Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28
The Old Year.


In spite Of evil auguries which consigned
this world to destruction in 1881, the old
planet has forged along in its beaten track
very much after the fashion Of the years in
the cycles of time gone by. If dissolution
is to take place "and the elements melt with
fervent heat before the close of the year,
there are no visible signs of the great dis
sster at this writing. Unless this December
weather, phenomenal in its mildness, is TO
be construed as indicating the near APP
proach of elemental fire to the crust Of the
earth, the day of destruction is certainly
stealing on the object of its doom "like a
thief in the night" As the Scriptures as
sure us that the end will come unheralded as
the prowling thief, prudent people will re-
fleet upon the vast possibilities for the full
illment of prophecy which Turk in the re-
naming days Of this ill-omened year before
settling down to the conclusion that the old
globe will emerge triumphantly on the shores
Of new year.
The public events which will make the
year 1881 forever memorable in the history
of the world will be readily recalled. As
sassination has laid its violent hand upon
two Of the earth's great rulers. Two men,
who in different ways and under widely
varying circumstances had labored and
planned for the amelioration of the condi-
ton of mankind have been stricken down
in the prime of their powers and all the
world has stood aghast at the twin deeds of
horror. The United States tenderly ex-
pressed the sincere sympathy of its people
for the Russians and in unmeasured terms
reprobated the dastardly crime which de-
prived them of their emperor, little dream
ing how soon the same bitter cup would be
pressed to its own lips. The world had hardly
recovered from the shock produced by
Alexander's immolation on the bloody al
tar of Nihilism, when in another quarter
another victim, the last in all this world
around whom the widest conjecture would
have woven the web of fate, went down under
the murderous hand of revengeful malevo-
lence. The story of Garfelds heroic suf-
fering and pathetic end moved world to
tears. Those tears have watered the flowers
of human kinship and the fragrance of
their unwonted bloom will not all be wasted
on the desert air." Such emotions as the
death of Garfield awakened at home and
abroad have given the human family deep
insight down into the inner and better ma
tura Of ito Tho a,,aoAoo1a 90 6
the most inspiring sources Of hope and en-
enlargement to the statesman, the philan
thropist and the Christian. The vision will
gild their plans for their future labors, and
the spirit of mutual charity and forbearance
it will beget will enter largely into their
calculations for the work and the trials
which the New Year will bring. Discon-
tent and impoverishment in Ireland, the
Vienna theater disaster, the ravages of fire
in the sister state of Michigan are events of
the year which have cast their somber shad-
ows over its sunny aspects. Aside from
the lurid flashes which occasionally break
from the elements which ever slumber in
half-barbaric sections of the world, war or
rumors of war have not prevailed. A little
band of intrepid American explorers, for
whose safety amid the Arctic icefields ap-
prehension was felt and to whom succor
had been despatched, have appeared like
phantom forms in distant Siberia. Their
story of disaster, suffering and I
heroic endurance is flashed on the boards |
just as the black curtain is descending on |
the finished drama of the year. Death has
added to his frightening roll many names dis
tinguished in camp and forum, in art, litera,
ture and science, and in the ministrations
of the Christian religion. The publication
of the Revised Version of the New Tesla
ment is the most distinguished event of the
year in the religious world and one from
which benefcent results are confidently |
foretold. In the material world prosperity |
has generally prevailed. In our own coun-
try there are cheering signs that the bitter
ness of past conflicts is disappearing before
the powerful progress of the arts of peace.
For the most part moralist, Christian,
statesman and patriot may find much salts
faction in review of the checkered history |
of 1881 and discern there many things |
on which to build strong hopes for the
future. Eighteen hundred eighty.two shall |
tell the world how well their labors have
contributed to the realization of their hopes |