Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-27

country towns is very dark spot in our
social life.
In fact New England society is passing
through revolution. 1t is adjusting it
self to entirely new conditions. A gen.
GRAFTON or two ago the typical New Eng
land country town was a farming com
munity; now it is manufacturing COM
munity, with its child labor and lessen
ing school attendance. We hardly real
iZe the fact that manufacturing has ad
vanced eight-fold in a single generation.
bringing in a large mixture of alien pep
ulation, habits and morals.
The increased employment of women.
dispiacing men in various industries, is
most potent factor of far-reaching re-
suits, to be reckoned with in accounting
for social changes. Labor Commissioner
Matthews tells us that the different en-
pigments of women have increased in a
few years from about q score to 49, and
that, in the various manufacturing in
dustries in this State-leaving out lum-
Der. pulp. granite and lime-there are
about rs many women as men employed.
The postmaster general says that there
are not less ban 10000 women employees
in the post offices of the country. / think
these facts DO not belong to the bright
side of our social lfe.
The ugliest fact that confronts society
at large, today, | should say, is the fact
that at any moment there are in this
country scores of thousands of able
children. who would be glad to work ev
cry day, but whose employment is I'M
certain. interrupted and precariOus-an
immense army forced to be idle much of
the time. 1t is easy to imagine this body
Of enforced idleneSS as the source of
hundreds of social lls-beggary, shame,
crime, divorce. insanity The influence
Of this is felt in every state. although
less in Maine than in some states. 1t is
no part of the duty assigned to me to
things. That were task far beyond my
powers. But | have the easier task of
pointing to some of the encouraging So
cial aspects. Shakespeare. always infal-
!ible in his views of life, says: "PaSt and
to come seem best. the present worst"
Great writers have described the Utopian
joys of communities long dead and gone,
or, like Edward Bellamy. in his New
Democracy" have brdged 100 years to
find human heaven of tranquil delight in
the future. where the people shall have
defeated the plans of Providence and ev
cry person shall be the equal of every
other in personality and possessions. The
present is always to be escaped from. We
never are. but always to be blest. Cold
smiths Dear. lovely bower of innocence
and ease" Sweet Auburn" was the
creation of a poetic memory long after
the "loveliest village of the plain had
been deserted. The relentless recitals of
history show the dark side of the social
life of that time: Gambling legalized,
prevailed everywhere. involving both
sexes and all conditions. Goldsmith.
himself the son of clergyman. spent the
$3.50 which a charitable uncle had pro-
vided him for college expenses. in drink
/ ing and gambling before he reached col
legc, and had to return home.
] suppose it is true that no generation
of New England people has been socially
lower or more corrupt, ignorant or inn
moral than any of its predecessors. On
the contrary. each generation advances
the standard of truth and humanity.
Mr.. Howei!s, IN a recent magazine ar
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