A worthy friend recently said to me: “A gentlemen of observation from
one of our principal cities of the West, stated to me, that in point
of fact, almost all the leading men of the cities were from the
country, and had been raised farmers’ sons. The reasons seemed to me
quite obvious. The vigorous health, patient industry, thorough
economy, and hard thinking necessary to success, are the product of
the country and but seldom of the town or city. A large part of the
best merit and talent of the country doubtless remains upon and adorns
our farms. Another portion is drawn by a spirit for enterprise of a
different kind to our towns. When they enter they find an active
competition that brings out their best efforts. Success on their part
takes away the necessity of effort on the part of their children; and
the next result is, that their children become reduced in means and
merit, and every element of success, and are driven to some refuge in
vice or petty employment. It is therefore the duty of the man who has
been successful in town, to retire to the country again that his
children, who are to succeed him, may partake, as far as possible, of
his advantages.”
The _facts_ stated we believe are undoubted; the business
men—merchants, lawyers, physicians, and clergymen of large cities are,
to a large degree, drawn from the country. And there is a system of
_circulation_, if the facts could be well made out, worth attention.
In travelling, one day last year, the rain drove us into a country
tavern, where a fat man of some fifty years of age was waiting to
entertain us with a dish of philosophy (of which, considering our
accommodations, we had special need). But we were led to notice one
part of his remarks: “You see, sir, everything comes round in about
four generations. First comes the enterprising and hard-working fellow
who gets the money; then his children begin to live in style; but
their parents’ example and stamina keep them pretty well up; but
_their_ children begin to run down; in their hands the property is
wasted and they die poor; and the fourth race begin in poverty, and
work upward again.” Now, if our fat and somewhat dogmatical friend has
reasoned aright, there is a degenerating and rejuvenating process
going on in society, having a period of about four or five years. We
give the theory for what it may be worth.