THE "GOOD OLD TIMES" IN GUIANA. 



A HISTORICAL STUDY. 

 By J. Eodway. 



Were there ever times that might be considered really good? Some old 

 people praise the manners and customs of their childhood, but the young 

 are more inclined to speak of " Good times coming." The outlooks are 

 different but there is no real contrast ; the conservative and progressive 

 ideals are always working together for betterment. If we are well-balanced 

 we hold to what we think good but do not hesitate to move on as we see 

 our openings, feeling that however good a thing may appear it is always 

 open to improvement. 



When we gain some real knowledge of the past in place of fancies we 

 see that we exist to-day and have our comforts and conveniences because 

 our ancesters did certain things, some of which we can only deplore. To 

 mention only one, slavery ; our colony and many others would have been 

 worse off to-day had it not existed. Even cruelty once so common, led to 

 such a revolt that flogging in the army and navy as well as in schools was 

 abolished. Possibly the present horrors in Belgium will cause such another 

 revolt against war that our descendants will enjoy more peace than the 

 world has yet seen. " Perfect peace " however is not in accordance with the 

 nature of things, for there must be always room for progressive betterment. 



Those who look at the past as if things were better than at present, 

 are in much the same position as those who formulate Utopias ; both 

 ignore much that should be taken into account. We of to-day would 

 miss many comforts were^Ye transferred to the "good old times," but 

 our ancestors could not miss what they had never known. If a boy was 

 flogged at school or a soldier got the " cat-o'-nine tails," the}^ were not 

 alone, for it was the rule. What horrifies us nowadays, aud probably had 

 the same effect on our ancestors, is abnormal crimes. What happens in 

 the regular course of things makes little impression ; hanging was once 

 less shocking than it is now because it was so common. There is always 

 a tendency to take notice of what is rare and extraordinary, hence much 

 of our knowledge of old times comes from reading about what was con- 

 sidered strange and wonderful. It was not so strange for a woman to be 

 flogged at the cart-tail and therefore little attention was paid to it. In 

 looking back to find what we remember best of our childhood days we find 

 that every-day life cannot be recalled, but only events that were i|uite 

 abnormal. We can easily understand that a case of extreme suffering will 

 make such an impression that the whole life may be dominated by the 

 painful memory. Extremes of pleasure are also remembered when per- 

 haps painful experiences have become mellowed, hence an old man some- 

 times looks back and speaks of the days of his youth as more pleasant ; 

 the idea is also prominent in the expression that someone has " seen 

 better days." 



It is impossible to put ourselves back in time so as to see with the 

 eyes of our ancestors; it is almost equally difficult to put ourselves in others' 



