The New York herald., 1870-01-01


II was given fable OF the mythology Of Greece
that Saturn, the God OF Time fed on nis own chill
dren and ate them one by one In the order a. they
were born. Though couched In the figure OF the
barDarous tint Of prehistoric times this fable Is but
crude yet poetic version OF the irresistible march Of
time, which George Gascoignc, IN the sixteenth CEN
tury has so beautifully MODELLED into English in the
above lines. 'sThe earth mas once more run its
course around the sum- says the JeDtsh Times
OF yesterday; "another year has been added to
the past, and q new one has been ushered into
existence. How many million times has the
earth run Its swift racer We know 1t not We count
t not Mans record OF the past applies only to the
sphere Of his own actions and the evolutons Of the
planets are only the hands that point forward and
backward TO the imprint made by man in the world
Of mind. Time Is an invention Of man. IL is .
conception Of the intellect. Of all the earthly
creatures man alone records the automatic and I'm
mutable revolutions Of the heavenly bodies"
Yes tits well said, that "time'' Ia an invention OF
man, Its division into segments OF years, months
and days. And as useful an invention as human In
telect vouchsafed to It's kind since the nomades
Of Asia counted 'rimen by the first, second or SUBJ
sequenr moons" Especially, IN the present ma
terialistic aud utilltarian age, what would
the nations of this globe be without "time,"
since 'time rs moneyfn What would the
tul invention OF man, the chronology OF tme--let
this seeming tautoogy be excused--how could he
post up his bills receivable and bills payables
Would not the mechanic and the workingmen gen
orally loOK rather "d0wn IN the mouth - II there
were no Saturdays to look forward 10 on which 70
receive the wages for the week, and II there were
no Sundays on which to enjoy the money earned
and rest from the weeks labors And the army OF
clerks, what would they do without first Of the
count the days when the interest their bonds IL
to become dues And then what would become OF
the glorious Fourth OF JulyS OF Merry Christm as
and, above ALL the subject being just upper
most in mind. Of Happy New Year, Con slider all
this ye people that are happy to-day, and imagine
the dread calamity. equalled only by simultaneous
universal earthquake were "time" and its chronOl
ogy suddenly taken away, and had we but to gaze
on the endless hignt OF lime VINO never ciaps her
wings"
But be not discouraged; it is as it is, ana New
Years Day at that In past centuries win true
poetic instinct the people personiIed the old year,
as decrepit dying man:
Thou dcsoate ana dying year
Prophetic OF our hna fall;
' bssss als ssar ss favs so aps ps
And the new year 1t wero wont to describe ss a
gay promising youth blooming into manhood:
Promise Of youth fair the form
Thy smiling arch begirds the Storm
:, And sheds a lsht on every woe;
Hope o wakes ss oa. Ior see ana ,a to her tongue
As n her magic voice were strung
With the eInpyreal tire OF heaven
This assimilation OF the incomprehensible to the
human form; tins picture OF the past as the dying
year and OF the beginning as the new born year;
tins contrast OF old age and death with o new birth
and youth touches a sympathetic chord In every
heart. Whether consciously or unconsclously, IT
is all the same; YET In most people more humane
sentiment gushcs iorth on this day. 1t Is II they
elt that the dead weight OF the past is taken
their burdened shoulders, that a new year awakes
within them new hopes OF brighter days, ana that
what failed OF success the year just usnered In may
see accomplished. The past Is certainty. It's
gloomy hours, its days OF sorrow. ITS weeks OF an
guish and suffering are but TOO well remembered
Tho year
Its shaiow IN each heart. In its swift
ltwayei It's scepre DER the beautiful
And they
But dashed hopes revive happy dreams that have
curt momentS; the hearts shadows are lifted and
the burrows on The brow are less deep when the New
Year beck0ns mankind TO his shrine and from his
c0,nucoDta throws his many good wishes and iair
promises TO all the world
the custom OF New Years, "callsn It is TO minule
among friends, to exchange gratulations. to snake
hands and make each otner feel. what Ills every
heart, that the New Year may bring brighter days
ana realize many hope SO rudely ceaved III TWAIN
by the ''desolate and dead year."
While the poesy OF this custom Is truly beautiful
and OF a character to evoke melodous response
from all not marred by degradation in Thought
immortality III feeling ana while 1t VIII undoubtedly
be followed to-day ~ IN years past throughout the
whole land, there ls limit TO its observance which
ought not to be overstepped but whcn, 1t is
| regretted, many are III the habit ol con-
stanty overlooking. Youth loves extravaganza,
1t is true, yet 1t Is especially the young men
who should remember that 200 much OF q
good thing spos The fun" II Is one tnng to visit
your friends, grasp them heartily ny the hand and
TO wish them "happy New Year, with ali your
heart ana SOUL 1t Is quite another and OF baser
sort to employ this occasion tor railiery and de-
bauching extravagance.
However, believing that the "worldr viii do to-
day ~ 1t has done Oh similar days heretofore and no
amount OF morazlng could at present menu IT,
very interesting question may be asked, TO which 1t
Is believed q variety Of answers Will be given. This
is the first day OF the OF Lord 1870. Is this
the 1rst year OF the eighth decade or the century
is II the last year Of the seventh decade? VINO Will
sayf Who has authority to determine2
Let all enjoy the New Year and be happy. But let
them also remember that IN the course OF a short
twelvemOntn the VIII nave become the Old DESC
late ana dying year, and that then they Will nave
occasion to say oil II,
Earh's brightest pleasures fade like thine;
Like evening shadows disappear,
And leave the spirit to repne.
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