The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1901-01-25
The Outct Town.

INC Vutct lVWH'
There is n difference between towns
q notable difference often-made so,
usually, by the character oriinclinations
Of the citizens. Every town has its good
qualities and is Just as likely to have its
had ones. The former is deserving of
emulation and the latter should be re.
formed. This, however, is not intended
ns a homily or moral discourse but
merely to express some thoughts regard
ing the quiet town.
Were you ever ia village where
the very air seemed tainted by spirit
Of oppressive propriety or hypocritioal
sanctimony? Where the very dogs
seemed to catch the spirit Of the town
and slink along with their tails between
their legs, and, forced to fight or over
come desire to bay at the moon, they
scurry Off to the outskirts Of the town
and relieve their feelings to tho best Of
their ability9
This is the kind of town where If a
boy should happen to move faster than
walk or allow his voice to be heard
further than few feet distant he is
frowned upon by the people on the
streets or perhaps threatened with the
cnlaboose by the village marshal
Here you may expect to see sort of
funereal air, except about twice aIyear-
Fourth of July and circus day. Beyond
these any appearance of amusement or
sport is discouraged and If there is
lecture or entertainment where applause
is permissible and desirable, there is u
silence disastrous to the entertainer and
unsatisfactory to the audience.
Any entertainment Of q public char
acter like foot ball or tennis is frowned
upon as a useless frivolity and the per.
SONS engaged are reminded that they
might much better be attending to bust
ness or studies than thus wasting their
opportunities and with Paritanical
air the knowing ones will discuss the
accidents that have occurred in certain
sports and their foolish waste Of money,
energy and time.
This is the place where you may ex.
pect to see business men grinding away
at their temporal affairs six days Of the
week with care worn faces and emaci-
ated forms and ON Sunday they will
solemnly attend church in the interest
of their spiritual welfare, devote the bal.
Anoe of the day to repose and on Mon
day begin the grind again without re-
cruited energies.
In the quiet town you will notice
neighbor solemnly greeting neighbor
with sleepy "good morning" spoken
in scarcely audible tone Of voice and a
carefully worded inquiry into the fam.
ily's welfare. You may expect to see
tho children quietly aping the example
Of their elders and if their enthusiasm is
inordinately aroused by some circum-
stance or event. cuff on the ears or
vigorous switching by the dignified
parent will restore the wonted equipose.
To the observer it appears that the town
is intent solely on grabbing the dollars
that pass its way with the result that
the said dollars begin to look scared
when passing and finally refuse to risk
their persons in the neighborhood.
Charities and benevolencies or any thing
wearing the appearance of bonus is
turned down with the remark. 81
make my way: let them make theirs -
In contrast to this is the lively town
where the children happily skip along,
playing tag and leap frog, shouting and
laughing, romping and tumbling, with,
out thought of restraint rs long a,
their fun is harmless; where neighbol
meets neighbor with a hearty hand
clasp and Hello, Bill How's the
wife and babiesg" Or, if Bill happen,
to be across the street. the greeting i.
extended with the enthusiasm Of vigor
ous lungs and smile or sally-generou
and unrestrained by propriety. Her,
the young men run foot races in tn,
stre 4 with everyone interested and i
John falls into the mud, he is greete,
with good natured laughter and yells
The leaders are encouraged by cries O
'I'n bet on you, George" "Get there
Hiram," etc. The spirit of happines
and joy fills the air and if a fight occur
the same interest is felt and the partici
pants generously ''make it up' befor
the blood has ceased to flow. Any pub
lie amusement or enterprise is greete
with whoop and hurrah and every
body turns out and enjoys the occasio
TO the extent of healthy constitution
not sparing lung power and applause
Here Jacob is Jake" and Henry
Hank" be he Is or 10 years of ag,
Here neighbors are neighborly an
friends are friendly and are not particr
lar as to how they show it. The pr