The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-24
GOLF DisRuPrS YANKEE TOWN.
Peace of $50 Years Rudely Broken by
the Modern Game.

the Modern Game.
Not hundred miles from Boston Is
an ancient town, EMPOWERED in elms
like most New England villages, with
two or three long streets on which old
and new houses are set in democratic
nearness to the roadway. though they
have ample space between them and
broad acres of garden and arabic ard
pasture land behind.
Scattered on side roads, running into
the country, are other dwellings, some
of venerable age, others in the fresh
ness of smart white paint, but all
simple. unpretentious and homelike,
surrounded by farms, neat and prosper
Gus, raising the modest hardy crops
of the New England climate.
Small hills bound the horizon, lakes
and the glittering curves of a river
course diversity the landscape and,
though the face of the countryside is
rather smiling than picturesque. few
groves of large pines have been spared
to set off the cheerful briiliancy of the
open fields and young coppices. Best
of all, while every prospect pleases the
work and life of the men who have
inhabited it have left traditions and as
sociations which enhance the quiet
beauty of the rural town, or which
until few years ago were allowed to
do so.
Names famous in pioneer days, in
colonial times and the revolut .onary
reriod are to be read on the moldering
gravestcnes in the cemeteries and sur
viVp In their descendants who still
dwell there. And days more lately lived
survived in the memories of philoso-
piers and romancers whose fame is
worldwide, while their simple neigh
borly personalities are beloved and
honored property Of this favored spot.
A very few years ago ore still lived
who, having touched the skirts of the
fmmortals, passed on the virtue he had
received to visiting pilgrims. whom he
iovrd 10 guide to the sacred shr mes
hallowed by virtue, patriotism. WELDON
aa1 genius. 1t was also his delight to
gather his toHnsmen together in the
enjoyment of simple, fraternal pleas
urrs and to keep warm the stra ms Of
kindred blood and the honest pride in
an honest race, in the unpretentious
manner of the olden time. Brought up
in the common schools, there was no
distinction between the moderately
rich and the son of labor. Democracy
in it's purest form survived without af-
fectation, and all agreed in respecting
only those accidents of genius which
bore the hallmark of no human coin
age, and claimed for itself only
chance of service. the opportunity to
deliver the message with which 1t was
intrusted. Into this modern Eden,
happy in its isolated, uncontaminated
purity for $50 years, though the fruit
Of the tree of knowledge had been gath
cred and eaten there in ample feasts,
the SERPENT had never entered.
1t came at last 1t has destroyed the
Eden, tire men and women hide them
selves from each other, and are
ashamed-if they are not clothed in
golf suits-all is dissonance and dscord.
Sets have been formed. the golf club
being the example, gay visitors from
abroad have been drawn to Join it, some
Of them have bought and built villas"
and have settled in the place.
The number Of members is limited;
some try to get in, some can't afford to
do so: some who have not been asked
loudly assert their disapproval of the
innovation. The golf set" attracts the
younger people and houses are divided
against themselves because the club
members withhold themselves from the
popular assen b.ies, the fairs. the lee
lures, the lawn parties. the church
MEETINGS Of the old townspeople.
An exclusive dancing class in the
winter draws sharp lines, livery or
two are set up, some men dress for
dinner. In so small a place the growth
of cliques means not Indifference, but
antagonisms, in place of friendly in
terest and the pungent gossip which
it creates. Merely wealthy folks come
to spend the summer, attracted by a
somewhat easier access to social
recognition than in more definitely
fashionable resorts. Circumstances do
not permit the expansion of the old
town into one of these, an evolution
which would at least have a definite
value-it is only spoiled rusticity and
half-bak gentility.
The shades of the departed worthless
once so near and bengnant have gone
back gibbering and siehing to hades,
while the maker of society notes" does
not thinl1 it worth while to come an1
dwell there. The poor old town has sod
it's soul and has not even got the mess
of pottage.-Boston Globe.