The end of the 19th century brought about many changes to the majority of the world: Newspapers grew more robust with the invention of the typewriter. Farmers contained their animals on their ever growing farms with a new form of wire fence with barbs. People could go see a moving picture show, and most amazing of all was the ability to talk to other people at greater distances with the newly invented telephone. Yes, everywhere one looked the world was becoming a smaller place and most people were perfectly content with it that way.
Unfortunately many of those changes were reserved for the larger cities. The small town that borders Thorn Creek was notorious for rejecting change. The townspeople appreciate the slow life and old ways that often accompany these small towns. People knew each other and they were well aware of each others’ business. Little went on without the entire town knowing within just a couple of days. The townspeople knew this to be true, and for the most part it kept them honest. Furthermore, outsiders and newcomers, for the most part, were not welcome. They were often looked on with suspicion and a good majority were eventually pushed out of town. One aspect that would never change in this small town were the strict fundamental religious beliefs. Services began early on Sunday morning and lasted through the better part of the afternoon. Men always sat on the right and women on the left. The belief that evil spirits sat on the left shoulder due to Eve’s original sin caused the separation of families in church. There were often revivals in the summer that lasted the entire weekend. The sweltering heat alone could prove the dedication of the congregation who would sweat the entire weekend in canvas tents erected on the lawn of the church. Sermons of fire, brimstone, and the existence of the devil in the world today often filled the single room Church on each Sabbath day. These fundamental beliefs, coupled with fear of the outside world, eventually would be Eliza's undoing.
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