The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-01-05
NEW YEAR THOUGHTS.

The new year naturally suggests
thoughts of reform, and we have no
doubt but that iobacconisis, vendors of
prohibited liquids and dealers in other
sumptuary commodities are already ex-
perisncing that temporary luIl In trade
which is always sure TO succeed the first
Of January. A new regime has also been
determined upon in many household
which contemplates a short expense ac-
count and plethoric pocket book at the
end of the year, and withal there is
reason to believe that there has been no
falling off in the acreage of good reso-
lutions 10 this year of our Lord 1892,
though that a moderate proportion of
them have fallen on upon stony places
and among thorns. is, in the light, of ex-
perience and observation safe to as
sumo. 1t is true that the moral impulses
which stimulate all these better aims
and higher purposes wonld be more i'm
pressive were they less epheWeral, but
the man who pauses once in a twelve
month TO take his moral bearings and
is sufficiently moved by his deflec-
ton from the path of virtue
to resolve to correct the error of his way
and atone for the irregularities of the
past by more faithful adherence to
duty in the future, gives evidence that
he is not utterly insensIble TO bis own
imperfectioDs, and even If he lapse back
into the old methods there is more hope
for him than for the ease-hardened
transgressor whose sins never find him
out, and who fails to make even the for
NAL concession to virtue of swearing
OFF, once a year.
The logic of events has taught as that
in mapping our plans for the year, there
is always bound to be a wide discrepan-
cy between the program and the per-
Torrance, and that much that is an
nOunced on the bills, so to speak, will
not be produced in the play. We fail to
realize that one year is but duplicate
of another, and that the posi- blIities of
tomorrow are rarely better than those of
today. In our eager pursuit to
gain the roseate fields of promise
which stretch away into the realm ofthe
future, we overlook the sweet flowers
which spring at our feet and shed their
rare perfume upon our path. In Tesolv-
ignore the priceless opportunities of to-
day, and thus continue to postpone the
day of more noble movement. The
failures which attend this annual re-
solve to reform our plan, are due to our
forgetfulness of the fact that the present
only is ours and that its duties faithfully
and earnestly performed can alone sweet
en- retrospection and strengthen US for
the successes and reverses of the future.
The patience and integrity with which
we assume the offices of our
every day life, humble though
they be; the cheerfulness with which We
lay our hands to the work which is or
dained for our accomplishment; the
spirit of forbearance with which we en-
dure the trials that are imposed for our
gOod-these are the thirgs that contribute
to the symmetry of our characters, glo-
rify our lives and tend to tighten the
common burden of the race. The
philosophy of right living, is, after all,
vastly more simple that of evil doing.
1t requires only common discernment
to realize that it is better TO do right
than to do wrong, and If, in pursuance
ofthis knowledge, we promptly repress
all unworthy inclinatinns. and yield
ready and persistence obedience to the
better impulses of the heart, the solution
OF the entire problem will be easily and
effectually comprised. Let us, then,
in entering upon the new year,
proceed to carry out our good inten-
tions by that careful fidelity to our pres
ent trust which shall make as truly
loyal to every relation in life, and render
us strong and helpful laborers IN the
field of human endeavor.