Ann Arbor As It Is

Probably some sage lias said that a man owes it to himself, to bis family, and to the God who made iiini, to live so as to develop bis faculties in all direetions, - not abnormally iu one direction, but all around. The rnan who starts out for wealtli alone goes iuto a lonely little logging camp ; a dark, damp mine ; the nerve and brain-destroying stock exchange ; or, on the dreary, wind-swept prairie - an exile to another Siberia. He almost ceases to live socially, intellectually, morally. What matters it if in oíd age be dies a millionaire? He succeeded, but so did thechild in grasping the bright fire which burned it. He burned out liis life for a narrow, irrational one-sided purpose ; in other words, by succeeding he failel. On the other hand, take the one who starts out for intellectuality alone, lie huríes himself in bis library, to study, to speculate, and to dream. He wins a professorsbip or fame, by lectures or printed books, vet knows nothing of business, of politics, of current events. He dies a philosopher, but as one-sided as the millionaire, possibly on a little higher plane, still a failure. The one laughs at, and in bis heart despises the other. Perhaps the vvorld needs both. So loes it need donkeys. What is the leal mode of life? Is it not to be strong and healthy physically and mentally; to be able to grapple with great problema, not alone of finance, but of political eeonomy and social ethics ; to be a critic on art, niusic, literature ; to have proper ideas of civil government, of religious belief, of chivalrous conduct, and all uprightness? These things go without saying, for they will be generally accepted, even by those who do not trouble themselves to follow after tliem. Then the probleni confronts us as to bow best to ittain the ideal. First, we must adinit that our environment sbapes us more tlnin we think. lts limitations press us on every side, although we do not realize it. This being so. the paramount question is where shall we place ourselves to obtain the greatest opportuüities with the fewest hindrances. There are three kinds of places to which wo may go: lst, the forest, the prairie, the sea, or the small village. These are where we meet but few people, and continually the same ones. 2d, the large city, where many jostle, and ever new ones. 3d, tlie smaller city with pure air, au intellectual atmospbere and healthy modes of life. In the first of these we are thrown upon our own resources for amusement, mental culture and advancement. For most people that isnot enough, as some tliing outside is needed. It takes aggregations of folk to get the best in tin m coinpetitive times. The advantage of this semi-solitude is its favoring reflection and deep thought, free from the distractious of the multitude. The disadvantage is the lack of the spur of competition, connected with which idea is the one that welearn more from those in advance oí us than from our equals. The men abler than we are in varioua linea shape us more than the inferior. They keep us out of the rut, the danger of which istlieinsurmountableobjection to life with, fewassociates, in small places. Take the large city as a place in which to live or transact business. There is plenty of oompetition, hut too much for healthy progress. One has to shoot up tall to get above the smothering herd. In doing so it is like the hothouse plant grown in rich earth, tall hut of little strength and shallow root. It will not stuud wind and storm. Strive as we n:ay there is always anothe'r ahead. Living is inore expensive, and it costs too much to keep up such senseless struggles; henee, money and its getting assumes too much importance, taking too mucli of time and effort, therefore robbing of opportunity for intellectui i and sesthetical development. Wliere then ought a manto Livewho sincerely wishes to do the best for himself and family? Manifestly in aplace between the extremes where inay be obtained the advantages of both, without the disadvantages. Even then heshould not select a amallcity that may be give:i up solely to mercantile or fashionable life- the spirit of theone beingaa harmful as that of the other. Many a town with a big factory, centers around that, which holds backthe a.lvancement of the citizens. Jnst so is many a town drawn into a foolish, fashionable flippancy by a smart coterie of vain women. The conclusión, then, is to select a city with some high Standard - some elevating impulse, some centre of knowledge, which, while it does not dominate too mnch, still is a helpful factor, balanced by the broadening influence of cosmopolitan life. Of such places in all the land, after having traveled in forty Btates of the unión, I can most positively say, that none seem so completely balanced as Ann Arbor. The University, as large as it is, does not overshadow the town as at Oberlin, Delaware.Palo Alto and Williamston, Mass. N'eilher does the town overwhelm the CJniversity, destroying college esprit as in New York and Chicago, which ig iound to be very distractiug to good literary work, especially on the part of the studente. Ann Arbor is large enough to give its citizens all the accomtoodations of a city - such as electric lights, electric car lines, water, gas, sewers, splendid scliools, taxes far below the average, beautiful scenery, fine carriage drives, pleasaut homes, good moral atinosphere, a class of solid residents unspoiled hy rush' for wealth, fashion or political ambition for power and patronage. The University is large enough to command the greatest minds and ability of able professors to draw the best studente; to secure the highest proficieney on the lecture platform, or the most skilied musicians facing the baton of the maestro, or accompanying the fiuest organ on the continent; to gather together great collections illustrating art, science and literature ; to afford to student, citizen or visitor benefits of museums, libraries, laboratories and hospitals. All these advantages rnake for amusement, instruction, elevation, broadening, and altogether for living. Fortúnate indeed is the resident of Michigan's Athens, Ann Arbor.