The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-07-24
BIG CHANCE NOTED
Life In Country Today Compared
to Twenty Years Ago.
Custom OF Sleeping Outdoors, for In.
stance, 10 Growlno--What the
"Movies" and "Canned Music"
Have Accomplished.

Twenty years ago the Inhabitants Of
entire villages, up in New York state
at least, seemed to fear fresh air O.
nights and slept with their windows
closed. Night air was not healthfui
they said--and a lot Of them lived to
be ninety-seven even on that theory.
The window sashes were nailed down
and stuffed with rags st the first sign
of snow and we slept under those con.
ditions.
In those days II anyone had prac-
ticed sleeping outdoors even in sum-
mer weather. 1t would have caused a
sensation. Cracked, l swami" the old
farmers would have said.
The change came gradually, presum-
atly because the sons and daughters
OF the old residents went to work in
the large centers where opened win
dcws were, If not the rule, surely not
the exception, remarks writer In the
New York Evening Sun. Now the COM
piete change hits one fairly in the face
when he returns to the once airless
districts Of early youth.
Night and day now the windows are
wide open and sometimes even doors
are never closed no one thinks of liv-
ing without screens and mosquito net
ting. even the poor In hollOws and by.
lanes. TIE families frequently eat out
doors under the old apple tree. on red
and white table covers or oilcloth or
bare scrubbed board. Like the omni-
present flivver that carries the clerk
and, his family to picnics along the
roadside. the outdoor-esting habit has
| dome wonders for the health and hap
plness Of all, particularly the country
folk.
Out-of-doors sleeping Is now well
nigh a habit. Hardly a porch in that
| country nowadays is complete without
khaki swing couch, made-up cot or
one. Of the old time hard, haircloth
"sofies" with pillows and a patchwork
quilt or two. -"ady for the sleeper.
Most OF these were hung with mosquito
net curtains. looped back by day.
Nowadays on these outdoor couches
are seen reclining in daytime the old
man Of the family, lying at full length
with his bare feet toasting in the sun.
Twenty years ago he would have slept
In the darkened parlor behind closed
shutters; or, II very foolhardy, he
might have been caught by watchful
eyes OF his family mapping under the
old apple tree.
Yes, the country has come oni
But outdoor sleeping by rural chill
dren has not yet arrived. Here the
farmers wife draws the line. 1t may
be all right for grandpap and herself
and husband, but she is not vet sure
about the night afr for little lungs. So
ciildren's cots are not seen upon the
porches. They still sleep within four
walls and ceiling.
The city and large towns hsve come
70 this airy regime through years Of
propaganda In newspapers, in churches
and In social centers. The country alb
sorbed 1t through newspapers and mag
azines.
But II there has been a notable
change In the attitude of farm and vii
lage folk toward fresh air there has
been an even greater change in their
social life. The small town Of twenty
years ago Is not the small town OF to-
day. Then they had church sociables.
They may still have them, but do not
know where. There used to be buggy
rides and prayer meetings, and the
greatest dissipation Of the younger vii
layers was "going walking" with pos
stble "sody" at the corner drug store.
Booth Harrington depicts these rural
scenes truthSully, but his pointed view
Is now out Of date.
! The movies and canned" music have
recreated village life. Even in those
families where there Is no automobile
life is far pleasanter thing thar It
was twenty years ago. The movies en-
tertain the whole family. And in the
evenings. when the movies fail, the av-
erage soda fountain draws not with
ice-cream cones and candy alone but
with rollicking, jazzing mechanical
player. The drug store has become
largely refreshment parlor; 1t is now
a social center. Young and old meet
there and strollfng and lOafing have
gone into the discard.
The closing Of saloons may have
helped, hut even before prohibition the
lifting notes of music boxes In Ice
cream parlors began to WOO the vii
w Huy ISUrBrDS, WUO was oIIVl tU ur
a.t Dy MS wife late yesterday. was h
ne' this morning. Several eye witne
ter 10 the later part Of the shooting.
,cr Yer the man fled from the house
he iowed by his wife into the ward. "
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