Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-07-28
GOOD ROADS AND
THEIR INFLUENCE

MR.. C T. HARRIS OF ANNEX. SHOW
STRIKING CONTRAST BETwEE
URBAN AND RURAL LIFE-CIT
DRAWS NEW vIGOR FROM COUNT
| MANY BENEFITS DERIVED FRO
SMOOTH, WELL KEPT ROADS, ETC.
In considering good roads. it is pei
fectly evident to all fair minded pee
pie that cities and towns should er
courage and aid In their maintenance
in prOpOrtiOnate degree with th
benefits which they derive from tn
thorOughfares which connect then
with the surrounding country. Som
reasons for this are here given First
coed roads are a benefit to both tow
and country in that they equaliz
trade and encourage communication
and intercourse with remote sections
| With good roads the year round, Their
would be no rush of produce on tn
| market, as now Invariably happens il
| mild and pleasant weather for feaI
| that change of atmosphere may make
| the thorOughfares well nigh impassa-
BILE.
It is often the case that large guam
titles of pre- 1uce has to be stored il
barns or other places for months at g
time, and when most needed by the
city residents, simply because the
roads are so bad that it cannot be haul
ed without a serious loss to the farmer.
But this is only the money consider
alton. Good roads not only concern
our pockets, but they may become in
strumental In promoting health and
happiness, in refining the tastes, and
in broadening and evelatjug the char
acter. The toiler in the great city
must have rest and recreation. Old
and young, especially the latter, with
character uniformed, must and will
sweeten their daily labor with some
pleasure. 1t is not during the hours
of industry, but the hours devoted to
pleasure that furnish the evil one with
opportunity: it is not while we are at
work, but while We are at play, that
temptation steals over our senses, puts
conscience to sleep, despOils manhood,
and destroys character.
Healthful and innocent recreation
and pleasures are national needs and
national blessings; they are among the
most important instrumentalities of
moral reform; they are as essential to
purity of mind and soul as to health
fulness of body.
Out beyond the confines of the city
with it's dCst and filth, morally and
these are to be found, and
good roads lead the way to them. What
peace the tired wanderer finds amid
the trees and flowers, with the music
of Dabbling brooks and waterfalls ring
ing in his ears!
The mountains pointing heaven ward,
yesterday Storm embaJJled, today
bathed in glorious sunshine, bid him
walk erect, step firm, cherish hope, and
for light and guidance, to call upon
the Creator of all light and wisdom.
How such scenes as these kindle the
imagination OF the poet, quicken and
enlarge the conception of the artist,
fire the soul of the orator, and instill
In us all love of higher ideals, and a
deep reverence for the grandeur of Ia
ture!
But if love OF action rather than con
and reflection holds Il
stronger place in the human fancy,
how the blood thrills and the spirits
rise as one springs lightly into the sad
die, caresses the slender neck of some
equine beauty, grasps firmly the bride
reIns. and bidding farewell TO the i'm
purities of the city. dashes out into
the hills and the valleys and mountains,
to commune with nature and nature s
gods
Or what is more delightful than
when with pleasant cOmpe pionship,
one dashes along the smooth highways
while that king of the ANNA creation,
next to woman, mans most cherished
friend-an American trotter, with
arcbed neck and spirited mien, ansWe
every culver of the line, ever tone of
the voice, with a fresh burst of speed, I
you between green fields.
along murmuring brooks and through
meadows fragrant with blooming flow
ers But for the enjoyment of any of
these pleasures, good roads are indis-
pensible.
Another blessing which follows in
the wake of good roads. is the stjmu-
lous and encouragement to rural lite
country Or farm life, if you will. The
present tendency ofpopulation to rush
into the great cities, makes neither for
the wealth, the character. the intelli-
gence, not the morals of the M ton.
1t has been said that few men Of the
present day can trace their ancestry
on both sides TO more than four genera
lions of city residents. The brain aud
the Drawn and the morals of the city
are cOns' autly replenished from the
country nomesteads. The best and
happiest home life is upon the farm,
and The most sacred thing ia America
is the American home 1t lies At the
fOunda' ion of our institutions, of our
health, OF our character. of our pros
perlty. and our happiness here and
hereafter @. L. HARRIS.