The Rambles of an Idler 



on Crosswicks Creek to Maurice Eiver, a long 

 journey through "the Pines." He does not 

 record a single interesting fact. Who cares if 

 the wagon did break down? How very differ- 

 ently I would have kept that record of a long 

 ride! Would I? The environment of the cur- 

 rent moment is the impelling force, and what 

 has happened, happened necessarily. To go 

 counter to the normal inclination is to fail. My 

 great-grandfather was concerned with his own 

 affairs and how was he to know he would have 

 an inquisitive great-grandson! 



This sounds more reasonable than it really 

 is. There are people to come as well as people 

 now who are going and we who still live are 

 not sufficiently inclined to leave some perma- 

 nent traces of ourselves behind us. Did we do 

 so, truth would more highly color history. 

 There is now too much inference based upon a 

 few facts. I can fancy my great-grandfather 

 on his way to Maurice Eiver, but how much 

 better, could I see him, thanks to vivid descrip- 

 tion. But, do not find fault with our forbears 

 and be indifferent to posterity. We are too 

 prone to think what we have done or seen or 

 heard is of no importance, and so to record it is 



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