Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-14
CHANGES OF A LIFETIME.
Conditions of Today COntrasted with
so-CaIIed "GOOd Old Times"
Minneapolis Journal.

Minneapolis Journal.
It took the Roman republic SOM ages to
pass from the simple poverty of its early
days upon the seven hills to the magnificent
wealth of the age of Augustus. but the
American republic has made the change
in one generation.
The rapidity and extent OF this change
is wildly realized in reading such a book
as the "Reminiscences Of George S. Bout
we'll, the distinguished Massachusetts, citi-
zen, who is still living at the age of SO.
In the second decade OF the nineteenth
century the lives of the American people
were severely simple and plain. Most Of
the necessaries of life were raised on the
farm by the people living OF it. Most Of
their trading was done by barter. The
country people scarcely ever got in the
course Of a year more than enough money
to pay their taxes. Governor Boutwell's
father was the best farmer in his neigh
borhood, but about the only money he
ever saw was what he got by a visit to
Boston once a year, with a team Of oxen
and a load of cider, apples, a hog or two
and some poultry.
The farmers houses were almost des-
titute OF furniture. Except a few school
books and tho family bible there was no
reading matter except in favored ~neighbor-
hoods where two or three families took a
weekly newspaper together. Mails were in
frequent and postage was almost prohibit
tory. The era of invention had not begun.
The only means Of cooking was the open
fire and the brick oven. Meat was roasted
by suspending from a cord attached to a
hook in the ceiling. 1t was with great
difficulty that fires were started or kept
going. Tools and food and the labor of
men and animals were freely borrowed
and lent. Farming tools we're rude and
deficient. The poverty of farms in respect
to tools made 1t impossible for farmers to
prosper except by cattle raising and the
cultivation of the small grains. Heating
stoves or urnaces were unknown.
Communication between distant parts of
the country was practically non-existent
and transportation was of the crudest sort.
Men were narrow and bigoted. The old
religious dogma still had firm hold on the
minds Of men. Civilization was stationary.
There was a prejudice against innovation
and change, a belief that all wisdom was
in the fathers.
Contrast this simple. narrow life with
the complex and broad life Of the poorest
farmer Of our times. Think OF the tools
and horses, the machinery and the i'm
| proved methods he has. Think of the
| comforts and luxuries that are his. Think
how farming has been changed from slav-
cry to inspiring work. Then contrast the
picture Governor Boutwell, draws with the
general wealth, progress in education, diff
fusion of knowledge. opportunities and
hopefulness of our own times.
The old governor is not one of those who
fear that decadence will COM on as swiftly
as wealth and power have. He is very
optimistic. He has no fears Of reaction
against democracy. Only the beginnings
Of the great power Of the people are so
far seen. AS a matter Of fact the tre-
mendous changes wrought by improvement
Of communication and transportation have
made it possible for great free govern
mehts to exist permanently.
It is now and ever will be the fashion
to talk of the good old times, but in
America the good old times are not to be
compared with ours. Our wealth has not
spoiled the nation. though It has ruined
some classes. At the core the nation is
sounder now than formerly because II IL
wiser and better trained and equipped.