24 RURAL LIFE IN CANADA 



is not even standing still ; she is slipping downhill again 

 and knows not how to stay her course. 



We did not complete our survey of the Provinces a 

 moment ago. We ceased with Quebec, whose gain as 

 there given in figures we now notice was equal to 4 per 

 cent, in her rural parishes, but 48 per cent, in her indus- 

 trial centres. We have yet to consider that while New 

 Brunswick had an accession of 22,262 to the inhabi- 

 tants of her cities she suffered a diminution of 1,493 in 

 her residents in the country; while Prince Edward 

 Island towns simply maintained their ground, her 

 townships fell back by some 9,546 ; while Nova Scotia's 

 cities gained to the extent of 56,745 her farming dis- 

 tricts lost by some 23,981 ; and that Ontario, adding 

 392,511 inhabitants to her cities and towns, parted with 

 52,184 from her rural homes. 



Let us look more particularly at Ontario's loss. 

 Grenville, the county in which Spencerville is situated, 

 had 21,021 people in 1901; now it has 17,545. Stor- 

 mont numbered 27,042 a decade ago, but to-day 24,775. 

 North Lanark by the previous census was credited with 

 17,236, by the recent one with 14,624. Frontenac, 

 having then 24,746, now numbers 21,944. Lennox and 

 Addington eleven years ago were given 23,346, one year 

 ago 20,386. East Hastings, from 27,943 had fallen 

 off to 24,978. Lambton East from 26,219 had dwin- 

 dled to 22,223; North Bruce from 27,424 had dimin- 

 ished to 23,783. 



Looking at other counties from another angle, we find 

 that North Wellington lost 14.6 per cent in the decade ; 

 East Huron decreased 15.2 per cent, during the ten 

 years; Dufferin's population diminished by 15.6 in the 

 same period; North Middlesex fell away by 16.3; 



