162 FROM A NEW ENGLAND HILLSIDE. 



That the facts which I stated in opening 

 are facts cannot be truthfully denied. The 

 world is better off in material things than 

 it ever was before. It has more oppor 

 tunity for intellectual improvement than 

 it ever had before. There is more chance 

 for individual progress than there ever was 

 before. Material development is more 

 rapid than it ever was before. And yet 

 all this seems to be accompanied by a con 

 dition of mental and moral collapse on the 

 part of a considerable percentage of the 

 human race. 



If this condition only appeared in those 

 who a hundred years ago would naturally 

 have been classed as social nonentities, but 

 who have now been brought forward as 

 factors in nation and society, in an imper 

 fect state of development, the problem 

 would be an easier one. Unfortunately 

 this does not seem to be the case. Exam 

 ples appear in all ranks and among all 

 classes, even the most favoured. Society s 

 enemies are those of its own household, as 

 well as those who have been forgotten. 

 There seems to be a physical, mental, or 

 moral fever running through the nations. 

 May it prove but a transient epidemic, to be 

 succeeded by a wholesome convalescence. 



