allurements of thu
metropolis, how to broaden and liber
alize existence in the smaller towns
! how to supplement the ADVANTAGES Q
, nearness to nature by the added inter
} ests of art aud intellect. Som
. towns in the Eastern States have 81
I ready efectually solved this problem
bv the establishment OF libraries, lee
: ture courses and literary circles, by
generous cooperation for intellectus
advancement. But in general littl
. has been done. Very often sectarla
| ::eslousies bar the way, q spirit thu
!, must first be overcome to make tru
| reform possible. 1t is here that mil
!. listers and teachers have q duty and
: great promise. BY the establishment
. Of a general literary society, open t
all of literary tastes, in which the SC
cial element is no: neglected, the wa
will be led to courses OF lectures, II
tellectual contests and exhibitions q
= home talent, to the founding OF q
y brary. In every way interest in ma
= tiers intellectual may thus be stimula
= ed. :cThe lectures provided by many
= our universities. in university extel
:. sion. can also be turned into q potter
5 agency for bringing the country TOW
!, in touch with the worlds best though
- The material is at hand, the unjade
! intellect of country people, not en-
! feited with excitement, not bluntt
=. with sensationalisn,, is appreciativs
~ the truly great in art and life; leade
d ship and organization are all that
- needed for development of real Gu
=. ture and intelligent study in tho rur
- towns, so that residence there may
u longer be considered mental starv
y tion. Some fostering Of local patrit
"a ism, some endeavor to make tue hon
n town not merely a place Of hsbitati
IL but union for higher lie. some G
10 10 thusiasm, some little. self-sacrifce
a. the part of persons able to lead, Al
m our country towns will indeed part'
m pate in all that is good and noo'e
II civilization while FREQ from the q
4 figuring taints OF larger civies.
AbOWt Pins.