Evening star., 1915-01-31

to modern conditions. We are build
ing that new country with the accumu-
lated culture and experience of the
world upon which to draw.
+
''TraNelers have commented on the
fact that the average far western hotel
is SO much more comfortable than the
average eastern hotel The reason is
that all of our hotels are modern
everything we have is modern, because
the country is so new. When the popu-
lation of city grows by hundreds OF
per cent between federal censuses, that
city cannot very well help being mod
ern.
Eastern cities, in their efforts TO
secure the breathing space that we all
now know is SO essential to health and
we'll being. are handicapped by d heri-
fage of the past i'll narrow streets, h1gh
property values and ultra conservatism.
We demand parks, Fairgrounds, broad
streets, open spaces, the best of public
service facilities, and we get them as a
matter of course. We make our cities
to live in quite as much as we make
them to make money in!
at is not too much to say that a
higher average civilization exists on
the Pacific coast than on the Atlantic
We have our raw, crude spots, II is
true: We do not have the low living
conditions that exist to such large
extent in the eastern urban csnters ana
also in the eastern rural regions. Bath
tubs and modern plumbing, for cA-
ample. are now considered necessary
adjuncts of the far western farmhouse.
and, | believe. We may class these
articles AS evidences of civilization.
may we not?
ITO put it another way. civilization
in the far west is more dlnused tnan
in the east The vast differences be
tween poverty and wealth do not exist
with U.S. Culture-and ! am speaking
broadly-is not the exclusive possession
of a relatively small class. Nhile we
have not the rarified atmosphere of
learning possessed, for instance, ny
small group in Boston, neither have
we the vile slums and the british man
ner of living that exist to such ptt1a-
BILE extent in the older regions of the
United States.
THE average far westerner, be he
rich or poor. finds in the environment
in which he is placed, in his nelghbors,
in the spirit of the country, an incen-
tive to lead what for want of a better
term we may call the balanced life. So
far from decreasing his virility. his in
tensity of purpose and his aggressive
ness in the pursuit of material wealth.
this seems to increase his powers.
I'VE are Il gregarious people out
there. The social instinct is highly de-
veloped; the desire to know our neigh
borS is strong upon us. There Is no
wider travelled man in the world than
the American far westerner. 1t amazes
a westerner on coming east to meet
people who have dwelt all their life in
one place and who have no knowledge
of the country in which they live.
Every westerner knows a great deal
about the country lying east of the AL
comparatively few eastern
ers know anything about the country
that lies west of that range.
The flood of travel with us is ever
moving. Our people have the gossip of
Chicago, New York. Washington, Bos-
ton. Philadelphia. London, Paris, Ber-
lin. at their tongues ends. Every one
out there, you know, comes from
somewhere and keeps in touch with
events at home.
"And, in addition. our Puget sound
country has an outlook on the world.
The orient Is our next door neighbor on
the west. Now, with the construction
Of the Panama canal, We are in closer