238 THE FOGY DAYS AND NOW; 



CONCLUSION. 



In winding up this my first and, in all probability, last 

 attempt in the manufacture of literature, I am free to confess 

 the many imperfections in the little book (for indeed I have 

 discovered not a few of them myself ) ; and no doubt some of 

 my conceptions may be objectionable to some of its readers I 

 answer, the only trouble on my part was want of better sense, 

 and if perchance I had got the whole thing plumb right, it 

 would not have suited everybody. Even honest people may 

 differ, see things in different lights and shades from different 

 standpoints, and though we may disagree in some things, we 

 can still be friends ; and for the sake of peace, I will go so far 

 as to say that you may be right, and I wrong. I only claim my 

 convictions, and accord the same to you. To a great degree 

 we are all creatures largely influenced by generations, sur- 

 roundings and circumstances; our teachings have much to do 

 with our likes and dislikes, with our prejudices, for or against. 



I have concluded in my declining years, that whilst I look 

 upon my fellow man as a very wonderful being, and am con- 

 stantly amazed at his clevernes, startled at his cunning ways, 

 his marvelous inventions, and the vastness of his worldly 

 wisdom, }^et I have discerned that there is a limit to his capac- 

 ities, and to his accomplishments, as there is to his temporal 

 life, and that after all his seemingly big ways and doings, he 

 is, at least, but a very simple and foolish creature about some 

 of the most important things, and that some of the very wisest 

 of the world, are to-day engaged in the silly and unprofitable 



