The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-11

the Union Station is and how long it Will
be before the train leaves for Podunk. The
farmer and his family seem to represent
the quintessence of ignorance and green
ness in the city, at the fairs, on the eX
cursion, ETC., yet l wonder how many peo-
pie fully realize how exaggerated and far
fetched are these pictures and witticisms.
After quite an extended association with
this eccentric class of people / have not
found one farmer here whom you could
recognize from his caricatures. Perhaps
this may be better community or
Weather county than some, but our farm
ers are intelligent, industrious and pros
porous, and it is common sight to see
them riding to town in rubber-tired car
riages, driving thoroughbred horses, too;
and most of their children at an early age
are sent TO the best colleges of the State,
and could no doubt tell the city lad a num-
Der of things he does not know and yet
not be altogether technical. Have you ever
stopped to think of what kind of people
your city is mostly made from? Inquire
into the matter and you will find a vast
number of prominent business and profess
and it was there they received the best
part of their education-''the study of COM
, mon sense
Several years ago, while in a fashionable
boarding school for young ladies, the ma
jority of whose students had lived their en-
tire lives in the city, an amusing incident
occurred which may seem incredible to a
great many, but is nevertheless fact. One
morning during our opening exercises our
principal asked how many of the girls knew
br,xx fha Of he
potato, grew. Out of about seventy-five
girls there were not more than a half dozen
that knew. No doubt this would be equally
as amusing to the intelligent farmer as
some of the things country boy does not
know about the city. In an article which
appeared in the society column of an In
dianapolis newspaper some time ago read
with sympathy the city girls criticism of
the indianapolis young mans ideas OF
entertaining his young women friends
The article told how each evening her
men who were SO kind as to call
on her and her guests from other cities
and how they responded time after time to
her invitations to dinner, parties and
dances; but how, when they wished TO go
to the theater they were always left to
go with mamma and papa and after ar
irving there would always see their young
men friends enjoying bachelors party
alone. They never seemed to think it their
duty to return their hOSteSSeS hospitality
in any way; they no doubt thought it a
great favor even to accept their invitations.
L have often wished that some of these
generous hearted girls might know some
of the young men from the little towns and
the country who are i'm the city in colleges
or starting business careers for L am
sure they would not then have reason for
criticism. After living in the city several
years, having removed from small town
to complete their education, family OF
girls, intelligent and passably attractive,
soon found themselves surrounded by many
admiring friends and no doubt the mother
without disrespect to the dearest of moth
ers) looked forward TO brilliant marriages
for her daughters; but her fond hopes were
soon shattered for the girls were too viva
cious to sit continually admiring Regl-
nald'' in his latest styles. Ferdinand 5
constant conversation on his auto, and
dear ''Chollie' telling how many highballs
and bottles of champagne he could drink.
Mamma also became discouraged when the
enormous gas bills were presented monthly.
You could not blame these girls for anx-
iously awaiting the letters from home an
nouncing visits from Tom and Harry and
John, on which occasions they knew they
should enjoy the city in altogether diff
fereut way. First. there the circus.
then the parks, boat rides in the moon
light the theaters and the little dinners
down town, where they talked OF the old
days at home and no doubt dreamed OF
going back to continue those times To
complete the story L Will say, in passing,
that they did return to the little place and
no doubt will live happily ever after"
GRACE GOLDSBERRY.
Parke County, Indiana.