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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