The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-06-20
HILL TOWNS OF NEW ENGLAND
What Leadership Can Go to Advanc,
Them,


Go back to the home town or to
some other of the hill towns of New
England, and become leader of the
people for the good of the communi-
ties, says President John NJ Thomas
to the graduating students of Middle
bury college in the Vermont town of
the same name. No sounder advice
than that has been handed out to any
of the young people this summer.
The most important point the presi-
dent made on which to base his adj
vice is that the hill towns of New
England have been for more than
half century losing their population
and he added: Leadership is all
that is needed. Who of you will go
to live in hill town in Vermont,
not where there is the best job, but
where there is the greatest need?
One man Of the right caliber and
the right power could lift a. whole
community. One community so in
spired would change a whole county,
and one county leading the way, the
whole state would follow"
That is the most apt criticism of
the habit of the country people In
sending the best they have to the
cities. All know that the best is
sent to the markets to sell because
of the general impression that that
is the best way. But there is no law
of demand which forces any such
condition. So long as that prevails
in the farm crop disposal II is more
than likely to prevail in the disposal
of the young people, as it surely does
now. But the chance of failure il.
the cities is more than four to one
in the towns. There are examples OF
the advantages of remaining in the
home hill town and of going to an
other town of the same kind to make
career. More than 65 per cent OF
the leaders in state Legislatures are
sent there by small towns. The
homes If not the offices of more than
80 per cent of the federal Legislator
es in this country are in the small
Ter towns Of various states. Much
more than SO. per cent of all legisla-
tors who win fame are country bred.
There is percentage of more than
10 TO / that the sons of the young
men graduated from Middlebury col
lege this year will win more sub
stantial fame in the world II they are
born in country homes than in city
homes. That alone is sufficient rea-
son for bearing in mind the advice
of President Thomas. But for the
present generation the chances are
better. and the ways are much easier
now than during the first half of the
time the president refers to as the
decadept period of the hill towns.
There are more railroads, more cleo
trio roads and the automobiles are
within reach of all men who make a
fair success OF life, and they are
more within the reach of the country
attorney, doctor. teacher. merchant
or farmer than to the city man in
similar circumstances, because of the
economy in keeping them. The
man In the country has more time of
his own to take care of the ma
chimes, or he may have the work
done at less expense. And his
chances for good health are better.
His circle of acquaintances is. bound
to be better on the average. and
when he makes a good impression on
a community II can be kept up long
er and more easily. And when he
goes to the cities as a delegate in
any cause worth while he can speak
more exclusively for a community
and depend more safely on the back
ing OF his people at home.
The most wholesome reading pro.
vided for all the people TO absorb is
written in the smaller towns or by
men and women who belong in them
and are in the cities temporarily an.
keeping the atmosphere of the wild.
er country life with them. There is
change coming over New England
IL is going to make its best growth
in the smaller towns during the next
100 years and presumably thereafter
With that fact well established. New
England will take back its stronger
prestige in the national legislation.
that which has been lost within a
few years by political flag or the Sc.
lection Of the good fellows" to rep.
resent the section. Solid men are
bound TO control this country, and
the hill towns will provide them.
They will be the stronger il the ad.
vice OF President Thomas is followed
in Vermont and in other states