"My country, 'tis of thee!" Or, the United States of America; past, present and future. A philosophic view of American history and of our present status, to be seen in the Columbian exhibition.

CHAPTER XX.

Chapter 2095 wordsPublic domain

OUR CITIES.

Cities are necessary evils--But greatly to be avoided--City life is dangerous to most persons--Unnatural influences are inevitable--Hard on the purse and hard on the heart--Poverty’s last refuge--The home of the thief--The touch of nature lost--Temptations innumerable--Restraints few--No place for country boys and girls--City forms of government must change--THE DARKER SIDE--The sorrows of the city poor--Friendless and alone--Miserable homes--Health and morals menaced--All depends on one life--Chances and misfortunes--Sickness and death--The story of the Ganges paralleled--The majority are industrious--An army of heroes--Religion and rum their only comforts--Child work and child ruin--Benevolence wearied and despairing.....481