The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-08-18
DISRUPTED BY GOLF.
peace Of ESQ Years Rudely Broken
by the Modern Game IN
Yankee Town,

i 4
Peace Of ESQ Years Rudely Brokens
by the Modern Game In
Yankee Town.
Not a hundred miles from Boston Il
I'm ancient town, EMPOWERED in elms
like most New England villages, with
two or three long streets on which old
nearness to the roadway, though they
have ample space between them and
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.
pie, unpretentious and homelike, most
ly 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
course diversity the landscape and,
though the face of the countryside is
rather smiling than picturesque, few
groves of large pines have been spared
! t t. set off the Oh eerful 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 a 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 romancers 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. It 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 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
III it's purest form survived without af-
fectation, and all agreed in respecting
bore the 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
it's isolated, uncontaminated purity for
$50 years, though the fruit of thu, tree
of knowledge had been gathered and
eaten there in ample feasts, The serpent
had never entered.
1t came at last. It 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, gay visitors from abroad have
been drawn to join it, some of them
have bought and built "villas" ami
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
cliques means not Indifference, but
antagonisms in place of friendly inter
est and the :pungent gossip which it
creates. Merely wealthy folks come to
spend the summer, attracted by q
|
ognition than in more definitely fash.
ionable resorts. Circumstances do not
permit the expansion of the old town
into one of these, ali evolution which
would at least have definite value
it is only spoiled rnsticity 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 it worth while to come and
dwell there. The poor old town has
sold it's soul and has not even got the
mess of pottage!-Boston Globe.
The Flea.
Of all parasites, surely the flea is the
best known. It is an example of the
irst class, being quite free from its
host in all stages of it's life, and only
attaching itself to feed. It is also an
example of the difficulty experienced
by biologists as to the real affinities
of parasites; for, though now gener.
ally regarded as a degraded form OF
two-winged fly, yet in past time it has
I0A,