The Washington herald., 1915-12-27
The Dread Of Change.
~ JOHN d. BARRY.


1t is possible for dislike Of change to become
"a weakness There are those who. under certain
circumstances. will suffer great Inconvenience
rather than make change.
We see well-to-do families who live in dis
tricts that have become unattractive because they
have not the courage to break away from the old
associations and to take root elsewhere.
In the small affairs of life we are all more or
less likely to be influenced by the dread of
change When we examine it, however, we find
it made up. at least in part, of very attractive
qualities Devotion to old associations is certainly
lovable. 1t may extend to people that we really
don't care much about but have associated with
for long time.
Husbands and wives friends, even mere ac-
quaintances often kept together by the influ-
ence of time.
.. Many married couples, for example. would pre-
fer to go on living unhappiy rather than make the
wrench of breaking the association of years. And
many friends who instinctvely irritate one an
other, find that, through time. their very irrita-
ton becomes enjoyable, perhaps delightful.
have known friend to be seriously con-
cerned when he found that an irritable friend had
become amiable.
In New York there is writer of quaint fancies
who for many years has lived in dingy. RAM
shackle hotel in a most unattractive quarter.
Whenever his friends ask him why he likes to live
there he invariably replies: "Oh, | pay so little
for so many inconvenience" In this way he keeps
his questioners from further interference. few
of them realize that what keeps him there is his
dread OF change His dusty little room, filled with
books and old-fashioned prints, express his char
actcr They really part of him. To tear HIM
self and his belongings away would be like tearing
his flesh.
Many human beings like plants. They
flourish best in their own soil When they arc
torn away they seldom thrive. Some natures strike
so deep that to tear them up by the roots is to
kill them. We all recognize the cruelty, for cx-
ample, Of making old people move from the home
of years. Sometimes, after such a change, they
quickly die. The old associations have become as
vital to them air. To the things about us VIC
unqucstionably give something of ourselves. After
Ia long period they become identified with our
selves. Then they give something to us.
Jane Addans has told OF a pathetic that
came within her experience in Chicago An old
woman who for many years had lived alone in a
told that she must go to the poorhousc. The room,
with her little belongings had become part OF her
life; but she had to yield. So she gathered up
her things in little battered trunk and when the
officer called for her he found her lying in despair
on the floor, with her arms cncrcng the trunk.
That trunk represented all that was left to her in
life, all that could go with her to soothc and
fort her in the new conditions.
1t is the people that capable OF changing
and that know how to change quickly and wisely,
that is, wisely from tho point OF view Of the world
who achieve success in life.
An American philosopher says that progress
consists OF a series OF wrenchs. Here he means
to identity progress with success. Perhaps he is
right He is surely right in believing that success
always means a series OF wrenches to some people.
it not to the victors to the vanquished. The vic
tors arc those who, instead of suffering from
wrcnchcs. actually enjoy thcm live by them, watch
for them and do what they can to create them.