St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1870-08-19
UHOt is az Oid EODD ::

We hear this term used frequently in
our daily intercourse with the world,
and it seems TO be favoritc cpilhc;
which persons adopt to express their
contempt for individuals differing with
them 10 matters OF opinion. But we are
inclined To think that III many INSTANCES
the term i mlsaprlied. 1t does not fol-
low that because person is not 80 quick
to comprehend the advantages OF progress
rs we are that he Is an old f,gv. We
should hesitate Il long time before ap-
plylng this name To the aged citizen who
has been reared in II less progressive
school than the one in which we are re-
ceivlng our daily lessons OF life. lie OBJ
tanned his ideas of excellence from the
best men OF his aye, men whose rrcccpt-
We're the standard moral rules of the day.
and whose practical theories were mod
els OF superior thought and judgment
They have Keen under the discipline OF
those teachings for many years, and i it
to be wondered at i; il is hard for them
10 conceive of anything superior, Or
even # they are convinced OF the supc-
riorIty OF modern u>;igc-, il must be diff.
ticult for them To entirely abandon tie
"Idcn regime. 1t l. ike throwing a~id,.
a wc.l-wnrn garment for new one. but
they have hcconc 81 accustomed to tho
garment which las been their daily c.,~-
tune for a lonG period, that the chang-
lng ot 1t has the effect to make them ap-
pear i'll at ease. and place, them in a.
state ot embarrassment
We have a respect tnr the man who
respects the way OF his father, (if tho~'
WAYS were upright, )-one who speaks ui
those who lived IN the past with ven,ra-
ton. and though lac may prefer to nhid,
10y the rules ut life which were laid down
for him in the days of hi youth, it l.
wrong to term him an "old fogv." Be
cause another chooses to dwell i'm tin
house his ancestors built, it j. N cyi-
denrr that he is identified with this cla>-.
lie may have the same admiration for
the u autiiul modern villas THAI we have.
and yet there are associations connected
with that old family mansion which are
sacred 10 INN, and the most claburat,
style of architecture would fail to pro-
ducc the same emotions OF pleasure a.
the home of his fathers Hccau-c We
almost feel inclined to lift our hat in
passing some ancient landmark. shall we
be called an ''old fogy ," ANY one may
be convinced OF the superior merits OF
modern improvements, submitting to
their introduction rs benefit 10 the
community, and Yet prefer to Use the inn
plemrnts and mechanical! appliances with
which he has fought his way throu.h
the world. Not because he thinks them
mere excellent, but ior the reason the,
are almost a part of himself lie know
the advantages which the present Ina.
over the past, AMI = willing that other.
should avail themselves of them. Bu,
he cannGt: il is too hard To get out ot
the rust OF habit; still, he Is clad to see
those who are 10 ill his place, moving OF
a smoother road, and as they pass him
he whispers God speed. Ii others pre-.
fer the works of PavSon and Edwards t,
the more literal doctrines Ui Bcrchcr an,
men OF his iicls. it Is not evidence o
old l"@y ism. They see in the teaching,
of the former a correct standard OF HE
yet offer no opposition to those who's,
minds are fed by the sentiments of tn,
intellectual giants OF to-day, but al,
willing 10 admit that the world grow.
better for their influence
We conceive the "old logy'' TO be til,
individual who, ignoring all theories ol
practices but those with which he may
have been conversant from his boyhood
is not only satisfied with such, but seek.
to confine everybody to the narrow cir
Gle in which he lives and moves. Scorn
ing all progressive movements, he dc
nOunces every advance i'll science, me
chanical art, or literature, as an unmiti
gated humbug, and refuses to confess
their superiority, even when made ap
parent. because his evangelical belle
may have been formed in the stern oil,
1'u,.. al school, he mathematics al
Others that wear Il less sombre cast, a
downright hcresy. HIS torcfathers' let
tiers were brought by Il man on horse
''' ''S' CiOlC lllC CiCCtIlC lciC8Tdi)u
Il piece OF nonsense and he Is veXeC
when you endeavOr TO convince him o
the benefits TO be derived from the i'm
provements OF the age, which he seem
inclined TO look upon as mere works O
the Father OF Evil Viewing thing
through the colorcd glass Of prejudice, h
puts his shoulder against everything tina
appears like an innovation upon the es
tab!ished customs of bygone years, n
matter how much time or labor is save
by the adoption OF the new principles i
question. Holding himself aloot iron
the influences OF progression, he strive
by precept and example to dissuade a
around Lin from awaiting themselves {
the blessings which accrue from the re
suits OF scientific research. This is wha
may be truly denominated the sol
io9y,' who lives in the stagnant water
: OF conservatism, content TO wear out til
remainder of his days in the toilsom
| routine OF long ago, and, at the sam
| time, unwilling to allow his neighbors
D keep step TO the music OF ''Onw ard
5 The scotfer at Improvement, who throw
, obstacles in the way OF art, taste and g.
e pediency-the revilers of any ideas 70
t eisn to their own circumscribed menti