THE COUNTRY HOME [chapter 



the energies of civilization, is evidently within the 

 grip of industrial laws. Cities are still growing, 

 but they are growing at a greatly reduced ratio. 

 Summing up all statistics for comparison, we find 

 that, of the increase of population between 1880 and 

 1890, considerably over sixty per cent went into our 

 larger cities; but between 1890 and 1900 the pro- 

 portion that was added to urban life was reduced 

 to a little over thirty per cent. Since 1900 the ratio 

 has been reduced still farther. Public sentiment 

 is becoming enlightened, and the taste for country 

 life is rising almost to enthusiasm. 



Meanwhile another remarkable evolution is tak- 

 ing place in the reorganization of the school system. 

 The new town is becoming a school town ; that is, 

 the school is rapidly becoming the center of town 

 life. It is no longer the tavern or the saloon or the 

 village store that controls public sentiment; but 

 prospectively the school is to be the center of the 

 town unit. The rural schoolmaster is departed, 

 and with him the roadside district school. With 

 the graded school comes in a remarkable advance 

 in the grade of teachers; and their influence is felt 

 through the town, as well as within the school. 

 The school building is open, not only for the train- 



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