in 



PHASES OF FARM LIFE 



I HAVE thought that a good test of civilization, 

 perhaps one of the best, is country life. Where 

 country life is safe and enjoyable, where many of 

 the conveniences and appliances of the town are 

 joined to the large freedom and large benefits of 

 the country, a high state of civilization prevails. Is 

 there any proper country life in Spain, in Mexico, 

 in the South American States? Man has always 

 dwelt in cities, but he has not always in the same 

 sense been a dweller in the country. Rude and bar- 

 barous people build cities. Hence, paradoxical as it 

 may seem, the city is older than the country. Truly, 

 man made the city, and after he became sufficiently 

 civilized, not afraid of solitude, and knew on what 

 terms to live with nature, God promoted him to life 

 in the country. The necessities of defense, the fear 

 of enemies, built the first city, built Athens, Rome, 

 Carthage, Paris. The weaker the law, the stronger 

 the city. After Cain slew Abel he went out and 

 built a city, and murder or the fear of murder, rob- 

 bery or the fear of robbery, have built most of the 

 cities since. Penetrate into the heart of Africa, and 

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