The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-04-02
SMALL TOWNS ARE RIPENING INTO
REAL COMMUNITIES
BY Larry Ho in Pioneer Press

By Larry Ho in Pioneer Press
little noted development in this country has
now reached the place where it longer be
considered experimental of temporary, and it prob
ably means more to the future of the country than
any. other one thing. 1t is the creation of
munity consciousness in the small communities of
the nation.
Those who do not make any effort to follow this
development have small idea of the extent to
which most small cities and villages have become
individual, and therefore truly social. To who
reads day by day the country weeklies Of Mime
sofa it seems well nigh impossible to keep up with
the civic efforts and the cooperative enterprises that
making the small town efficient in achievement
and secure in leadership
Half a century ago the small town the real
center of American progress. Twenty-Five years
ago there seemed to be sudden defation of small
town influence. The rapid emergence of large
tiers of population with the decrease of popua
ton under economic and the lure of "city
advantages" resulted for time in 'inferiority
complex on the part of country districts and in
many in artificial hostility to the metropol-
itan districts corresponding air of superiority on
the part of cities created acute division in SYM
pathy and purpose between city and country. There
was widespread feeling in the smaller centers that
opportunity to be found only in larger COM
munities. and this imagined handicap" created
content in country living.
All this is now in process of rapid change. If
there is any logical jealousy now it must be on the
part of the larger city.
There is today finer intellectual freedom and
more intelligent social consciousness in the small
city districts than anywhere else in America The
small community has realized that it must create it's
own destiny and it is doing so. And the best part
of it is that this is being done without any aping of
cty ways"done originally within the capacities
of each individual community.
1t is not essential difference in the instincts of
city and country people, in the degree of their
abilities that gives the small community it's better
chance at community living. 1t due the differ
ence in surrounding conditions The dweller in the
large city is largely prohibited by circumstance
close and intimate contact with those not in his own
immediate neighborhood, club or business group
His acquaintance is limited, and such he has is
1ov-rx aIxy
interpret affairs largely in the of his own per-
sonal welfare at the best by personal interest
in his neghborhood, which in itself is perfectly le-
climate but which nevertheless does deprive him of
the background of common effort for the entire city
The small communities need no longer make
apology to their big neighbors and they know it.
1t used to be the favorite theme of the dema-
gogue that the best and the greatest came out of
the great open spaces"-that only the sons of
the soil" were gifted with the genius of leader
ship We heard it in campaigns until it grew
threadbare. It is no longer talked about in this
blatant way because today it is nearly true
than it before.
In the smaller city the population does constitute
in very true family circle Every one knows
every one, and if this and then breeds dsad-
vantage, it is the small disadvantage which does not
vitiate the immense and permanent advantage of a
contact intimate that it creates unity of spirit and
effort 1t is easier to apture vision where
men and women are bound together by her knowl-
edge and the understanding of each others joy and
sorrow and striving and buffeting
This community of experience tells also on the in
teiectual side. The knowledge of public questions
being formed through cooperation is apt to be
less Of dogmatic bitterness connected with it. This
with greater leisure to think, and with fewer out
side distractions, creates the best atmosphere in
which to develop wise and just conclusions
Fhe present development Of small community
life means something more than new intellectual
zest and social vision, fine these are 1t makes
Tor the development of personal qualities since
each citizen is called to contribute what he best
can to the community fund of living And since
by virtue of the family consciousness there is
that enlargement of individual dignity which
comes from the consciousness Of comradeship
with all other citizens.
The small town and the farm home today have
all the advantages which modern invention have
brought that the isolation that was once cramp-
ing no longer exists. With modern conveniences
and comforts the country dweller need not look long
ingly toward the big cities for the advantages Of
which he dreams. They at his front door, And
he escapes the same time the disadvantage of
rush and noise and confusion and conflicting aims
and uncertain efforts.
Put in week in any small community in this
state and you will be surprised at the vigor and vi
tally Of the community life the variety of its inter-
es the spontaneity Of its enthusiasm and civic spirit
and by its genius in cooperation.