CHAPTER III 



"a plague on both your houses" 



THE truth of the matter is that neither rural 

 nor urban life, as now organized, meets the test 

 of American ideals, as mentioned in the previous 

 chapter. 



We have seen how rural life, speaking broadly of 

 average conditions throughout the nation, fails to meet 

 the test. It fails alike on the economic, the social, 

 the intellectual, and the spiritual sides. In all these 

 respects it must undergo a thorough, though doubtless 

 gradual, process of reorganization before it can meas- 

 ure up to the highest ideals of Twentieth Century 

 America. 



City life, and especially the life of the great city — 

 again speaking in broad terms — supplies a more inter- 

 esting experience, and yields more satisfaction to aver- 

 age humanity. Yet, the city, too, falls very far short 

 of meeting the highest test. With all its advantages 

 in the way of scientific hygiene and sanitation, of 

 schools, hospitals, public parks, opportunities for rec- 

 reation and amusement of every sort — it yet fails, 

 when considered from the standpoint of ideal American 

 citizenship. 



What we want is the largest measure of individual 

 freedom consistent with the general progress and wel- 

 fare of society. This high element of citizenslup is 



53 



