Smyrna times., 1856-04-30
Old Times.

| SAG lo aJtl 49, 4 illa 4.hda
| '.zesaa9 Tx3e Old Times. ~ a.a1 esl
we confess to very strong dissatisfaction
with the gradual departure Of the old-fashioned
ways of our ancestors before the innovations of
modern society. Things have changed much
since we were boys; and we are not sure that
they have changed for the better AS we are
hurried along the path of life with accelerated
velocity, we hardly know whether Except that
we go with the multitude Eve often Oh for
taste of that otium cum dignitate" which our
grandparents-happy people-had time to Gull
tivate. We have sometimes thought that we
would seek, in some secluded spot of the coun-
try, fer few days respite from the continual
demands of modern etiquette, and try to find
place where we could throw off our boots and,
our cares together, and shut out from the hustle
of everyday life, enjoy for time the sweet de-
fusion that we were living in the golden age of
pastoral simplicity, when it was possible
to be happy without being in a hurry
But such spot we cannot find. There seems
to be no place left for the calm. quiet and DELHI
crate enjoyment of life. We think it would be
sufficient happiness for us to spend day in
such a house as our boyhood was spent in. 1t
had no gas-fxtures nor water-fxtures, but it
had whit was far better-it had a garret-yes,
a garret, around which our warmest memories
still linger, where we used to resort on rainy
days, the boys to parade in their grandfather's
rHgimen;als, which were soiled with Monmouth's
blood aud dust, and the girls TO read their
grandmOther's love-letters, which had lain there
for fifty years as safe as they could have been
in the British Museum. The garnet is thing
unknown in a modern house, yet it was really
an indispensable to the comfort of our ances-
tors as water-fxtures TO the comfort of their de-
generate descendants. But il is abolished its
place is supplied by attics to lodge chamber
maids, in the city, and to stow away city friends
in the country. Consequently all the dear old
relics of by-gOne days are scattered and lost
for want of place to put them in; and this
doubtless accounts for the fact that the present
age is so destitute of materials for the history
of the past. Where, too, is the old kitchen
| freplace-large enough to hold ten dollars
!
worth ofhickory wood, at present prices-where
we, well remember the neghbors used to sit
through the long winte- evenings, and crack
their jokes and their nuts-warming their toes
and their cider at the same time! And what
a capital place that for husking frolics aud APP
ple-paring bees no carpets to be stained, no
silk dresses to be crumpled; in fact neither
starch nor etiquette in the way when the time
honored rules of husking gave the fortunate
finder of a red ear the right to kiss whatever
maid he pleased. Who would think now Of
having a party in the Kitchen, and handing
round cider and doughnuts! Yet we would
like TO see such party once more, that is, if
an o'd.fashioned kitchen could be found to have
it in. Alas there is no vcneraton for any
thing that is old The directors of the new
airline railroad which offers such great facill-
ties TO the inhabitants of our native village,
would think you fool if you should object to
its running where ). 81 .aes sssrsa .,ol
l I" Beneath those rugged Gins, that yew-tree's
/ shade, '~ .'
Where heaves the turf in many mouldering
heap,
Each in his narrow cell forever laid,
n The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep"
And if modern Improvement spares not even
the moss-grown tomb-stones sacred to the mem
DRY of our dead, what will be left to another
generation Of all those customs and institutions
which made their lives happy! Let us endea,
vor to save some of them from extinction
j We might with great ,propriety revive somt
) that have become obsolete, and derive from
E their restoration far greater satisfaction thar
can ever result from this perpetual adoption o
i something new Patapsco American. aa.
/ -alas3 s--z-AA-1A-~s~s-14l-4l-s- 81. fg frttlt
: A SINGULAR DIscovERY.-A correspondent