The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-23
AGRICULTURAL DECADENCE.
Al Theory which May Account for the
Rush to the Cities.

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
1 venture to call attention to one phase
of the subject of agricultural decadence
which, it seems to me, has not had the at
tention it should. If our young people-and
presumably the better class of them at that
are leaving the farms and flocking to the
already oyercroWded cities, there must be
reason for it, and do not believe that it is
pecuniary considerations altogether that in
duce them to leave comfortable homes for
a risk among strangers. Youth is peculiarly
the time when We insist upon our guar
anteed American right, the pursuit of
happiness; and If these young people
imagine the pursuit will be more sue
cessful in the city. if its stir and ex-
citement are confounded in their minds
with the genuine article, if they feel that
the farm is dull and lonely and too slow for
any one with a proper ambition, they are
very likely to seize the first opportunity
to leave it. And it takes a pretty level
headed young man or woman to stay con-
tentedly in the country when it is poured
into their ears from every side what an
undesirable place it is; they know that peo-
pie in cities look upon them with pity, if
not something worse; they can scarcely
pick up paper without coming across some
allusion to the deadly monotony of farm
life, the sorrowful, hopeless lot of the over
worked farmers wife, ETC.; and how often
do they hear the remark, I'D rather die
than live in the country" And yet having
done all they can TO create a sentiment
against rural life, people wonder at and de-
plore the congeSted condition OF the cities.
Furthermore, if we train our sons for the
occupation of farming, can we blind our
eyes to the fact that then the odds will be
against them in the race of life? Can it be
denied that if a young man learns to sell
pins and needles over counter, or schemes
to defeat justice as a lawyer, or digs in
peoples horrid, decayed teeth and micrObe-
infested mouths, certainly the most inher-
emily menial of occupations, he will stand
a better chance politically, socially, matri-
monially. for that matter? Isn't he made
aware from his infancy almost that he Is
country jake," and so handicapped at the
start? Doesn't every funny column thrive
upon jokes on the "hayseed," the Jay"
the "mossback?'' Who doesn't know that
ridicule is the most potent of weapons? A
few years ago, while visiting in one of our
large cities, 1 was the recipient of a call
from man and his wife who / knew were
On my hostesses's list of Objectionable ac-
.quaintances. Mr.. - was a bookl1eper in
q lumber yard, and he was an awkward,
ill-favored little man, nothing he ought to
be blamed for, certainly; but he belonged,
evidently, to the "other kind of people: he
wore an ill-kept suit, and his negligee shirt
was guiltiess of cuffs or necxtie; he brought
his guitar with him, TO our sorrow, and his
wife also favored us with several excruci-
seemingly trying to make themselves agree
able: but in the course of conversation Mr..
- happened to ask me what business my
husband was in" The shock of surprise
that showed itself in his face when l con-
fessed to being the wife of a farmer was q
glowing compliment to me, for he evidently
hadn't suspected such a thing; he was un-
fortunately lacking in that repose of man
ner that stamps the cast of We're de We're;
his training hadn't included the conceal
men1 of the emotions so he was unable to
make me any reply whatever. But the con-
trast between the appearance Of that dull
Visaged. unprepoSSeSsing little man and the
vision that rose before my mind of my own
stalwart spouse in his good clothes" with
spotless linen and tie, and his face lit up
with animation, would have been too much
for my risibles had it not been for the un-
miStakable genuineneSs Of my ariStocratic
he was really shocked. OF course, it may
be said that he was a vulgar and coarse
man, too Ignorant to conceive how mistaken
his ideas of social distinction were: but are
such ideas confined altogether to his class?
OF course, we all know that farming is
really noble calling, and that all sensible
90 tney IN practlce! HOW many parents
who are ambitious for their childrens fu-
ture would train their sons to be farmers
or insist that their daughters should be
farmers wives? Much could be written as
TO the advantage of country life but it's
charm can be understood only by those to
whom it is given to understand it; it is like
spiritual things, spiritually diScerned. No
doubt people are waking up to the fact that
tAS AuSI lOWdIu the CITIES anecIS the well
fare OF every one more or less direcly, and
We may count upon self-interest doing a
good deal toward breaking down false social
standards; common sense is growing to be
more and more factor in settling all ques-
tions; but at the present time we are con-
fronted by condition; young people are
leaving the farms ard flocking to the cities.
] Gsk the readers of the Journal who are l.
terested in such matters If this theory as to
the. the cause has not some foundation in actual
faet2 ONE OF EN-.
Rockville Ind, Jan d.