89 



After remarking tliat for a century and a half the Puritan 

 colonists had been left practically undisturbed by any foreign 

 element, Mr. Dale proceeded to speak of the type of character 

 which had been developed in Kew England and of the present 

 social condition of the people. " From the 21,000 persons who, 

 after five generations, were found in those States, descendants 

 numbering at least four millions might be reckoned. At the 

 present moment no 'population on the face of the earth enjoyed 

 equal prosperity. Wealth luas more equally distributed than in 

 any other community ; and the real and personal estate, liable to 

 assessment, now averaged nearly £240 per head for the inhab- 

 itants, or £1,150 for each family, reckoning the family at five 

 persons. The New England farmer had from the first adopted 

 the belief that the way to fight the devil was hy the school and the 

 churchy and that belief had been thoroughly and consistently 

 acted upon. The influence of this vigorous race upon the 

 United States, as a whole, had been immense. It was they 

 who had been the great pioneers in the development of the 

 resources of the country. It was they, chiefly, who had built 

 Chicago, and who rebuilt it, after it had been destroyed by fire, 

 with a quickness and splendor which rivalled the achievements 

 described in the pages of romance. From the farm houses of 

 New England had sprung many of America's noblest orators, 

 most learned theologians, and greatest statesmen and philan- 

 thropists, and in the future the same people would contribute 

 largely to the stability and greatness of their country. The 

 history of these colonies, as contrasted with the history of other 

 colonies, was an illustration of the true path of national great- 

 ness." 



This remarkable contrast between the farm laborers of En- 

 gland and New England as described by English writers 

 furnishes a demonstration of the economy and value of the 

 school system so long neglected there and maintained here. 

 The earnest appeals of Joseph Arch, John Bright, Dr. Dale 

 and others in behalf of the farm laborers of England, have 

 awakened general sympathy, advanced their wages, and amel- 

 iorated their condition. 



