Digging to the Roots of a Dying Tree 27 



remedy lies in frank recognition of the fact, followed by 

 fundamental and far-reaching changes on the side of 

 country life. If such changes can not be made — if 

 the child reared in the country must be denied his right- 

 ful chance for a good education and a fair start in life 

 — then country life is damned and doomed, and every- 

 body who can possibly get there will go to the city. 

 This is in full accord with the American spirit. Noth- 

 ing is more vital to democracy than that childhood shall 

 have its chance — the best chance that money and genius 

 can provide. 



If mental development begins in the schools, it does 

 not end there. What are the comparative advantages 

 and facilities of urban and rural people for keeping on 

 with their education and abreast of the times? The 

 city, of course, offers superior opportunities of every 

 sort. And opportunity is all we can offer to any man. 

 There are no statistics of much value to show to what 

 extent the city man is disposed to avail himself of his 

 manifest advantages, as compared with his country 

 cousin. Whether the abundance and accessibility of 

 libraries and reading-rooms, lecture halls, art galleries, 

 clubs, and social organizations of all kinds broaden his 

 mind and enlarge his outlook on life is largely a matter 

 of speculation. It is certain, however, that it is far 

 easier for the average man and woman to make the most 

 of themselves in the way of mental development if living 

 in town than if living under rural conditions as they 

 average throughout the United States. 



For one thing, the better class of daily newspapers 

 are great educators, and their circulation is overwhelm- 

 ingly urban. 



