Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-12-05
Written for the Age.
Behold the Contrast.

Behold the Contrast.
Forty years ago, Mr.. Editor, but
very few of our young men made us
of intoxicating drinks as beverage
Now behold the contrast Visit wit
me yonder dance hall! One hall
yea, two-thirds of the young mel
present, are what we call tight, or a
they say, 'full." And they will boas
of being full, as though they accom-
plished some great feat They say
they cannot dance or have gooC
time unti'they get down two or three
big "horus." Forty years ago it wa:
the old men that imbibed. 1t was q
rarity to see young man intoxicated
But behold the contrast To day the
young men imbibe, and we but sci.
dom see an old, or middle,aged man
intoxicated, Thus you see, Mr.. Edi.
tor, that there has been complete
revolution within the last forty years.
Has the change been for the better T?
Let the world judge. Forty years
ago people worshiped God IN the
spirit of holiness, and went to church
for that purpose. TO day they go to
church to see what their friends and
acquaintances wear. We cannot
worship God IN the churches, of the
present day, unless we can sport Il
watch, cane, and gold ring, wear
gaiter boots and a big stove-pipe hat.
Let us enter church, az the present
time, without the above adornmcnts,
and they will turn from us with eX
IRENE contempt, as much as to say,
get thee behind me- satan, for thou
ar. not worthy of 4 seat in our syna-
gogue. 1t was not so, lorty years
ago a man was welcome to 4 seat
then, if he came to church barefoot. -
In conversation with friend upon
this subject, short time since, he
said that people at the present day
were more refined than the people OF
forty years ago, and that was what
caused the contrast. Is this SO, Mr.
Editor? Are people more polished
and polite than they were forty years
ago? Forty years ago it a friend
made a young lad present, he was
sure to raise his hat. make a bow, and
hank you kindly. If ayoung lady,
she would make you one OF her pref
lest oourtesles, drop pleasant smile,
md thank you. Forty years ago il
ioung people met an aged person on
he street, the young men would raise
heir hats and salute him kindly,
while the young ladies would drop
'ne of their prettiest courtesies. Be-
lold the contrast. Make young
person, at the present day., present,
md in eight cases out of every ten
lie will not even thank you. If they
meet an aged person on the street, if
lie is not well dressed, they will be
more likely to insult, or throw stones
1t him, than they will TO salute him
Kindly, and bid him God speed
Does refinement cause the contrast
t so, drive it from orr midst and let
Is 20 back to the good old days of
'ur foreiathers. Forty years ago,
'oung ladies dresses contained from
even to ten yards of cloth, and were
made for ease and comfort. At the
PRESENT day it takes from fifteen to
twenty-five yards, and they are made
or the purpose Of showing off rather
han for comfort, A young lady in
I'LL dress carries as many dry goods
s dry goods shop contained forty
ears ago. Forty years ago our states
len were honest and would not steal
rom the government, Those high
4 power considered it q sin to steal.
'o.day they think that they are do,
lg Gods bidding to steal every thing
nat they can lay hands on. This is
wing to the ''refinemenl" of the
arty in power. 'Nufsed N.Rc.
w. r. Junction, Dec. l, II.