The Pastoral Life, Past and Present

Name: The Pastoral Life, Past and Present
Author: John Arthur Barry

The Pastoral Life, Past and Present is a work by John Arthur Barry that examines the history and evolution of pastoral life. It looks at the pastoral life of the past, from the ancient Greeks to the Middle Ages, and then examines the changes that have taken place in the modern era. It looks at the impact of industrialization, urbanization, and technology on the pastoral life, and how these changes have affected the way people live and work in rural areas. It also looks at the role of the church in pastoral life, and how it has changed over time. Finally, it looks at the current state of pastoral life, and how it is being affected by globalization and other forces.

By John Arthur Barry · First published 1905 · Genre: Non-Fiction, History, Biography · 2,367 words

First lines

The pastoral life for both employer and employed has within the last few years altered radically, and altered for the worse. At one time a youngster, energetic, active, and with an average supply of common sense, added to a liking for the bush, might, with fair confidence, look forward to something of a career. From jackaroo, or even from the men's hut, in exceptional cases, to overseer, from overseer to manager, while with the prime of life yet some distance away, was nothing unusual. And the salaries were very different at the top of the tree then, to the beggarly pittances now offered. Most of the stations were owned by the individual, as against the company. Also, the seasons were, on the whole, better; nor were the multitudinous pastoral plagues of the present day nearly so much in evidence as they are now. There was more room and fewer fences, and, consequently, stock, both large and small, throve better, and paid better. In those spacious days a drought in one district, in place of, as now, meaning decimation to those concerned, meant simply an emptying of the stock on to more favoured portions of the State; any State, to "travel for grass and water," until better times came on the afflicted runs. Nor, so far as could be seen, was anybody much the worse for the proceeding. Now, however, what with travelling stock routes, of ridiculous inadequacy of width; permits, declarations, applications, and a mass of red tape, generally a man hesitates ere allowing his stock off his run, not to look for grass or water, because that would be looking for the impossible, but merely to travel to market, if it happen to be a distant one.

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The Pastoral Life, Past and Present is listed on Textopian as a short story by John Arthur Barry, dated 1905 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: John Arthur Barry
Date: 1905 CE
Language: English
Genres: Non-Fiction, History, Biography, Philosophy, Literature
Length: 2,367 words
Structure: 1 section, 72 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Genres

Non-Fiction — The book is a factual account of the pastoral life, past and present.
History — The book provides an in-depth look at the history of the pastoral life.
Biography — The book is written by John Arthur Barry, providing a personal perspective on the pastoral life.
Philosophy — The book examines the philosophical implications of the pastoral life.