CANS EVERYWHERE think of country towns as muһ<br > tn piecesThey argue that Main Street has not<br > lost populationbut also the hopedaringand<br > orginality necessary to fight backThey point to vacant store<br > buildings and saggingunpainted housesto numerous old<br > people vegetating in village homesand to boys and girls<br > anxiously looking forward to the time when they can ioin<br > the rush to the citiesEven towns whose service clubs post<br > signs proclaimingThe FriendliestBiggest Little City in<br > the Middle Westmock themselves with the futility of their<br > claimsIn confidential moments their businessmen admit that<br > things aredeadlocallyand that nearby cities have pros<br >pered at their expense<br > To offset these distressing opinionsvillagers need to dis<br >cover that country towns have more people today than in<br > 1900and that smaller villages possess farm loyaltytheir<br > greatest assetmore than ever beforeAnd evenlive wires<br >intent on escaping to the citylove the pleasures of village<br > lijFe<br > Whv then the defeatist attitude?Why do residents and<br > nonresidents alike think that country towns are finished?To<br > know why is to know the basic hopes and convictions of<br > country townsandin many waysthe hopes and convic<br >