this respect are communities of this tyj^e. The great danger here, of 

 course, is that only one stratum of society will be provided for, which is, 

 in fact, exactly what has happened. 



Leveling Influences 



An interesting question is how these class lines are maintained and 

 what forces are operating to break them down. The chief reason for 

 their maintenance appears to be that in the communities where they are 

 maintained the entire community seldom if ever acts as a unit. The 

 group within the community acts as a unit, thus heightening its o\^^^ class 

 consciousness; it expresses itself through its own institutions, its own 

 churches, its own clubs and societies, and, in the past to a considerable 

 extent, its own schools. There has been very little intermarriage with 

 other groups not similarly situated. In consequence, no forces have ever 

 been set in motion which would tend to break down these standards, and 

 they have been carried on by sheer momentum. In the other districts, 

 where the transition is now taking place, the conditions have been differ- 

 ent. In the first place, there has been no such compact group to start 

 with and, hence, not so much resistance to disintegrating forces. One 

 prime consideration here, moreover, has been economic. Many influences, 

 chief among them improved methods of farming and better mar- 

 keting facilities, have operated to place the different groups more nearly 

 upon an economic equality. This has meant more nearly equal oppor- 

 tunities for education, culture, and the cultivation of refinement of taste. 

 This has led the communities to act more as wholes, and churches and 

 lodges and schools have come in as leveling influences. Also, what 

 facilities for recreation and social life existed must have the support of 

 practically the entire community to thrive, and these assemblings in 

 common have tended, especially among the young people, to break down 

 class distinctions. This last deserves a more extended notice. 



Assemblies Attended in Common by the Community 



At the outset we may except Laytonsville and Olney Districts from this 

 discussion, for in those districts there are, apparently, no assemblies so 

 attended. For the remainder of the county, the first assembly to be 

 mentioned and the chief of them all, is the picnic, usually given by the 

 church, but sometimes by the lodge, and frequently referred to as the 

 "political picnic." These picnics are a great institution; everybody goes 

 to them, including the politicians, who during a campaign year utilize 

 them for campaign purposes. Then, too, oyster suppers and strawberry 

 festivals flourish like the green bay tree and are always cordially sup- 

 ported. In many parts of the county home-talent plays are a frequent 

 form of entertainment and are very generally attended. Rockville has 



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