The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-01-17
NUMBERS
rHE OLD YEAR AND TnE new.

nf THE OLD YEAR AND THE new.
I ID We are not quite sure that we are equity
OF any wide departure from the rules of pro-
priety, in setting down to pen few thoughts
and reflections called forth by the time aud
occasion. I., .,.,...r. ..fr.
! Another year in the running calendar of
time has passed away. On the 3Ist of De-
cember at midnight, with the stars for watch
ers, the Old Year died.. 1t lived its time;
then full of things dwindled and finished and
forgotten, it went the way of-all the years
before it. II is buried in the great sepul-
chre of the past. ...y ....,.-..
| Fleeting as are the dreams of old, ,,
Remembered Like a tale that's told -.
We pass away."' A7t ~
How rarely keeps anything evenly on &
Here and there an asFirant for fame stat
stretches after his eluding shadow It is true
here and there an enthusiast still clings 10
! his golden drearii-here and there friend
! keeps his truth, and l6ver his faith-but
how many more that were as ambitious as
enthusiastic, as loving as these when the
old year began, are now sluggish and cold
and falses Keep q record OF life if You will,
and, as surely as it is human, you will find Il
a fragmen.ed aud disiointed history, crowd
ed with ihconstancy and change Thelihks
of existence are continually breaking around
US, but how seldom do we properly heed
.hsm Disease and suffering have Been ex-
ceedingly rife, anuueatfr- 8, ,s,,.
eler of all-has been unusually busy in its
insaliato work. The bills of mortality III
many Of onr cities, towns and yillages-es-
pecially in the sunny south from whence
have issued wailings of phrenziod anguish
because Of pestilepce4h been large;
nor has ''the countfy'' been exempt from
the dread yisitations Of the pitiless Death
king. Youth and age, innocence, worth
and beauty are stricken down on every
hand. Still the world moves on, and as the
past recedes, its broken ties are forgotten,
and the minds Of iill are wholly absorbed in
the present and future alone. Such'is life
| the habit Of makind Y 81 b'lt @sa
| But it were not well to allow the past to
be forgotten. To those contemplating. i'm
portant changes in the customs and usages
of society--to those directing their talents
and enefgies toward the remodeling Of some
of its venerable iristitutions--to those who
are battling against prejudice and persecu-
ton in order to uproot great and primal En-
rors that have been cursing the world--to all
these its lessons and its experience are valua-
Bile, inspiring encouragement and hope
They teach that though worth has many op-
posing obstacles to encounter, and thattfe
approval of mankind is never won without
hard fought battles, yet that like the Rock
that lifts its head above the waste Of waters,
lashed by thousand storms, when the tenn
pest is past it still stands, lifting its proud
front TO heaven, defying its fury and smiling
at its rage, so with Truth and Right, they
gain the triumph in the end. And sachsles-
sons of cheering hope cannot fail to reach
the heart, and give nerve andvigor to the
| arm that essays to strike blow in their do
| fence. ts.s II s-fi. 81 sg'a tSs5
Then as another--a New YEAR has been
noiselessly ushered in, it were wisdom 10
take its bsgmning as a stand-point--look
back a little and around us, in order 10 know
where we stand--whether, as medical re-
formers, we have gained anything--whether
we have made any advancement, or wheth-
er all our iabors have been in vain. And
what are the resultsa Why we find mighty
revolution in the medical world--,n the
opinions of mankind-in the practice of tho
healing an, and all through the machinery
we have set in motion, Instead of the weak,
despised and trampled upon few Of other
days we have become numerous, respect
able and influential body, commanding the
recognition and respect ofthose once lending
their influence toawe us with dungeons and
inquisitorial prosecutions. The philosophy
we advocate and The doctrines we teach are
no longer treated with the. indifference and
contemptof bye gone years, but arc being
investigated and adopted by those preferring
new truths to old errors. Our literature---
our Journals and Textbooks have assumed
form and character, and are sought after by
all classes; and our Colleges are rapidly
| filling with students of stamina calculated
to give character and reputation to any pro-
| fession.
Then we have no cause for discouragc-
ment. And as much contributing to these
gratifying results was wrought during the
year just past, we would conclude with tho
question, How much shall we accomplish
during the year just entered ina If we al
low sel6shness to govern us, and pursue
course of discordant pickering we shall gain
but little, but by non compromising with er-
ror, and an amicable cooperation of effort
for the promulgation Of medical truth, we
shall accomplish more for ourselvcs-for
our cause, and for humanity during the
twelve months to come than we have done
for many-many months past.--M Medical Rs.
former, Jan. Isl.
Lord Lindsay states that in the course Of.