The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-01-21
Tendencies Of the Times.

AH.sHH ~ III " III VI . 1t ak MN
I i prareaf Go eeef1 Observing uaa
tAs .u i'm. Ink. tbs m..a6 So. II.
If ever Changing Aarnusz H=a csa=
-#u#s af work siIeaI a. .o-e4#
VIII irHaeaea fhe JYe- nd ar#ioa- oil
ne#uu4u race. Cause and enecf fsI-
las1 es,' other jn rapid =ucCr~sia madI
i}iHz. for good or cviI. our society AID
oGf institutions. Whether the trudcu-
eie- So for oar best Interests. Or pros
Fefiff and our glory. OF whether they
ar detrimental To our prosperity. and
calculated to undermine our society aud
onr Institutions, are questions Of pro.
nd and grave importance.
Nhcn we consider the home life of
our people, the social relations in the
fam Is and in the community, We cannot
but notice some very evident examples
of the downward and harmful tendon
ces of the times. On account of some
incompatabilitv of temper and habits
many family ties are sundcred. and the
court records show that divorces are on
trighttul increase from year to year.
Half century ago such a course was
hardly known. Ihe laxity of the law
makes it easy and possible, and many
are ever ready to avail themselves OF IA
separation. Among the Roman Catho-
lies such proceedings are not allowed,
and in their devotion to their religious
belief they are not prompted to take
such step, but reconcile their own
domestic affairs.
Murder and suicides, too, are on the
increase. The laws are Intellectual to
prevent the former, and it is getting
common for the jealous or the revenge
full, IN moment of passion, to take the
life Of another and chen fall with his
victim by his own hand. In the sta
tisties we find that over twenty thou
sand persons have committed murder or
suicide in the L. :. the past year HUI
man life is not safe anywhere.
There is growing tendency for gain.
Among all classes there is constant
strain of mind to devise ways and means
to get money. In the mad rush for it.
the individual has no scruples for houes-
" or self-respect. lie Is not content
for slow aud steady gains, like our fore
fathers, he is not willing to toll for a
livelihood and IA competence, but seeks
10 obtain riches in the quickest possible
Way. 1t is deemed by many that it is
uneongpnial 10 their taste and station to
engage in labor that soils their hands
and fhat brings sweat To their brovs.
The huv leaves the farm. the farmer
Leaves rho homestead and hastpns to The
rify thr citV Is ful nf 4barrrrs both in
he .traets and in husiuass bol,sns rvor
rod, 70 pntran aud rhpat the n,,yar,
and nnsusnecfing. For g4in The trader
cheats his customers bv falsely rrnrp-
,4ntiHu Ills wares. tlp manufacturer
,,duIHIratrs hi. nrpauefS with ebc3per
and 44s,r materials. AMI STD f4nd and
drero5ioa rules me haUr among nrqrlv
All .fI4. .voc.fions of Gfa
There IL j. tendency at ib. fipe. rar
fs-r 1f,ing Too many ljy,.. nrvnoi their
u5e=HI Many npopb. tliul fh,.t ,uusf
live IN. "a. much ploGaiep and pIentv rs
tbrjr wealthy rriobhers pr reE,fivr-
And fhpn. without ,he means In supply
themselves o.ith all tbp loxti,irs for Inc
f.tlt# and fashionable tnnara f,f their
r.,aii5ae drhts are contracted my daV
arrive. and fhey fail To- nc.t thril. ohii-
,,ai#ns TIE rr.uIt + no nsuoIl,.
La.jfy fhni, word oct disrnYraopd and
tan6. i'm rhronir dishonesty. aud nerbYna
di..inatinn The rrodif svelo,n and the
fa.hion svstem so nrry,lsut i'm anr land
fnnds ia nrodigalit, and h.,ul.iunfr,
In the matter Of education we come
to one of the most inportant ouc.,ions
Cnr opr consideration. In onr eities and
L,roer VILLAGE. The tendency i. yer. oo,d
and nroenrrous. There we find rood
Teacher. Who are trained and titrrd for
their v,rk. The .,ncrvi.iou OF thr va
riau. Departments i. ViojInnt ami ,l' C.
live. Bnt in our rural towns and Smrller
yfllaoes. the schools where the children
nt H. farmers Oct the most ri heir
ndn.atiou nrn extremely family md Nm
tirlcd IN rhp sharn4s, criticism In many
resnrcfs The rural schools today arr, moi
ronal in diselpline and efficiency 10 The
srhnols nf other DAYS with Ali the ad-
vantages Of better school houses free
text books. and longer terms it would
seem that the rural schools should he
far hetter than formerly. They shoulA
he nroorrseive and abo1ndinq in exceI-
Ieut results Rut the reverse Is too trur.
Rro. w ! Corthell. an eminent educa-
tor said at the recent State Grange. ,Jf
as has been said. that AZ per cent of
thpsn schools arn worthless and another
AZ nor cent indifferent. rhe condition
calls for careful studv and prompt action
ro cure the rvil.' do not mink the
schools are ca had as the statement in
fers but they are far from what they
sho1ld he Rro Stetson. STATE sum
of schools said that s.the testimony of
All nersons Who are familiar with the
| - - ,,,.;,,,,,, $50, .Ln ,;,,t ~,