The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-08-18
DISRUPTED BY GOLF.
Peace of $50 Years RudeIy broken
by the Modern Game I'm
Yankee Town.

Not hundred miles from Boston is
an ancient town, embowered in elins
like most New England villages, with
two or three long streets on which old
and new houses are set in democratic
ntarness 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 haze been spared
to set off the cheerful brilliancy of open
fields and young coppices. Best of all,
while every prospect plcDses the work
and life of the men who have inhabited
it have left traditions ard associations
which enhance the quiet beauty of the
rural town, or which until n 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 gruvcstoncs in the cemeteries and
survive In their descendants who still
dwell there. And days more lately
lived survived i'm the memories of
philosophers and romaucers whose
fame is worldwide, while their simple
neghborly personalities are the be-
loved and honorcd property of this ia
yorcd 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 10 guide 10 the sacred shrinos
hallowcd by virtue. patriotism, wisdom
and genius. 1t was also his delight to
gather his townsmen together in the
enjoyment of simple, fratcrnal pleas
ures and TO keep warm the strains of
kindred blood and the honest pride in
an honest race, in the unpretcntious
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 its purest form survived without af-
fectntion, and all agreed in respecting
only those accidents of genius which
bore the hallmark of no human coin
age, and claimed for itself only a chance
OF service, the opportunity to deliver
the message with which it was intrust-
ed. Into this modern Eden, happy in
its isolated, uncontaminated 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.
II came at last. 1t has destroyed che
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 cant 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 townspcople.
An exclusive dancing class in the win
ter draws sharp lines, a livery or two
are set up, some men dress for dinner,
In so small a place the growth of
cliques means not Indifference, but
antagonsms in place of friendly inter
est and the pungent gossip which it
creates. Merely wealthy folks come to
spend the summer, attracted by
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 a definite value
ii 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 it worth while to come and
dwell there. The poor old town has
sold its soul and has not even got the
mess of pottage! Globe.