The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-12-30
THE PACIFIC
Commercial aObert1ser.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 80.
The Old Year and the New.


Tomorrow is the last day of 1871, and the
next dawn will usher in bis successor, with its
hopes and promises and its unknown budget of
fate. Truly the year that has gone to render up
its account has been a year of sinister mark in
the worlds history. The sword, the pestilence,
famine and fame and storms have followed each
other through its round of months. Destruction
of life and property has been immense in almost
every quarter of the globe, and the aggregate Of
human suffering must ever remain untold and
unknown, save to the All-seeing eye.
We at the islands have not been exempt from
our share of the ills and misGortunes of the year,
though happily they have been light in compari-
son to the heavy disasters that have fallen upon
some other lands. Death, however, has been
busy in our midst, and here and there dear friends
of ours have gone down before the shafts of the
{ ~insatiate archer The little cemetery in the
valley has opened its gates to receive many a one
who saw the light of last new years morning.
Some Of us who remain can count more grey
hairs now than we could a year ago, and to all,
let us hope, has come an added wisdom born of
experience. We seldom learn much from expe-
riences of pleasure-it is affection, rightly borne,
that is profitable. And a belief in the superin-
tendence of Providence is the only adequate
support of man under affection. The lines of
Wordsworth arc applicable:
Zone adequate support
For the calamities of mortal life
Exists, one only ian assured belief
That the procession of our fate, howeier
Sad or distuIbd, is ordered by a Being
OfinfniIe benevolence and power,
Whose everlasting purposes embrace
All accidents, converting them to good"
But the year that has passed was not all
gloomy. Science and the arts have continued to
make gigantic strides towards that perfection
which awaits him who was created ga little
lower than the angels The light of civilization
is spreading into the dark corners of the earth,
and man everywhere is learning the necessity of
the great principle of human brotherhood. Two
leading nations of the earth have set the noble
example of settling grave differences without an
appeal to arms. The vast Empire of Brazil has
taken the first step towards the emancipation of
its slaves. The Chief Magistrate of forty mil
lions of people, in communicating with Congress
enuneiates the grand truth-a truth that must live
forever, and form the basis Of all human reform
that The true prosperity and greatness of a
nation is TO be found in the elevation of its
laborers." In Hawaii mel, blessed with ample
harvests, peace and plenty, general health, liberal
laws, and quiet days and nights,-to us the year
seventy-one has not been so very unkind.
Our attentive correspondent at Hilo sends us
very opportunely these really fine verses, appropos
to our subject
To THE Dying YEAR.
Hurry up, old III!
See they prime the signal gun.
Thy work is over and thy race is run.
Al thy cares win presently Cease
Give US thy blessing and part in peace
Old Fatber Time has br;lt his vail
Oftwelve tomb-srones, and sealed them all
To silence, till the final call -
Executor Of all the past,
He waits one summons aud his last!
His record read, he yields his breath
In closing up the gates Of Death.
But now he takes his yearly stand
With Old and New on either hand,
rrociaims the hour and turns the expended sand,
Whilst his terrible Clocks,
Shaking night with s,lemn shocks r.
That through the dusky silence boom,
Shut the Book till Judgment Day,
Nothing add or scrape away
The record closes here
Every page with its blots and STAINS
Waste and losses-giits and gains,
Evil and good, it ALI remains
Done
Let none
Presume to ask or dare 10 tell,
II for Heaven or else for He'll!
Twelve tremendous Months there are,
OF Fire and Famine and Floods and War
Twelve tender Months for memories too,
Faith, Hope and Charity shining through -
Blind to whether we lost or won,
Hung by fate or wrought by man.
We work the work with never a plan
Gun fire!
Halt!
The march ends here.
Place him on his funeral BIER
Bow the soul 10 sealed fate
Till all shall rise resuscitale.
l see a shadow by The door
Go to thy grave Old Year!