Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-10-08
OLD FOGIES.
The Barnac1es who Clog Advancement
and Asphyxiate Things Generally.

Aho oaFnacIeS VINO O1O& Advancement
and Asphyxiate Things Generally.
From the Kernersuize Ne,0s.
One of the greatest clogs to the ad-
vancement of any State or commune
ty, is that class of individuals who
learn nothing of the present and who
forget nothing of the past. They are
divided into two classes. First, those
who want to see improvements made
and new enterprises started, but who
discourage every move when started
and take credit for it when successful
They are wonderfully enterprising
whenever the glory of successful
movement is to be divided! Under
this head come those who WANT the
town to grow but who hold their lots
at an enormous figures who want the
churches and schools to prosper if it
don't cost them anything; who recog-
nize. the advantages of newspaper,
but not the duty of SUPP rorting tin
short, they are those selfsacrifcing
creatures who are always sacrificing
and yet never sacrificing anything,
and who are willing for every public
enterprise to drift along to prosperity
provided it can do so Independent of
their aid, of which they always enter
tain great doubts. The second class
is more numerous and far more dam
gerous than the first. Every town at
some time in its history has to con-
tend with them and no town succeeds
where they predominant. They are
dead weight to a growing community
-"fossils" of the past-and until
death weeds them out the march of
progress will move with sluggish tread.
Because, forsooth, they serve as anc-
lent landmarks here, they look
upon the earth as their posses
sion. Every new conner is an in
terloper and a rascal with them, and
''the atrocious crime of being young
man" is as hard to forgive to day as it
was in Earl of Chatham's time. They
don't want new ooner., but are CON
tent that their monarchical reign shall
be supreme. They don't want new
streets opened that the town may
grow, for their. rights may be en-
croached upon. In their heart of
hearts they don't want to see anything
or anybody prosper outside of their
own snail she'll. They view with
prophetic eye the failure of every
enterprising move and gnash their
teeth in Indignation if their neighber
has the ability and energy to prosper
in spite of them. Young men are
nuisance that are barely to be tolerat-
ed and meyer encouraged and who al
ready have more advantages than
they deserve. They are not to be en-
trusted with positions of responsibility
but are to give way for the more ex
perience. Old fogies are sworn enc
mics Of the young man. They seem
to envy them their youthful buoyancy
and hopafuIness, ana ss an cffset are
continually predicting 4 "b@,; ellei los
that fellow" 1t is this spirit of inIol-
erance, this isoverbearing. contemptuous
looking down upon the rising gener
alton, this selfish, dominering pharis-
aical disposition to ride over and brow
beat with naughty and supercilious
contempt those who are more worthy
though less fortunate, that hangs like
a blighting curse over this as well rs
other States From this intolerable
intolerance may God save the Com
monwealth and may that just and pro-
per regard for the rights and feelings
of others unite us as a State into one
common brotherhood where every HON
est mans a prince and where princes
are not his peer.