When city people go among forests and hills, they drink in the fresh
air and weird scenery of rural surroundings, with much more relish,
enjoyment, and appreciation, than do the life-long residents they
find there.
For the same reason, the great drama of metropolitan existence falls
most forcibly upon those just from the clear streams and green
meadows of the country. Their impressions then are deeper, and their
feelings more intense than if they were city born and bred.
With the latter fact in view, this book is an effort to reproduce
some of the effects of city scenes and character upon the intellect
and imagination of two people from the country:
First, a young student, who has travelled the well-beaten roads of a
college course, but is just entering real life, and now for the
first time walks the paved and palace-bordered streets of which he
has heard and read so much.
Second, an old farmer, with very little "book-learning," but a clear
brain, a warm heart, and independent judgment, and a habit of
philosophizing upon everything he sees, which habit he brings to the
city, and applies to the strange facts he witnesses.
These, with certain incidental thoughts and characters encountered
and discussed, constitute the present work. It will be found, as
intended, sketchy and suggestive rather than elaborate and complete.
Note-books and diaries are designed, not so much for the history of
a career or an event, as a light to the memory, a stimulus to the
imagination, and a help to the heart.
It is the hope of the author that his book may perform those offices
for you, his readers, and that it will rouse your pity of pain, your
enjoyment of honest mirth, your hatred of sham and wrong, and your
love and adoration of the Resolute and the Good, and their winsome
child, the Beautiful.
In which case he shakes hands with his large and loved constituency,
and continues happy.