New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-13
THE ST4GNATION or VILLAGE LIFE.

A writer in "Thn Independent calls attention
10 the dreary dcsOlation and the premature ue
cay of many small towns and villages, winch
he ascribcs to the Capitalization OF Industries
aud population in the large cities Nhe'her OF
not this explanation is altogether correct, there
can be no doubt as 10 the fact. or many VII
lagos it is true that they are the very NEAR
nation of depressing uglDess. Most of the
houses are without paint, and present such a
tumble-dowD. frowzy appearance to the visitor
that he is only too glad when he can depart
There is an utter lack of neatness about the
streets and the grounds around the houses
Nothing seems 10 thrive except the weeds
which are lux,Iriant The people who are in
evidence are generally in keeping with the ap-
pearance Of the town. They seem To be wholly
wanting in ambition. Even when they are
abundantly able to dress well and take bath
every day. their clothes are ill-itting, and
they themselves are sometimes not 0verclean
They shuttle rather than walk. and seem to find
their greatest pleasure in lounglng In the post
office or the village store, where they spend a
good bart of the day in yacuous talk about the
most trivial subjects.
II needs no argument to prove that this stag
nation Of our village life is harmful 10 the vii
lagos directly. and also indirectly to the whole
country. of which they form an integral part
But il is not easy 10 suggest any practical
remedy except the gradual leavening process OF
education and culture. The real difficulty In
most villages is that the people have nothing
10 engage their thoughts except the small beer
chronicles of village life. and such outside in
terests as the arrival of a circus. or the np-
pearance Of n patent medicine vender or light
ming tooth puller. They are in large meas
ure ont of touch with the great activities and
tendencies of thought that sweep like waves
through the outside world. sweetening its life
and cnlarging its views. They are perfOrcc
compced 10 live Il life Of narrow isolation,
seeking To find in the petty details of village
existence adequate food for their hungry minds.
What they need is TO have their mental out
look enlarged so that they will take a vital and
absorbing interest in things that are now little
more than names TO them. The organization
of village lyceums and clubs. and the opening
of libraries and gymnasiums are very well in
villages where the people can appreciate such
aids TO culture intelligence. and higher type
of manhood But there are villages in which
the people are too apathctic and self-satisticd
TO make use Of them. In such communities the
only remedy is education, and that is mat
.
Not only in villages. but in many purely rural
communities there is to be found the same
mental stagnation. and with much more excuse,
for the farmer Is not only too busy to devote
much time to mental culture but he Is gcner-
ally isolated from his ncighbors by distance. IT
was proposed some time ago. we believe, TO get
rid of such isolation by having all the farmers
Of n certain area live together in Il central COM
munlty so that their farms would be conyen-
icntly grouped around their homes. This would
enable them TO enjoy superior religious. edu-
catonal and social privileges. But we doubt
/ if farmers generally are prepared TO adopt this
plan: and even if they were the village life
! resulting thcrcfrom would be wanting in the
incentives that are wanting In so many vii
lagcs now one word In conclusions We must
/ not br understood as intending to crlticse or
blame the villages and rural communities for
the defects to which we have referred. or NJ
including all when only some are meant When
we remember that they are constantly giving
their best brain and muscle TO recruit the
| great cities of the country. which, otherwise.
= would soon die of anacma. can only think
of them rs deserving the sympathy. good will
and help Of all whose outlook and oppOrtuni-
J. ties are larger.