In the annals of time, there has always been sentimental respect for the days of our youth. Such respect is central to our own distant past, our own “dayes of olde,” when our vigorous youth met simpler, yet more profound times.
An examination of the golden era of one’s youth begins with the concept of “ye Younge” in historic reflection is not just about age. Such a test must seek to encapsule the energy and the boundless dreams of our own with others who look forward to the future with eager eyes.
Throughout history, youth has been celebrated often and just as often lamented, with a fleeting spell of joy, innocence, and discovery. In medieval and early Renaissance literature, poets and scholars often spoke of the young as the embodiment of hope, strength, and innocence. Youth was seen as a time of gallantry and chivalry, as well as reckless abandon.
In tales of knights and noble quests, young heroes set forth into the world, driven by destiny and a hunger for glory. Their stories, whether triumphant or tragic, reinforced beliefs that youth is a gift, a brief segment in life where one could shape their own fate.
In agrarian societies of old, the young played a critical role in sustaining families and communities. While childhood was cherished, it was often brief, as young men and women were expected to take up responsibilities early. The education of youth varied greatly depending on social status; the elite were schooled in philosophy and art, while others learned the skills of craftsmanship and survival. Yet, regardless of class, the youthful spirit remained unchanged from a well-defined pursuit of knowledge, a yearning for purpose, and a desire to carve out meaning in simple existence.
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Personal memoirs of youth are rare. Autobiographies frequently gloss over youth as time endured and reserved for training. Persons of influence, like pastors, priests, teachers, professors, and councilors are given a mention but their degree of influence is seldom revealed. Most of what we remember is post-high school graduation.
There is however a British postcard artist that contributed more than 300 images to the Raphael Tuck & Sons catalog who had a knack of interpretation that is both accurate and admirable.
G.E. Shepheard (not to be confused with E.H. Shepherd, the prominent English illustrator of A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh and Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows) early in the twentieth century created a six-card set devoted to the days of old when everyday was a new adventure.
The images do speak for themselves, but as Shepheard remembers them there were times when sitting on a fence making music was enough entertainment for a day. Or, climbing a tree to rob a bird’s nest.
Shepheard also seems to remember days when more active pursuits were called for. Like angling “ye Fish” or trapping “ye Birdies.”
And, when the birds were out of reach of the traps, we could terrorize them with a bow-and-arrow. Or we could simply enjoy the “ye Rest” of “ye Wearie.”
Despite the serene imagery of youthful days in the past, nostalgia often romanticizes history by smoothing over its hardships. The young of olden days were not exempt from the struggles of war, disease, and social constraints that shaped their experiences. Many dreams were abandoned, many voices silenced by the rigid structure of traditions. Yet, therein lies the beauty of youth; it endures against adversity, it dreams despite limitations, and it defies expectations in both subtle and grand ways.
With a second look at “ye Younge of ye Dayes of Olde,” one cannot help but recognize something from one’s own past. Every generation experiences its own sweet time, its own trials, and its own triumphs, each believing that its youth is different than any that has gone before.
The essence of youth remains unchanged, it is a time of hope, change, and the forging of identity. The echoes of the past whisper to the present, reminding us that though time marches forward, the spirit of youth remains eternal.
Thus, the tales of noble knights, the struggles of young peasants, or the ambitions of scholars, youth has always been a force that shapes the world, and youth continues to inspire generation after generation.
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Tuck & Sons’ postcard images by G.E. Shepheard’s show (this is a guess) 85- to 90% children up to their teenage years, who are behaving as adults or performing tasks or chores that are of a mature nature. A great example is the card showing a boy and girl flying an aeroplane to catch a seagull to be their mascot, or the four-year old who is trying to tame his mule.
Shepheard also enjoyed illustrating the humor generated by sport, especially cricket and golf.
The six-card set that inspired this reflection on youth is series #8621 in the Tuck Oilette collection. Sadly, because most of Shepheard’s cards were printed in England and sold only in the United Kingdom, it is difficult to find his cards in America.
I noticed that three of the six cards focused on bird-related themes, while a fourth depicted angling. Obviously hunting and fishing were more central to the youth of that time and place than they are here and now.
I never saw this set before. Loved the information and images.
Your article reminded me of my own childhood when we would sit at the banks of the river and try to catch pollywogs and tadpoles. I hadn’t thought of that memory in a very long time.