The Republican journal., 1871-01-05
THE NEW YEAR AND THE OLD.

1--WE spend our years as q tale that is told,
says the psalmist The recurrence of Janl-
airy proclaims tina. another year has gone
into the eternity of the past. They almost
iostle each other in their swift flight and VIC
start to realize how fast the years are slipping
from us. But it is neither right nor philo-
sophical to indulge alone in regretful re-
Election over the fact He lives to the best
purpose who improves hfes opportunities,
takes ali the comfort that is afforded him,
despite the flight of years or vicissitudes of
fate.
1t is season, however, OF new beginnings,
OF good resolutions, OF the abandonment of
bad habits, and of q general departure for
the coming twelve month. All reflect upon
what they have done III the past, and may do
in the possibilities of the future. The mer-
chant and business man balances books and
calculates his profits. The lawyer counts
his clients gained or lost. The physician
sums up the record of his combats with the
destroyer. The clergyman reviews the raw
ages OF death in his flock, The farmer looks
over the results of his labors, and plans for
the future, The mechanic speculates on the
employments OF the coming year In be-
reaved homes, the broken tcndrils of affec-
ton vainlv.reach toward their lost Objects
the mothers heart goes out to the mound
hidden in the graveyard snow
The year that Just closed has been in many
respects remarkable one. In the natural
world the changes and peculiarties have
been uncommon. To q winter of rare mild
ness succeeded, contrary to prediction an
early spring. And following both was q
summer of terrible heat and drought. The
winter that afforded but q small crop of ice.
supply of the cooling article. In the large
cities there was actual suffering from this
cause. The autumn was as remarkable as
the summer. Day succeeded day of calm,
clear beautiful fall weather. For out door
labor and the prosecution Of open air business
and enterprises there has been no such
favorable season within the memory Of man.
The crops of the year were early matured
and abundant, and Notwithstanding the great
heat, no epidemic sickness prevailed
The unaccustomed heat of the season may
have caused, Immediately or remotely, the
unusual disturbances of the elements and
the occurrence Of natural phenomena An
earthquake, the severest ever felt in New
England, shook her solid hills in the autumn.
The aurora borealis has been brilliant and
frequent. Tidal waves, storms, freshets and
tornadoes have prevailed to the sorrow of
the maritime interest.
While peace has not been disturbed in the
western continent, the bloody and dcvastat-
ing war of the old world has made the page
of history red with its record. The French En-
peror, that but four months ago was regarded
as the most powerful ruler in the world, has
seen his throne crumblc beneath him. and
his empire dissolve like the empty pageant of
a dream. The territory Of France has been
overrun by hostile soldiery, and her gay cap
ital subjected to the rgors of 4 seige
In our own political matters despite Il
maladministration Of the affairs of the coun-
try, it is growing in power and Importance.
Civil liberty, SO seriously imperillcd, is like
ly to be preserved. and with u change Of
governing IDEAS and purposes, the great des-
tiny of the United States will be accomplish
ed in the fu!lncss Of time. SO, not regretfu
of the troubled past, and casting our hopes
on the future, we move forward to the ex-
perlences Of another wear.