Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Masonic Magazine
  • April 1, 1876
  • Page 30
Current:

The Masonic Magazine, April 1, 1876: Page 30

  • Back to The Masonic Magazine, April 1, 1876
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article THE OLD FOLKS' PARTY. ← Page 3 of 5 →
Page 30

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Old Folks' Party.

But Frank reminded him that this Avas a hint as to his get-up , and that he must stuff Avith p illows that the proverb mi ght be fulfilled , " like father like son . " And then they Avere rather taken aback by Henry ' s obvious suggestion that there

Avas no telling Avhat the fashion in dress would be in A . D . 1925 , " eA'en if , " he added , " the scientists leave us any A . D . by that time , " though Frank remarked here that A . D . Avould answer just as Avell as Anno Darwinis , if Avorst came to Avorst . But it Avas decided that there was no use

trying after prophetical accuracy m dress , since it Avas out of the question , and eA'en if attainable would not suggest age to their own minds as Avould the elderly Aveeds Avhich they were accustomed to see . " It ' s rather odd , isn ' t it , " said Jessie gravely , " that it didn ' t occur to anybody , that in all probability not over one or tAvo of us at most will be alive fifty years hence . "

" Let s draw lots for the two A'ictims , and the rest of us will appear as ghosts , " suggested Frank , grimly . " Poor tAvo , " sighed Nellie . "I ' m sorry for them . HOAV lonely they will be . I ' m glad I haA'en ' t got a very good

censtitution . " But Henry remarked that Jessie mi ght have gone further and said just as truly that none of them AA'ould survive fifty years , or eA'en ten .

" We may , some of us , escape the pang of dying as long as that , " said he , " but that is but a trifle , and not a necessary incident of death . The essence of morality is change , and Ave shall be changed . Ten years will see us very different persons . What though an old dotard calling himself

Henry Long is stumping around fifty years hence , Avhat is that to me 1 I shall have been dead a half century by that time . " " The old gentleman you speak so lightly of will probably think more tenderly of you than you do of him , " said Jessie .

" I don ' t belieA'e it , " answered Henry . " In fact , if Ave Avere entirely trne to nature next Wednesday , it would spoil the fun , for we probably should not , if actually of the age we pretend , think of our youth once a year , much less meet to talk it over . " " Oh , I don't think so , " protested Nellie . " I ' m sure all the storv-books and poetry

say that old folks are much given to re-viewing their youth in a pensive , regular sort of way . " " That ' s all very pretty , but it ' s all gammon in my opinion , " responded Henry . " The poets are yotmg people Avho knownothing of how old folks feeland argue

, only from their theory of the romanti c fitness of things . T belieA'e that reminiscence takes up a A'ery small part of old persons' time . It would furnish them little excitement , for they have lost the feelings by Avhich their memories would have to be

interpreted to become vivid . Remembering is dull business at best , I notice that persons , even of eventful lives , prefer a good novel to the pleasures of recollection . It is really easier to sympathize Avith the people in a noA'el or drama than with our

jsast selves . We lose a great score of recreation just because Ave can ' t recall the past more A'ividfy . " " How shockingly Henry contradicts to-night , " Avas the only reply Nellie deigned to this long speech . " What shall we call each other next Wednesday % " asked Mary . " By our first names as noAv ?"

" Not if we are going to be prophetically accurate , " said Henry . " Fifty j'ears hence , in all probability , Ave shall , most of us , haA'e altogether forgotten our present intimacies , and formed others , quite inconceivable now . I can imagine Frank over therescratching his bald head Avith his

, spectacle tips , and trying to recall me . ' Hen . Long , Hen . Long , —let me think ; name sounds familiar , and yet I can ' t quite place him . Didn ' t I knoAv him at C , or Avas it at college ? Bless me , hoAV forgetful I ' m growing . '"

They all laughed at Henry ' s bit of acting . Perhaps it Avas only sparkles of mirth , but it might have been g lances of tender confidence that shot between certain pairs of eyes betokening something that feared not time . This is in no sort a loA'e story ; but

such things can ' t be wholly preA'ented . The girls , however , protested that this talk about growing so utterly aAvay from each other was too dismal for anything and they wouldn't believe it anyhoAV . The old-fashioned notions about eternal

constancy were ever so much nicer . It gave them the cold shivers to hear Henry ' s ante-mortem dissection of their friendship

“The Masonic Magazine: 1876-04-01, Page 30” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 11 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmg/issues/mmg_01041876/page/30/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Monthly Masonic Summary. Article 1
SONNET. Article 1
THE WILSON MANUSCRIPT CONSTITUTION. Article 2
AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF MASTER AND FREE MASONS. Article 7
AIMEE. Article 11
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF SCOTTISH FREEMASONRY. Article 11
LINES Article 14
THE ANTI-MASONIC VICAR Article 15
TO A SNOWDROP Article 17
"MILKLAT "—THE CITY OF REFUGE. Article 18
ODDS AND ENDS OF WIT AND HUMOUR. Article 19
CONTEMPORARY LETTERS ON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. Article 24
ORATION Article 26
THE OLD FOLKS' PARTY. Article 28
BENEFIT MANKIND. Article 32
CURIOSITIES OF THE POST OFFICE. Article 32
THE WOMEN OF OUR TIME. Article 34
BRO. DANIEL COXE—THE FATHER OF FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA. Article 36
THE ORIGIN AND REFERENCES OF THE HERMESIAN SPURIOUS FREEMASONRY. Article 39
HALF-WAY DOIN'S. Article 42
GODFREY HIGGINS ON FREEMASONRY. Article 43
THE SITE OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE DISCOVERED. Article 44
NOTES ON LITERATURE, SCIENCE AND ART. Article 46
Page 1

Page 1

3 Articles
Page 2

Page 2

1 Article
Page 3

Page 3

1 Article
Page 4

Page 4

1 Article
Page 5

Page 5

1 Article
Page 6

Page 6

1 Article
Page 7

Page 7

1 Article
Page 8

Page 8

1 Article
Page 9

Page 9

1 Article
Page 10

Page 10

1 Article
Page 11

Page 11

4 Articles
Page 12

Page 12

1 Article
Page 13

Page 13

1 Article
Page 14

Page 14

2 Articles
Page 15

Page 15

3 Articles
Page 16

Page 16

1 Article
Page 17

Page 17

3 Articles
Page 18

Page 18

1 Article
Page 19

Page 19

2 Articles
Page 20

Page 20

1 Article
Page 21

Page 21

1 Article
Page 22

Page 22

1 Article
Page 23

Page 23

1 Article
Page 24

Page 24

2 Articles
Page 25

Page 25

1 Article
Page 26

Page 26

2 Articles
Page 27

Page 27

1 Article
Page 28

Page 28

2 Articles
Page 29

Page 29

1 Article
Page 30

Page 30

1 Article
Page 31

Page 31

1 Article
Page 32

Page 32

3 Articles
Page 33

Page 33

1 Article
Page 34

Page 34

1 Article
Page 35

Page 35

1 Article
Page 36

Page 36

1 Article
Page 37

Page 37

1 Article
Page 38

Page 38

1 Article
Page 39

Page 39

3 Articles
Page 40

Page 40

1 Article
Page 41

Page 41

1 Article
Page 42

Page 42

2 Articles
Page 43

Page 43

2 Articles
Page 44

Page 44

2 Articles
Page 45

Page 45

1 Article
Page 46

Page 46

2 Articles
Page 47

Page 47

1 Article
Page 48

Page 48

1 Article
Page 30

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Old Folks' Party.

But Frank reminded him that this Avas a hint as to his get-up , and that he must stuff Avith p illows that the proverb mi ght be fulfilled , " like father like son . " And then they Avere rather taken aback by Henry ' s obvious suggestion that there

Avas no telling Avhat the fashion in dress would be in A . D . 1925 , " eA'en if , " he added , " the scientists leave us any A . D . by that time , " though Frank remarked here that A . D . Avould answer just as Avell as Anno Darwinis , if Avorst came to Avorst . But it Avas decided that there was no use

trying after prophetical accuracy m dress , since it Avas out of the question , and eA'en if attainable would not suggest age to their own minds as Avould the elderly Aveeds Avhich they were accustomed to see . " It ' s rather odd , isn ' t it , " said Jessie gravely , " that it didn ' t occur to anybody , that in all probability not over one or tAvo of us at most will be alive fifty years hence . "

" Let s draw lots for the two A'ictims , and the rest of us will appear as ghosts , " suggested Frank , grimly . " Poor tAvo , " sighed Nellie . "I ' m sorry for them . HOAV lonely they will be . I ' m glad I haA'en ' t got a very good

censtitution . " But Henry remarked that Jessie mi ght have gone further and said just as truly that none of them AA'ould survive fifty years , or eA'en ten .

" We may , some of us , escape the pang of dying as long as that , " said he , " but that is but a trifle , and not a necessary incident of death . The essence of morality is change , and Ave shall be changed . Ten years will see us very different persons . What though an old dotard calling himself

Henry Long is stumping around fifty years hence , Avhat is that to me 1 I shall have been dead a half century by that time . " " The old gentleman you speak so lightly of will probably think more tenderly of you than you do of him , " said Jessie .

" I don ' t belieA'e it , " answered Henry . " In fact , if Ave Avere entirely trne to nature next Wednesday , it would spoil the fun , for we probably should not , if actually of the age we pretend , think of our youth once a year , much less meet to talk it over . " " Oh , I don't think so , " protested Nellie . " I ' m sure all the storv-books and poetry

say that old folks are much given to re-viewing their youth in a pensive , regular sort of way . " " That ' s all very pretty , but it ' s all gammon in my opinion , " responded Henry . " The poets are yotmg people Avho knownothing of how old folks feeland argue

, only from their theory of the romanti c fitness of things . T belieA'e that reminiscence takes up a A'ery small part of old persons' time . It would furnish them little excitement , for they have lost the feelings by Avhich their memories would have to be

interpreted to become vivid . Remembering is dull business at best , I notice that persons , even of eventful lives , prefer a good novel to the pleasures of recollection . It is really easier to sympathize Avith the people in a noA'el or drama than with our

jsast selves . We lose a great score of recreation just because Ave can ' t recall the past more A'ividfy . " " How shockingly Henry contradicts to-night , " Avas the only reply Nellie deigned to this long speech . " What shall we call each other next Wednesday % " asked Mary . " By our first names as noAv ?"

" Not if we are going to be prophetically accurate , " said Henry . " Fifty j'ears hence , in all probability , Ave shall , most of us , haA'e altogether forgotten our present intimacies , and formed others , quite inconceivable now . I can imagine Frank over therescratching his bald head Avith his

, spectacle tips , and trying to recall me . ' Hen . Long , Hen . Long , —let me think ; name sounds familiar , and yet I can ' t quite place him . Didn ' t I knoAv him at C , or Avas it at college ? Bless me , hoAV forgetful I ' m growing . '"

They all laughed at Henry ' s bit of acting . Perhaps it Avas only sparkles of mirth , but it might have been g lances of tender confidence that shot between certain pairs of eyes betokening something that feared not time . This is in no sort a loA'e story ; but

such things can ' t be wholly preA'ented . The girls , however , protested that this talk about growing so utterly aAvay from each other was too dismal for anything and they wouldn't believe it anyhoAV . The old-fashioned notions about eternal

constancy were ever so much nicer . It gave them the cold shivers to hear Henry ' s ante-mortem dissection of their friendship

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 29
  • You're on page30
  • 31
  • 48
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy