Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1906-12-07
IS LIFE WORTH LIVING IN
THE COUNTRY +?

lie OOOlN Ky
OF course it is. If life is worth living
anywhere it is in the country-in the
open-"God's free air" The country
people don't think so. There is GER
tain glamor and glare about town and
city life which attracts only to deceive.
The majority of town people would go
back to the country where they came
from, or to some other part, if they
could, but they cannot, Every chance
they get-when they want to have "a
good time" and renew their tagging
energies, they HE themselves to the
"open''-to the woods and fields and
firesides of the country.
The cold home" with all Its ap
purtenances thereunto belonging" is
the one spot on earth to which the
mind and heart turns as naturally and
unerringlY rs the needle TO the pole.
"In the halls OF memory" its picture
forever hangs, and we gaze upon it
with infinite longings for the days that
were, but which can never come again.
OF course, life in the country is worth
living-who said otherwise? The ques-
ton has been raised, and, in a number
OF cases a negative answer has been
returned. Upon what ground? Only
this-the roads.
Life in the country has improved 1t
is not what it once was. Towns have
increased in number and size. Tele
phones have brought the town and
country closer together. Schools and
churches have multiplied and mprov-
ed, and, in other respects country life
has been robbed Of some of its obiec-
uonable features. But, one condition
still prevails TO MARI the happiness of
country life, and that is, the miserable
roads. While every other condition
almost, has improved, the roads are
no better now than they were years
ago, and this situation and condition
renders life in the country, for most of
the year at least, miserable, and hard
ly worth living at all Shut the bows
and girls up-confine them to their
own door yards, render communion
ton with their fellows difficult, if not
impossible. and blow is struck at the
root of happiness and contentment on
the farm. To have to wade through
mud, drive over almost impossible
roads, climb hills and ridges in snow
and mud in order to get TO town, or to
party at a neighboring home or TO
church, and that ends it, The young
people will strike for lighted streets
good sidewalks, comfortable churches
and we'll kept schools the first chance
and let the farm go. And they can't be
seriously blamed.
Improve the common highways
make communication and transpor-
tation, not only possible but easy, and
the boys and girls will stick to the
farms. Place the different commmi-
ties OF the county in easy reach, by
good roads, with each other, and with
the county seat - with its stores
churches and schools, and tae hove
and girls now on the farms will be
glad to remain, and others will forsake
the town for the country.
The boys can never be kept on the
farms unless the public highways are
improved. Not only the BOYS. but the
girls, and even the old folks them.
selves will he influenced to move away
out Of the mud.
Mr.. Bryan said; Destroy your cities
and they will spring up as if by magic
Destroy your farms, and grass viii
grow in the streets of every city in the
union"