BREAKING THE PEACE: Fictions of the Law-Abiding Peace River Country, 19J0-50* JON SWAINGER W riting of the Canadian Prairies from 1900 to 1920, historian David C. Jones emphasized the presence of what has been termed the "country life ideology." 1 This "social construction of identity" embraced the notion that cities were the antithesis of morality, sober living, respect for authority, and well- ordered human relations. 2 Conversely, rural life was purifying, highly moralistic, and, not surprisingly, almost completely free of crime or criminal behaviour. Indeed, lives tied to the land and agriculture con- stituted the moral backbone of the nation. These notions were not new, however, nor were they specific to the Canadian Prairies. Twenty-five years ago, Raymond Williams documented the "cultural persistence" of this ideology at the core of English history and society. 3 He argued that the dichotomy of city and country, and the role it has played in shaping our perceptions of the world, should be central to any attempt to understand historical or contemporary society. * I would like to acknowledge the assistance of Jan Johnson, formerly of the University of Northern British Columbia library, and Joanne Matthews of the UNBC library for their assistance in the completion of this article. Donna Redpath of the Fort St. John and North Peace Museum and Catherine Mooney of Dawson Creek also provided great assistance. Robert A.J. McDonald provided sound advice and editorial direction, while Cole Harris demonstrated great patience. Most important, I must thank Jennifer and Matthew for their patience and understanding when I spend so much time at a computer. 1 David C. Jones, "'There Is Some Power About the Land': The Western Agrarian Press and Country Life Ideology," in The Prairie West: Historical Readings, ed. R. Douglas Francis and Howard Palmer (Edmonton: Pica Pica, 1992), 455-74. 2 The phrase is found in Barbara Ching and Gerald W. Creed, eds., Knowing Your Place: Rural Identity and Cultural Hierarchy (New York: Routledge, 1997), 6. 3 Raymond Williams, The Country and the City (New York: Oxford University Press, 1973), 1-2. The interconnection between country and city has been developed by William Cronon, "Kennecott Journey: The Paths Out of Town," in Under an Open Sky: Rethinking America s Western Past, ed. William Cronon, George Mills, and Jay Gitlin (New York: Norton, 1992), 28-51. BC STUDIES, no. 119, Autumn 1998 5