The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-08-12

.dea that rural life is too old-fash-
ioned and humdrum for the modern
standard of living. The idea that
only the city life is the up-to-date
life is essentially mischeyous and II
is becoming less and less true every
year that the rural life is devoid o.
| ali the most elevating opportunities.
Morally, it can hardly be ques-
/ toned that the rural life is yastly
/ safer for those who are susceptible
to temptation. Persons of sterling
and stalwart character are reasonably
safe in any environment, but unfor-
tunately thoy are the minority, espc-
cially in the young and inexperienced.
and the helping band must be eN-
tended to the weak. The strong are
superior TO most circumstances.
whether bred in the city or In the
country. If young women, regard
less of where they were brought
up" could once he convinced that
all honest toll is honorable, that the
artificial distinctions are more often
pernicous than otherwise tnat the
girl whose character is firmly ground
ed on fundamental rectitude is in"
finitely superior TO the girl who is
not so bulwarked, they themselves
would cease to draw the inVidious
distinctions which make some forms
Of service so repugnant and others.
that are far more laborious, attract
i've by comaprison.
The farm is no longer the isolated
prison" of the pioneer days. The
average rural community or the
present offers substantially all the
wholesome advantages that the real
" ambitions and right thinking
young woman should demand and it
is unquestionably the best and safest
place for those who have not the
inherent moral stamina to Withstand
the perils of the big city. IT is the
best place, apart from the question
of moral safety, for those who are
not fitted for those higher forms OF
employment that offer Undue cements
| to the ambitious and in view OF the
fact that for every opportunity Of this
sort there are score of apr!i-
cants, the rural community is the
best and safest place for thousands
who blindly dash their lives against
the city walls. 1t is a curious anon
aly OF human nature that so many
"citv people" should long wlstfully
for the peace and quiet of the coun-
try and so many country people
should yearn for the excitement of
the urban life.
Strength of character is the mas
ter key OF the problem involved, but
until everybody is morally strong
and impervous to danger there is
wide field for usefulness on the part
of organizations that stand at the
gates of the cities and turn back the
eager but misguided throngs of
young people. particularly young
women. who would turn back of theil
own accord if they realized what
awaits them within the walls. The
cities are woefully derelict in theil
duty toward the unwary and the de-
fenseless. 1t is a reproach to every
large city in the land that ii IS not
as safe as the littletown which II
, possible for the country girls to come
to the city and take her place viii
the rest without being compelled tC
run the gauntlet of moral harpies
bent upon her destruction. II oughl
to he possible for the city girl to live
her life unharmed. But it is not and
until il is. the avoidance of tempta-
tion. the correct appraisal of oppor-
, tunitieS. the accurate measurement
of standards of Independence and re-
speCtability, is tho wisest course
There used TO be an old song with
refrain that ran something like
this: Better stick to the old farm
, while longer" There was never {
bettertime to sing it than right nov
" Kansas City journal.
. ----O---
THE OkLAHOMAN AND THE