Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-05-01
ODD IDEAS.
some Interesting Talk by an OId-Fash-
iOncd Fellow.

some interesting Talk by an OId-Fash-
ioned Fellow.
Some of the most poetical ideas are
founded on the old-fashioned usares
and implements that are now obsolete.
Lake. tor instance. fence as an illus
'ration. There is something beautiful
about an old stone wall, even if in a 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 Il style of architecture, when
wood was cheap and land plenty. 1t is
waste of both. but who ever thought
OF that fact when they saw. a couple of
squirrels engaged in a go-as-you please
race over its labyrinthine track? And
who ever saw squirrel on . barb-wre
fence? Young people sing about sit
ting on the stilc. but never a word about
the barb-wire fence. In fact, nothing
even ro"sts upon it but gigantic
m"iio9oly. unless. perhaps. a mortgage.
There is one Other fence l like-a hed~e,
and there are not half enough of this
kind. The stump fence. made by piling
up a lot of old stumps. helter skelter.
looks too mnch like collections that are
sometimes seen in dental offices to in
v;te admiration.
The Scy'he is still used by small far
mer' and 10 some extent by others, to
grub around fence corners and to NOW
thlstleS 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 perchcd upon Gathering now
ing machine and sporting a stem-wind-
ing stop watch? There is poetry in the
motion and music in the sound Of a fail,
but who can find ANYTHING to admire in
steam thresher? No wonder we old
fellows mourn the decadence of everv-
thing that was familiar when We were
young. True. the grain waves q. grace
fully as ever. but the hum of the reap.
er's song is hu>hed or DIR wned in the
rattle of machinery
There is charm to an old-fashioned
fire place the bigger the better-which
all acknowledge. If the kitchen is fes-
toonrd with strings of gaily- painted red
peppers. so much the better. An un-
pla>trrcd garret. where one may rum
maze among old 'trumpery" and fish
out the playthiugs of childhood. orlisten
to the rain on the roof. is a luxury TO
one who can appreciate it. and the song
OF the teakettle. especially if it is our
trahetile. is soothing and sweet. l do
not object to the house if it is painted
an ugly red-they paint whole towns
red now, | believe-nor to the
old sllarp-pcaked barn. with its caves
almost touching the ground. ard famil-
itrly known Us lightning splitter"
Can any youngster tell me where bread
can be procured to equal the delicious
rye and lngin" that baked all night in
the big Dutch oven? In the old time
we hal the old mill wheel. now it is
steam and the patent process: then it
was the rustic well-sweep and the old
oakel bucket. nov we have drive we'll
and 4 law suit.
Why. there have been more songs
sung about spinning-wheels. thatched
roofs and churns than will ever be
written about all the new inventions
under the sun. Think of the corn huSk-
ngs. the singing schools. the barn rails
ings. the lor rollings. the sle;g rides,
the sugar making, the apple cuts. the
turkey shoots. and-the girls of long
ago. In Their place we have the church
so liable and its innuiritious soup. which
neither cheers nor inebriates, but vet is
superior to the thinner jokes con Germ
ing it, and which would hardly do credit
to Il modern Congressman.
The ringing Of the b!acksmith's anvil
IS mus cal. but the crunching of a trip
hammer will never be utilized in
peace jubilee. And the music of old.
After jabbering and screeching in some
foreign tongue, the prima donna is
enthusiastically cncored. because the
audience knows she will respond by
singing some bonnie Scotch song. Why,
there is MS much difference in the music
rs between 4 ship under full sal and
stclmer pulling black smoke and cough
ing Ike 4 heavey horse. But many are
again appreciating The old-time beaut es
and and rons, cd clocks, old table
ware tally-h0 coaches, canoes. buck
boarls and sailing yachts are illustra-
tions of this fact.
There is one old legal holiday in which
I could never find anything to admire
hog KILN and the hogs don't seem
to Ike it any more than a minister does
a donation party. And right here let
me admit that the improvements are
improvements; hut propose to exercise
my right Of grumbl,ng, nevertheless.
and some youpg men who crit Csc me
now will subject themselves Ike
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 nv
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 Artemus Ward, "this was
said sarcastic" My old gun is in better
condt;o than am. in more WAYS than
one. 1t talks less. but it says more,
and may outaSt me on that account
Forest, Forge and Farm.
Q