New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-26
CITY VS.. COUNTRY
A Warm Defence Of Small Town Life
as Against the Biggest Show on Earth.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: IL is rather difficult 10 reply 10
the letter Of A. G. for the reason that
the IDEAS expressed by the terms "reai
stuff" liberal education and great
est show Oh earth" arc indefinite.
Personal ideas as TO "real STUFF.
etc. may and do differ, and IL is well
that all do not think alike, otherwise
the infinite plan which calls for both
country and city would be upset.
Docs :. G.. realize that the majority
OF our successful men of to-day VINO
are 90 years or more Of age came from
The country and that the early on
vironmcnts of poverty, hardship and
lack Of most or the real stuff Of
the biggest show on earth were the
greatest factor in their preparation for
their greater work?
Does he realize that if it IS the pur-
pose and ambition OF mans heart
TO make progress and acquire kuowi-
edge he viii carve his way anyWhere,
and that these men above mentioned
did not move 90 the city n order 10
get "morc liberal education. but 10
apply their already acquired education
10 the more extended sphere OF cry
business There are men mere boz the
country with more OF what J should
call liberal education than the vast
majority of city bred men.
These men are acquainted with nat
ure. than whom there is no better
instructor, enabling them TO under
stand and talk OF the sowing of seed,
cultivation of the land. harvesting OF
crops and Of their values. the raising
Of poultry. cattle, etc. and the many
wonders OF nature that go them are
90 commonplace. but 10 the city man
arc the subject Of so much OF nus
reading u addition 20 this knowledge
they are thoroughly ycrsed ~ the sun.
iccts Of business. politics. religion ana
history and have a much more per-
soual. intimate contact with the hearts
OF their fellow men than busy city
men can possibly have.
There arc more debates and extern
poraueous discussions TO be heard m
one winter around the stove OF the
country store or by some hospitable
freside than would be heard m ten
wears Of urban life. And do not
imagine that these are poinjlcss dis-
cussions. for among these men are
those of ss keen wit rs any. 49,.
Now. is all this a".ioeral education -.
A. to the real stuff" presumably the
aires. motion picture shows, tangoes,
etc. may be meant. and Of course go
these tho country Is lacking.
Many city people make the remark;
ooh. / couldn't live In the country D.
IS too slow" DO they mean that coGn-
try life has no good, hesitntui. simple
pleasures OF which their forefathers
,nrived those men from whom have
been developed the heart and backbone
Of this country. Or do they mean
there is a dcarth of the more frivolous
amusemcnts which have been intro
duced In the last few years and which
have developed such "A craving in the
hearts Of this younger generation that
tho simpler. less e1travagant pleasures
do not appeal to them
We have progressed 800 many ways
during the last nifty years, but has our
nrogrcs iu the matter of pleasure
and rccrcations been go the same
plane as some OF our other progrc7-
-iou- Arc vc as people more
happs and contonted people than were
our forcfathers2
4. 20 business. thc time was that
the city was the only plac, in which
man could make money, but the time
ha. now come when the average boy