New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-21
RTRAL DEGENERACY.

Rollin Lynde Hartts articles in "The Allan
tic Monthly" describing the moral and physlcai
degeneracy OF a certain NewEngland bill town
have opened up n food of discussion. we may
dismiss the heated controversy over the ques-
ton which town Is meant: for Mr.. Hartts pur-
pose IL not TO hold any one town up 10 odluii'
but TO show that the conditions OF rural Ire,
especially in the segregated villages or New
England inevitably tend 10 decadeDce. mat
proposition has been denied with great heat
and considerable rhetorical clatter by the SNUG
philosophers who believe that whatever Is is
right But Mr. Hartt properly stands by his
guns knowing as he does, that he has the
facts behind him. We suppose nobody who Is
personally acquainted with rural life will deny
that II Is often deficient in high moral purpose,
even II II Is not actually vicious. The great
cities have their own faults. but they do not
have monopoly CT evil, and 1t is a question
whether there is not often quite as great an
absence OF moral stamina in a semi-rural vii
lage IN proportion to it's population, as there
is In the larger towns.
As matter Of fact, this is what many CORE
spondents Of Mr. Hartt. writing from various
villages. allege The Rev. Edward +. Pressy,
OF Rowe. Mass. suggests that the North is
the decay OF the hill towns of Massachusetts,
is due TO reaction. emigration, the growth or
cities. the Civil War and transition NO one
to-day" he declares, attempts TO distinguish
"himsef in any noble way in n small town. 1t
SIS thought improper In consequence all the
"ambitlous young men and women are literally
driven out of the hills with whips and scorns
.'such as no one has been able to resist Pro
fessor Mary A. Jordan. Of Smith College, takes
the same view. and declares that the prevailing
atmosphere OF the small town is hopelessness
Professor ID. Collin Wells of Dartmouth. thinks
that the Western drift of the ablest and strong
est is leaving an inferior race in the hill towns.
"My people declares a Congregational minis
ter OF n hill town. "are degenerates the people
all through my district are degenerates An
other aspect Of the same view Is presented by
Philip Morgan. who says Of decadent New
England village:
The number Of Legitimate children among
us is so large that definite amount has been
fixed by common consent as the proper one 10
he maid by the putdtive father 10 the parents OF
The unmarried mother Not infrequent-
" men and women take new wives and nus
bands without the formality OF divorce VI , d
remarriage. . . Whole families are sunk IN
a slough OF vice and poverty. from which. coca
y,onally some enterprsing son or daughter VIII
emerge-perhaps only to fall back again in =
moment OF temptation or despair
In the opinion Of Mr.. Hartt the only remedy
for this state Of affairs is to upbuild the indus
trial social and religious life OF small towns
and rural communities through some form OF
what has come to be known az the social set
Element He suggests first Of all, the establish
ment Of model farm, operated by an expert
apriculturist with school for the study or
agricultural science something like the English
system of cooperative farming. Then, he says,
sanitary reform must be Instituted. Let the
neonle be taught something about diet ana
cooking. and let them be warned against the
wiles Of the travelling quacks OF all kinds
Next the social. intellectual and religious life
must he strengthened and enriched. About the
most pathetic thing in village life oftentimes
is its mental poverty and vaculty. There IL
LITTLE N stimulate or broaden its thought. and
there are few wholesome amusements which
are 90 necessary for mental recreation and
growth. Mr.. Hartt would teach the people 10
call mon each other oftener, and TO talk more
about things that are worth while. lie wouid
have them get up entertainments and rehai-
low cardpaying and dancing lie wouid also
have them stimulate and deepen their Intel
Iectual life through courses OF lectures ana the
circulation OF wholesome literature.
Lastly. he would foster the ministry OF
beauty.
Acorn the church and the town hall and the
schoolbouses Encourage the farmers 10 pur-
chase inexpensive reproductions or good PCT
ures. arrange an art exhibition every winter
inv the foundation OF village art gallery by
esta blIshing a collection Of fine autotypes Inc
Perry pictures, sold at cent apiece ought ,o
hiring the best art into the district school Bet
ter music can also be had-especially In the
church Provide occasional concerts by per-
formers from the city. Make amateur ORA
mates a means of culture. Develop taste iuI
horticulture and for landscape gardening. In
short adapt TO rural conditions the programme
OF the London Kyrle Society
BY working patiently along these lines Mt
Hortt thinks that rural life might be regen
Grated and he believes that II the right men
will come forward to do the work, men oil
wealth who were born in the country Will be
found ready to give it the needed financial sup
port.