Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-09-05
pERs1srENor OF OPINION.


Some persons possess II large share Of
what most of us poor mortals are wont to
consider divine attribute-inhllihli 49,
They never change. They have not in The
past-they do not intend to in the future. As
for the present, they are all right of course
Immaculate mem They are not moved by
every gust of wind They have The same
opinions now chat they ever lad, They
were right at the outset-they have never
been wrong. They have been persistent and
hence consistent They have not contormcd
to the world, but made the world bend to
them
Now all this talk about persistency Of
opinion is either selfdcception, or the surest
indication of blindness and folly Most
of these men whc boast of their consistency,
that is the consistency of uniformity, have
changed as often as other people, but have
not the candor to confess it, or they have not
the shrewdness to see it. Their consistency
is in their own opinion Their uniformity
has been either like that OF other men,
or else stubborn perseverance in
thing without regard TO expediency or
right The boast of such that they
have not changed, is no credit To them
for ii shows one of two things; that they are
mistaken and have changed like others, or
wilnlly persevered in thing right or
wrong Such pcrsstency of opinion is moi
consistency Nor is it true wisdom. The
fact is a man cannot live in this world with,
out change, any more than a plant can grow
without change. To attempt it on think of
it, indicates the want of discerning mind.
and so far neutralizes ones influence for
good For even 10 entertain such opinions.
and the habit of boasting of them, is pref-
dicial to the highest degree, of usefulness,
There can be no doubt that this desire tn
be consistent, or rather to appear consistent
is one of the most serious obstacles in the
way of Improvement and usefulness 1t is
from this cause that men make so little pro.
gress in learning. They are satisfied with
present attainments for they know it all
now. They do not change their opinions, for.
being intallible, they have no need of it, and so
continue to cherish the same views, errors
S and ALL
The same thing is The eausc Of 50 mucl
IS old togyism-so much dissatisfaction will
the times,a the many crotchcts and notions
= that prevail and have controlling influence
a over men
t We see the effect Of this persistency OF
6 opinion, stubbornness as it may he called in
n plain english in the affairs of life
$ Under its influence, the farmer plods on in
+. the old beaten track driving his slow-eoacl
e in the rut made by his fathers, using tho
t, same tools, and raising the same crops thai
they did. If they starved the soil. pinchc(
e their cattle, and practced shallow ploughing
8 so does he If they iarmed it in a Slip sho,
H. way, left the fences down, the boards OIL In
barn, the cattle to range in the Highways
and things at loose ends generally, he doe
"a the same. If they We're both stingy an,
is careless in their farming operations, he i
,s ditto with additions the wrong way. If ii
started in life with but u modicum oi knowl
" edge and skill in his business, he is but lilll
wiser and more advanced at the end of tel
or twenty years than nj the outset
"a No! he does not need to lealn-he nevc
changes, For hook-farming, and an new
tangled notions, he has sovereign contempt
" ~ And he thinks but little better of those VIII
" combine study with practice.
1t is this kind Of farmers and farming. tha
'9 have nearly ruined Delaware, particular
ry the two lower counties, and exhausted til
e. best lands Of this beautiful Peninsula. whic
u ought to be the garden spot of the Atlanti
States.
OF Many mechanics seem never to learn an,
d, thing after they first impertectly learn thc
G, trades. They arc poor workmcn TO begi
So with, or at best but ordinary, and they a
es ways remain such Anything out Of Iii
usual routine disturbs and puzzles them {
ga once and they either decline to do it, or he
h, form it in such way, that one wishes the
in had declined. Yet these men as a rule, al
Dg conceited and set in their notions. and rcal
n- suppose that they know all about their trade
h. Feeling no need of improvement, they plo
,d on in the same way, and actually pride then
,d selves in the fact that they have alway
known as much as they now do.
re Think what Improvement these same me
,is might make, were it NOT for this conceite,
10 ness-this foolish persisteucy of opinion
~ What progress towards perfection in tho
respective trades and puGsuitsl There are
-. few, however, who wisely avoiding TIL
- tickleness and shallowncss that runs aft,
- every new thing, and that stodity and Sc
Sc ness that ignores thf,idea Of progress an
refuses to adopt thing because il is ne,
IDS study to learn something each day, and nj
''o at perfecting themselves in their trade, in i
W. general principles, and in all its details
me Such will come to be worllmen, who nee
not be ashamed, whetherin regard to religio,
GER or secular duties
ity The same wilful blindness is seen in n
of the professions and hence a minority of m,
'e- make but little progress after the first flush
in youthful ambition and zeal After litt
for while they subside into inactivity and dul
nal ness Monotony, sameness and commo
ii place, is inscribed on all their efforts m
productions They lose their influence.
of nearly so, because they forget that tic wor
No. moves-that circumstances change-andth til
20 the wants of all men demand variety, fires
.r ness, originality, progress; and he who wou
sustain himself excel in his profession, al
~ exert an extensive and abiding influence u
-, on his age must be reading, rejecting al
growing man, In word he must keep
:, with his times, and adapt himself wisely Al
W. conseientiously to circumstances. Tho
who do so, never grow Old-they are nev
us tedious. They are the men who mold al
We control society, and dying, leave their ma
I'm upon the world, They never boast of the