The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-08-30

peace 81 ESQ yenrs Rndeiy Broken
" the Modern Game In
Ynniee Town.

7 nn anElentstONns.c H. cti -,
! like most New England villages withh
two or three Tong streets on which old
nnd new houses are set in democratic
nearness TO. the roadway, though they
\ have ample space between them ana
broad acres of garden and arabic and
pasture 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 SIM
ple, unpretentious and homelilse, most
! " surrounded by farms, neat and pros
porous, raising the modest, hardy crops
of the New England climate.
Small hills bound the horizon, lakes
and the glittering curves OF river,
I 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 brilliancy OF 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 associations
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 revolutionary
period are to be read on the molder-
ing gravestones in the cemeteries and
survive in their descendants who still
dwell there. And days more lately
lived survived in the memories of
philosophers and romapcers whose
fame is worldwide, while their simple
neighborly personalities are the be-
| loved and honored property OF this ia
vored spot.
A very few years ago one still lived
who, having touched the skirts of the
immortals, passed on the virtue he had
received to visiting pilgrims whom he
| loved to guide to the sacred shrines
hallowed by virtue, patriotism, wisdom
and genius. 1t was also his delight to
gather his townsmen together in the
enjoyment of simple, fraternal pleas
ures and to keep warm the strains of
! kindred blood and the honest pride in
an honest race, in the unpretenious
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
boreNthe hallmark of no human coin
age. and claimed for itself only chance
of service, the opportunity to deliver
the message with which it was intrust-
ed. Into this modern Eden, happy in
its isolated, uncontanMnated purity for
$50 years, though the fruit OF the tree
of knowledge had been gathered and
eaten there in ample feasts, the serpent
had never entered.
1t came at last. 1t has destroyed the
Eden, the men and women hide them
selves from each other, and are ashamed
If they are not clothed in golf suits
all is dissonance and discord. Sets have
been formed, the golf club being the
example, gayHisitors from abroad have
been drawn to join it, some of them
have bought and built villas anu
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 assemblies, the fairs, the lee
lures, the lawn parties, the church
meetings of the old townspeople.
An exclusive dancing class in the win
ter draws sharp lines, livery or two
are set up, some men dress for dinner
In SO small a place the growth OF
cliuues means not indifference, but
antagonisms in place OF friendly inter
est and the pungent gossip which II
creates. Merely wealthy folks come to
spend the summer, attracted by a
i somewhat easier access to social rec
ognition than in more definitely fash
ionable resorts. Circumstances do not
permit the expansion of the old town
into one of these, an evolution which
would at least have definite value
/ it is only spoiled rusticity and half
baked gentility.
The shades of the departed worthless
once SO near and benignant have gone
back glibbering and signing to hades
while the maker of ''society notes" does
not think IL worth while to come and
dwell there. The poor old town has
cold ifs ror,l md hns NOT even nfat the