The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-05-02
ODD IDEAS.
Some Interesting Talk by an 0id-Fash-
Toned Fellow.

some Of the most pOetlcal IDEAS arc
founded on the old-fashioned usages
and implements that are now obsolete.
Take, for instance, fence as an Illus
tration. There is something beautiful
about an old stone wall, even If in sad
state of preservation. To it wild flowers
cling lovingly and MOSES tenderly cover
all evidences of neglect. Then there is
the old rail fence, modelled after the
capital Y style of architecture, when
wood was cheap and land plenty. 1t is
a waste of both, but who ever thought
of that fact when they saw a couple of
squirrels engaged in go-as-you-please
race over its labyrinthine track? And
who ever saw squirrel on a barb-wire
fence? Young people sing about sit
ting on the stile, but never word about
the barb-wire fence. In fact, nothing
even roosts upon it but gigantic
monopoly, unless, perhaps. mortgage.
There is one other fence like-a hedge,
and there are not half enough of this
kind. The stump fence, made by piling
up lot of old stumps, heller SHELTER,
looks too much like collections that are
sometimes seen in dental offices to in
vite admiration.
The scythe is still used by small far
mers and to some extent by others, to
grub around fence corners and to NOW
thistles from the roadside, but its old
fashioned glory has departed. Death
is appropriately represented with an
hour-glass and scythe, but how would
he look perched upon Gathering now
ing machine and sporting stem-wind-
ing stop watch? There is poetry in the
motion and music in the sound of fail.
but who can find anything to admire in
a steam thresher? No wonder we old
fellows mourn the decadence of every
thing that was familiar when we were
young. True, the grain waves as grace
fully as ever, but the hum of the reap
er's song is hushed or drowned in the
rattle of machinery.
THERE'S charm to an old-fashioned
fire-place-the bigger the better--which
all acknowledge. If the kitchen is fes-
TONED with strings of ,gaily-painted red
peppers, so much the better. An I'M
plastered garnet, where one may rum
mage among old ''trumpery" and fish
out the playthings of childhood, or listen
to the rain on the roof, is luxury to
one who can appreciate it, and the song
of the teakettle. especially if it is our
teakettle. is soothing and sweet. / do
not object to the house if it is painted
an ugly red-they paint whole towns
red now, believe-nor to the
old sharp-peaked barn, with its caves
almost touching the ground, and famil-
iarly known as a lightning splitter"
Can any youngster tell me where bread
can be procured to equal the delicious
rye and Ingin" that baked all night in
the big Dutch oven? In the old time
we had the old mill wheel. now it is
steam and the patent process; then it
was the rustic well-sweep and the old
oaken bucket, now we have drive well
and law suit.
Why, there have been more songs
sung about spinning-wheels, matched
roofs and churns than will ever be
written about all the new inventions
under the sun. Think of the corn husk-
ings, the singing schools, the barn rails
ings, the log rollings, the sleigh-rides,
the sugar making, the apple cuts, the
turkey shoots, and-the girls of long
ago. In their place we have the church
sociable and its innutritious soup, which
neither cheers nor inebriates, but yet is
superior to the thinner jokes concern
ing it, and which would hardly do credit
to a modern Congressman.
The ringing of the blacksmith's anvil
! is musical, but the crunching of trip
hammer will never be utilized in a
peace jubilee. And the music of old!
After jabbering and screeching in some
foreign tongue, the prima donna is
enthusiastically encored, because the
audience knows she will respond by
singing some bonnie Scotch song. Why.
there is as much difference in the music
as between a ship under full sail and q
steamer putting black smoke and cough
ing like a heavey horse. But many are
again approaching the old-time beauties.
and andirons, old clocks, old table
ware. tally-ho coaches, canoes. buck
boards and sailing yachts are illustra-
tons of this fact.
There is one old legal holiday in which
| I could never find anything to admire
..hog KILN y; and the hogs don't seem
| to like it any more than minister does
a donation party. And right here let
me admit that the Improvements are
improvements; but | propose to exercise
my right of grumbling. nevertheless,
and some young men who critic.se me
now will subject themselves to a like
criticism forty years hence.
Forty years ago, when the fishing was
good and there was game in plenty, one
could live much faster. according to my
way Of thinking, and yet more
moderately, than now; and though our
tackle was rude and our guns were not
susceptible of rapid manipulations. we
were not obliged to wear out our shoes
in order to fill our game bags. In the
language of Artenlus Ward. "this was
said sarcastic My old gun is in better
condition than am, in more ways than
one 1t talks less. but it says moro,
and may outlast me on that account
Forest, Forge and Farm.