Rural Problems in the United States

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1921 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XI THE SOUL OF THE RURAL COMMUNITY WHAT shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? After an absence, I am now again in New York City and Brooklyn, on a few weeks' vacation. The splendor, picturesqueness, and oceanic amplitude and rush of these great cities, the unsurpassed situation, rivers and bay, sparkling sea tides, costly and lofty new buildings, faqades of marble and iron, of original grandeur and elegance of design, with the masses of gay color, the preponderance of white and blue, the flags flying, the endless ships, the tumultuous streets, Broadway, the heavy, low, musical roar, hardly ever intermitted even at night, the jobbers' houses, the rich shops, the wharves, the great Central Park, and the Brooklyn Park of hills, the assemblages of citizens in their groups, conversations, trades, evening amusements, or along the by-quarters--these, I say, and the like of these, completely satisfy my senses of power, fullness, motion, etc., and give me, through such senses and appetites, and through my aesthetic conscience, a continued exaltation and absolute fulfillment But, sternly discarding, shutting our eyes to the glow and grandeur of the general superficial effect, coming down to what is of the only real importance, personalities, and examining minutely, we question, we ask, are there indeed, men here worthy the name? Are there athletes? Are there perfect women to match the generous material luxuriance? Is there a prevailing atmosphere of beautiful manners? Are there crops of fine youths and majestic old persons? Are there acts worthy freedom and a rich people? Is there a great moral and religious civilization--the only justification of a great material one? Confess that to severe eyes, using the moral microscope u...