The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-16
CHEsTERF1ELp JUNIOR.
A soN,s ApvICE yp ms PATHER.

editor certain letters which he has lately re-
eeived from his son. Mr. G. does 80, because he
thinks it desirable that 1t should be made known
what pass things are rapidly coming to in this
country. These letters, let 1t be distinctly uN-
derstood, are from Mr.. Chester6eld's son--his
own son--whom Mr.. G. daudlld IN his arms n
score OF years ago, when this young gentleman's
costume consisted of white rooe eleboratelJ
worked about the breast, aud nearly yard
longer in the skirts than the exigencies OF the
infants stature demande1. The letters Collow:--
Ny Dear Father:-It has been the custom,
time out of mind. rs you are probably aware,
for those who have lived n great manv years in
the World-p0rents, guardians, uncles, aud
elderly persons generally--to give the result of
their experience of human life, their advice, in
short, to such young men-be they the sons,
wards nephews, or even the juniors only OF
the above-as came in their way. The advice
given by PolOnius to Laertes-not bad in its
Way-and the letters OF our distinguished
namesake to his son, are both pretty well
known, and may be taken as specimens OF
what mean. This custom, then, is an old on.
Sir, it Is an old one and like great many
other old things, it needs to be reformed. II
should be obsolete. 1t won't do. 1t was all
very well once, but times are altered. Things
have changed so much during the last few years,
that your experience-of state OF affairs, re-
member, dlllerent from the presents really
of no use whatever. All our theories are based
or should be, upon facts. When the facts are
altered, what becomes OF the theories
But | VIII go step further than this, and
venture to PROFOUND something which at first
sight may seem little startling, but which, on
reflection, will, | believe, appear rational. |
make so bold as to assert that not only are you
the elders generaly-in no position to offer
advice to us the juniors but that you yourselves
actually require now and then word of counsel
from us, to guide you through the dangers and
difficulties OF modern life.
Why, after all, how snould it be otherwise
Il hnfA hon rv,Ak
altered within the last few years. We have
turned all things topsy-turvy. Of what use IS
your experience to you? You have to unlearn.
for the most part, what you formerly took great
pains to learn. You have to remodel almost all
your ideas. And Chen-I speak with the utmost
resDect-you learned SO little III what you are
pleased to call the good old times.
There were no examinations in those days. A
man, for instance, who happened to nave the
instincts OF sailor, could, preposterous as it
seems, get into the navy without being able to
spell with certainty, or might hold a commission
III the army with but an Indifferent knowledge
OF the solar system. Why, even the Times news
paper informed us not long ago that society had
no ugnt to expect persons over thirty years of
age to know anything, for the simple reason
that the education OF all such individuals terml-
mated before the period OF competitive eXamina-
tons had arrived.
Under these circumstances, worthy sir
think your common sense-Wlth which, confess,
that you appear to me to be very well endo wed
will show you that among the many changes
which mark this great and glorious age must be
ranked considerable alteration in the relative
positions of father and son-of senior and junior.
Consider how splendidly we have been educated.
Consider how glibly we could answer all sorts
OF questions on scientific and other subjects by
which firmly believe that you and your con-
temporares would be instantly graveled. Try
us with anything you ike; the distance between
the planet Mercury and the moon; the manner
of the formation OF the old red sandstone; dodge
us about with any number of teazers OF this sort,
ll / m
airaid sir that you are but poorly informed on
such matters; in deed, was not little shocked
to hear your expressions of opinion the other
day when we were down at the seaside to-
gether, and when you fatty contradicted Pro-
lessor Barracles, simply because he asserted
that the cliff on which you were standing was
entirely composed OF the remains OF Minute
creatures.
But it is not only in matters of learning, scien-
tIfc or otherwise, that feel convinced that we
OF the new generation are In position to give
some valuable information to you of the old.
This is only very small matter. 1t is on social
questions, dear sir, that you want advice most.
Hints as to how you can best adapt yourself to
the changed position in which you now find
yourself, how you may escape from the social
snares by which you see yourself surrounded
how youNay meet the difficulties which will
spring upin your way when advancing along
road of which you know nothing-how, In
short, you are to get through that portion
of life which remains before you, creditably
sagaciously, securely.
Influenced then, entirely by desire for your
welfare my good sir, it Is my intention to send
you from tine to time few words of counse
and direction on such matters as appear to me
likely to prove difficulties and stumbling bio cki
in your way; for you must remember, sir, that
this period which is such puzzle TO you, who
have formed your ideas under circumstances sC
different ia not puzzle to us juniors, for thu
simple reason that we are used to it and hav,
known no other.
am sometimes. dear but inexperienced sir
extremely uneasy about you. You cause mI
a vast deal of very anxious thought. l hav
observed you much of late-more probably thar
you imagine-and it seems to me that you ar
at times disposed to fght against the inevitab
march Of modern events, and to set yourself il
opposition to the Irresistible tide OF progress
Sometimes when listening to what / will ven
ture to call the conversation of the period, vol
appear almost bewildered. The sentiment
expressed seem TO be too much for your power
OF endurance. The instance l have alread
quoted of your reception OF the remarks of Pre-
lessor Barnacles on the formation ofcertaln cliffs
Is case in point; and now remember that o.
another occasion when the same gentleman wa
discoursing on the Darwinian theory of develop
ment, you exclaimed, "Why, bless my life an
soul, does the man mean to tell me that m
grandfather was q monkey 2"
DO not think, however, for q moment that
want you to attempt too much with your enthI
siasuc temperament and your very strong views
Ii would never do for you to attempt to live i
all things the life of the day. Be satisfied, T,
spected sir, with negative course. Do not b
any means distress your anxious son by outral
ing in word or In deed the feeling of the periot
but, on the other hand, Go not attempt to kee
pace with the foremost performers in the rae
which we are all more or less engaged
running.
One OF the first great changes of modeI
times, by which one cannot fail to be struc
and of which am reminded by my last sentenc
is the change OF our pace. Within the memol
of person OF your respectable age, this HI