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Literary
June 25, 1818
Philanthropist
Mount Pleasant, Jefferson County, Ohio
What is this article about?
A visionary description of an ideal happy society as a well-cultivated rural town with farmers, craftsmen, essential professionals like a physician, lawyer, and clergyman, community institutions such as a library and club, and exclusion of vices like gambling and intrigue to promote social harmony.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE PICTURE OF A HAPPY SOCIETY.
"Were I to form the picture of a happy society, it would be a town consisting of a due mixture of hills, vallies, and streams of water: the land well fenced and cultivated: and the roads and bridges in good repair: a decent inn for the refreshment of travellers, and for publick entertainments. The inhabitants mostly husbandmen, their wives and daughters domestic manufacturers: a suitable proportion of handicraft workmen, and two or three trades: a physician and a lawyer, each of whom shall have a farm for his support; a clergyman of any denomination, which shall be agreeable to the majority, a man of good understanding, of candid and exemplary morals, not a metaphysical, nor solemn, but a schoolmaster who should understand his business to teach his pupils to govern themselves: a social library, annually increasing, and under good regulations; a club of sensible men, seeking mutual improvements: a decent mutual society. No intriguing politician, horse-jockey, gambler or sot, but all such characters treated with contempt. Such a situation may be considered as most favorable to social happiness of any which the world can afford."
"Were I to form the picture of a happy society, it would be a town consisting of a due mixture of hills, vallies, and streams of water: the land well fenced and cultivated: and the roads and bridges in good repair: a decent inn for the refreshment of travellers, and for publick entertainments. The inhabitants mostly husbandmen, their wives and daughters domestic manufacturers: a suitable proportion of handicraft workmen, and two or three trades: a physician and a lawyer, each of whom shall have a farm for his support; a clergyman of any denomination, which shall be agreeable to the majority, a man of good understanding, of candid and exemplary morals, not a metaphysical, nor solemn, but a schoolmaster who should understand his business to teach his pupils to govern themselves: a social library, annually increasing, and under good regulations; a club of sensible men, seeking mutual improvements: a decent mutual society. No intriguing politician, horse-jockey, gambler or sot, but all such characters treated with contempt. Such a situation may be considered as most favorable to social happiness of any which the world can afford."
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
Moral Virtue
Agriculture Rural
What keywords are associated?
Happy Society
Ideal Town
Rural Community
Moral Harmony
Social Improvement
Agricultural Life
Literary Details
Title
The Picture Of A Happy Society.
Key Lines
Were I To Form The Picture Of A Happy Society, It Would Be A Town Consisting Of A Due Mixture Of Hills, Vallies, And Streams Of Water: The Land Well Fenced And Cultivated: And The Roads And Bridges In Good Repair: A Decent Inn For The Refreshment Of Travellers, And For Publick Entertainments.
The Inhabitants Mostly Husbandmen, Their Wives And Daughters Domestic Manufacturers: A Suitable Proportion Of Handicraft Workmen, And Two Or Three Trades: A Physician And A Lawyer, Each Of Whom Shall Have A Farm For His Support;
A Clergyman Of Any Denomination, Which Shall Be Agreeable To The Majority, A Man Of Good Understanding, Of Candid And Exemplary Morals, Not A Metaphysical, Nor Solemn, But A Schoolmaster Who Should Understand His Business To Teach His Pupils To Govern Themselves:
No Intriguing Politician, Horse Jockey, Gambler Or Sot, But All Such Characters Treated With Contempt.
Such A Situation May Be Considered As Most Favorable To Social Happiness Of Any Which The World Can Afford."