Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-01-31
WINTER EVENINGS

The home circle should ever be the tbeatr
Of every social comfort, as it is the bir,h-plac
Of every early impression, and the altar wber
cluster the fair and shapcRss dreams of child
hood.
We know Of no picture so beautiful, n
scene 90 haliowed with love and conten:men
as the family hearthstoue presents after tn
cares of the day have been laid aside and th
Household have gathered around blazinl
fire on a long winter evening. The pate
.famiiids, whose hair has been frosted, or upol
whose brow the trying emergencies Of liz
have left telling traces, cons DER the news o
the day or by way Of example and admoni
ton relates the experience of a long, usefu
snd uublemished life, whilst the ever watch
full mother looks complacenty on and now ant
then utters silent prayer that all things MAJ
work together for good. There is feeling o
comfort around such scene that produces {
peculiar but strange source Of pleasure within
whilst all is tempest without; the bright sum
rer Is forgotten; the rich autumn just linger!
on the memory.
But whilst winter evenings come freighted
with social pleasures for the home altar, they
also afford rare inducements and splendid op
portunities for the acquisition Of knowledge,
which is the great cornerstone of success in
every vocation of life. AS summer warm:
into life and produces vegetation for the sup
port and maintenance Of human life, so win
ter evenings may prove to be the period, il
properly appreciated, at which the intellect
may vegetate and with continued care and
cul iivation ripen into full fruition. II cor
rect in this theory, then we are forced TO the
unwilling conclusion that 10 this age, whilst
literature, science and art are developing their
treasures and inviting US to pariake, golden
hours are irretrievesbly lost hours, which Il
devoted to the pursuit Of healthy knowledge,
would have eventually brought us some tan
wish to be understood as being opposed to
the innocent amusements of life, which add
SO much to our comfort and pleasure, or that
we should isolate ourselves from our fellow
uiuu, CtOoC buC uOOt upOu I'LL tuC CuJoJ
which society from time to time ofers-not
at all. We think it eminently fit and proper
to participate in the same, indeed, it is duty
which we owe ourselves and to each other.
The dark clouds, sad realities and trying dis
appointments come fast enough, but our idea
is that 10 the full enjoyment Of the one, we
snall have so schooled ourselves as to enable
us not to loose sight Of where the one should
end, the other begin 10 short so to blend the
two that there shall be perfect harmony and
mutual advantage.
To this end, now that the winter evenings
have almos, reached their full, we shopld not,
in the midst Of every variety Of pleasure, for
get to devote portion Of these hours to in
tellectual improvement, such Improvement as
from saeh authors as will leave the mind I'M
blemisbed and the heart pure and unsIllied.
This Improvement can DE obtained in various
ways. At our own 6resdes with standard
.-srks around us, in the formation Of reading
che organization Of debating
socieues, e"ner or all or ~s.,s,. IL attended
with. the proper spirit must and will -
ample remuneration for the small amosnt Of
labor and time bestowed.
We must not forget that this is the Age Of
Progress. Thought is moving with bold and
papid stride, and man, midst the universal
rush of things, cannot afford TO stand STILL
Onward Is the watchword, and he who
would be successful must arm himself suffic-
entity to cope with the pressing events with
which we ell more or less have to contend
"Ln time Of peace, prepare for war" Is an old
sdage and true one. So in our leisure win
Ter hours let us % adorn the mind so that we
may not only~b able to. understand, but ap-
preciate something of the sublime works Of
science, the beautiful creations of art and
make ne useful members Of society," culture
which is calculated to regulate and refine our
habits and mould and adorn our character.
s'The Rockville Sentinel is respectfully in.
formed that we claim display Of no penetra.
ton in giving what we believed was the 'tfu,
inwardness" Of Mr.. Peters jealous declaration
10 behalf OF Mr.. Hamilton. The signs are
easily interpreted. Mr.. Peter was badly treat
ed by his party, and wants his wound.
salyed, more particularly II he can a
the same time "gel in some work" on certair
people in the district. As president OF III,
canal he can reward his friends aud punish hi
enemies, and in order to get the immense lev
erage OF the coveted place he would strik
hands with a certain person good deal NOR
profane than w. 7. II - Cumberland NeWs.
No doubt It would be gratifying TO on
mach respected usighbor Of the Ners to hav
Mr.. Peter, or any other leading Democrat {
the State, use his real or supposed grevanc,
to stir up discord in the party, but such wi
not be the case. A glance at the pickering
aud confusion in the ranks OF the Radios
party Of Maryland teaches us the folly of tr,
ing to succeed with our forces divided.
matter who may be our standard bearer in Il
sext contest we can assure our enemies th
we still present an unbroken front and wi
achieve fnal victory over their divided host
The President lacked the nerve 10 veto Il
pension arrears bill; II he had done so
H. 81, ,