New-York tribune., 1903-03-15

these names individually: those who are cogntzant
of tho exact status agree in part at least with
Mr.. Hutchins In his contention that these old
proud illustrious families have simply gone to
seed and the we'll kept family have shared
the common lot and to Wild carrot and bushes
This is the status quo, blink the facts as We
may. 1t may be pertinent TO ask what are or
have been the causes which operated to produce
these conditions? Possibly i'll tracing causes rem
edies might be discovered which, applied In time =
supposing the existing conditions under discussion
susceptible of betterment-may save the State. for
In the last analysis this is menace aimed at tho
integrity Of the commonwealth.
As an interested student of such things my at
tention Las been called to these. as among tho
most patent OF degeneraCy. particularly as it
appertains to Connecticut:
First-Isolatton The old line runs, He laughs
who never had a fear" Likewise. the man who
has never been hemmed in by his environment and
virtually made prisoner on his few acres cannot
understand ard hence fails to appreciate the con-
dton OF his brother whose soul hungers for social
contact Have you never seen the delicate tendrils
of vine seemingly sway amless manner AZ
the faint Nhiffs Of an early summer breeze tossed
the nj and fro? In like manner the aspirations.
intellectual and moral. of man shut in by un-
controlled conditions seek for contact. and failing
to find it become discouraged and droop know Of
no word ironbound. significant of cheerless.
and friendessness. as The word isoa ton,
reference to splendid isola ton but ordinarily We
ptr ptrience that is the portion of those who bear
names once highly honored but now decadent
The .mouut;iin whites of Kentucky, West Nir-
gnia and Tennessee, among whom Berea College is
doing such magnificent work form class that
IS typical Of beiated people whose condition is
caused largely by dreary ISOLATION
Second-t hildleSsness. 1hr old stock has wittlng-
ly unwittnGly committed suicide. Phis Is an ugly
conclusion. but. to nv mind, Judging solely from
the data hand. which includes that furnished by
Mr. Hutchins. well other nvesigators. II is
incontrovertiblc. Either Discrimination to be
troubled with family has brought about this re-
suit, OF. 1 more and more persuaded con-
sanguneous marriage is responsible for the child
less homes of many Of our New England farm
houses.
Where there are no children. or SO few and
these widely scattered. the problem Of a school
my own town, SchOO consolidation has taken place
Ave more districts uniting in centre school
Side by side with the abandoned schoOhouse is the
stranded church and the weed streWn graveyard
name and an influence
Third Western Prosperity. When the whentfelds
Of the West became the granaries of America and
the world the rockribbed hills of Connecticut lost
supplying the market. The Connecticut farmer
now buys his corn In Chicago, his horses in Indi-
ana his wheat in Dakota He skins his farm
selling his hay and wearing out the superficial
Oh. yes my friend and wayfarcr. when next you
wax jubilant the wide. rolling prairies and
their golden harvest. think for IL moment of the old
farm way back East. now run TO brush and briers
OF the old town mill that is sleeping itself into dis
solution. Let this give you ause. :.m not
Of those who cry that the former days were better
than these. would wish back the old methods
We enjoy the bounty and prosperity OF the West
these abandoned places makes feel we've paid a
price for our bounty and prosperity the world at
large recks not Of.
Fourth-Transiuon Era. This is phrase full Of