The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-12-04
INTERESTING. DEBATE
MONTEREY SCHOOL
Young Ladies Give Splendid
Addresses.
EXCELLENT POINTS ON BOTH SIDES
"Reselved, That Country Life
is More Practical Than City
Life" Was Query.


ing entertainment, the chief feature
of which was debate, query: "Re-
solved that Country Life is more
Practical Than City Life" The affir-
native, represented by Miss Callie
Ammons; negative, by Miss Alberta
Clinkscales.
The general excellence of the two
papers herewith presented is such
that The Press and Banner is glad to
reproduce them, and hopes that other
scholars in other schools will strive
to emulate the good example which
has been set by Misses Ammons and
Clinkscales.
The following are the debates:
The Affirmative
Friends and Honorable Opponent:
l, as the affirmative, do think that
country life is more practical than
city life. The open air and activity
enjoyed by those who live in the coun-
try acquires health. In the city We
find it much to the reverse, the close
and contining life is very unhealthful.
The temptations in cities are much
greater than in the country, conse-
Quently the morals Of country life are
better. Hundreds and thousands of
promising young men and women
have fallen victims to the vices of city
life and have become moral wrecks
on account of it's evil influences. Thus,
my opponents may say that the same
young men and women would have
done likewise in the country and that
they were weak-minded, because they
were influenced and overcome by these
evils. Read history; consider Rome;
she became one of the greatest pow
ers on earth, yet she fell. Why? Be-
cause of the corruptness of her city
life. Was it her weak-minded ones
alone who fell victims to her evil
vices? No, her most able and learned
men, also her men of state; in short
those on whose shoulders rested the
destiny of her people, became cor
rupt and immoral Trace history back
through all ages and you will find
that cities are breeding places OF the
blacklist evils.
I really think there are more Christ
ian men and women in the country
than in the cities, for we have no
theatres or dancing halls. In the coun-
try we have no barrooms to draw the
men away from Goods house" on
Sundays while in most or all cities
there are plenty of them. What kind
of a scene can you not see If you were
to 20 to the drug stores; around the
court houses and to the parks on
Sundays? Why, you would see hum
dreds and perhaps thousands of idle
people sitting around gossiping, when
the best place for them would be at
church or at home reading the Bible
and trying to be better prepared for
the thereafter" instead of coming
out into the country to go scaly-bark
hunting on Sunday and breaking the
fourth Commandment in so many 9TH
er ways.
The country is the birthplace OF
our greatest men. Take Abraham Lin
coin, for example: He was born a
poor boy on a Kentucky farm. Had ne
been reared in a city Of today 1t is a
very doubtful question whether or
not his name would have found place
in history as lone chosen for the
highest honors in our country
Country life also leads to economy
and industry. Today, there are golden
OPPORTUNITIES in the country for anv
energetic person. The Intelligence
with which the country people farm
makes it easy to make living anu
make a large profit besides.
Compare the two, beautlful coun-
try home surrounded by all the mod
ern conveniences, with nice orchards
and broad fields, filled with different
AGRICULTURAL varieties, the sweet wild
flowers sending out their sweet frag-
rance through the woodlands, where
nature can be seen smiling on every
hand. Can it be compared with even
mansion in the city, where all the
beauty is art?
My opponents may say tnat the au-
vantages in the cities are better.
say they are not. Today we nave as
good schools in the country as we
have in the cities. More and more at
tention is being given to the schools
to see that they are modern and up-to-
date.
Our rural routes bring our mail TO
our doors, thus making it possible for
lis TO communicate with all parts or
the world in as convenient manner
as our city neighbors. The automobile
is heing used as a convenience OF
travel, making it possible for persons
living far out in the rural d:strlcts
70 visit places of business al great
distances in short tine. Thc teie-
phone is all over the country ny
means of which the country people
talk at great distances and can Keep
up with the markets as conveniently
as if they lived in city.
Then society is even higher Ill the
country than cities, for it is not Dur
dened with the vices which have crept
into society in the cities.
Living is cheaper in the country.
Almost all the necessities o. lie can
be raised and the country people can
sell vegetables, fruits, milk ana put-
ter at all seasons of the year at fancy
| prices.
By means of the quick transporta-
tion rendered by the railways 1t is
possible for farmers to send their pro-
ducts from their nearest stations 10
other good markets where the prices
are better.
The country people are independent
people. They have no bosses to dc
tate to them. They can form their own
nlans and do their own bossing and
by consistent and intelligent labor
they can make more money and nave
more satisfaction than can be found
in any city.
| In conclusion, my points Of argu-