Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1883-01-11


is Il matter of speculation and proba-
bilitics, and not any worse of are we,
perhaps, for the fact that we are de-
MED clearer understanding of what
is in store for us than we possess. The
progress that mankind is making in
the line of reliable prophecy is very
slow, but it is not absolutely nil. There
are some things which we can foretcll
with practical certainty and more
things whose shapes we can outline
albeit dimly. The almanacs of the new
year inform us Of cclipses which will
certainly take place This is not much,
but is something which science has
wrcsted for lis from the mystery Of the
future. Its practical value appears to
he slight, and yet it has taken Il very
considerable weight Of superstition of
humanity. An eclipse has changed
the fate of battle, but it will not do
so again, among civilized people at
least.
Science promises toncrcasc the value
of its services as prophet, and as ii is
the only one we have with us in these
prosaic days we can afford to bcarmuch
tribute 10 it and pay it great honor. 1t
is making advances in It meteorological
way. It's steps are faint and uncertain,
but they are not wholly without prom
iSc. A little more mastery over data
which are not necessarily inaccessible
and we may predict the weather for
several days ahead with gratifying nc
Curary. Where there is 50 much smoke
there is likely to be some fire, and Ven
nor'S prctcnSions. for instance, though
really based on humbug, may have
more or less plausible reference to 4
state of scientific progress which it is
unreasonable to believe in. But all
this, of course amounts to practically
nothing. A truly fruitful development
of meteorological science would give
us forcknowlcdgo for the year of
crops, of the condition of the general
health Of the people, and, in short, Of
the common prosperity provided wars
were kept ont Of the way.
This would be a prophecy that would
amount to something; and yet do we
really want it? There is scarcely any
thing that men are SO earnestly en-
gagged in as they are in diynation,
studying the doctrine of chances, cal
culating mathematically and otherwise
the probabilities for the coming month,
season or year. They are constantly
betting on the future and hunting high
and low for points, trying TO find out
individually that which would not be
the general profit if it were known
collectively. Is not the daily solution
Of the mystery Of the future precisely
what constitutes the interest in life? Is
not the unravcling of the ncycr.cnding
problem all that we live for in fact?
When the novel reader bcgS one ac-
quaintcd with the plot not to reveal it
in order that the interest may not be
taken out of the story, does he not
give lis 4 hint OF Il great reality? When
q premature glance at the last pages of
Il book robs it of its SAVIOR, may we not
conclude that a revelation Of the future
pages of the year would take away the
zcst Of living through it? Everything
must wait upon the proper season 10
reach its highest value.
And yet there is kind of human
wisdom which trenches closely on
prophecy. II can not predict definite
events, but it can detect the drift Of
currents and note whittier they are
tending. 1t is this wisdom which,
other things being equal. marks the
successful business man. lie can not
fercscc all the breakers, but he can see
some of them which others do not, and
the advantage the superior knowledge
gives him is proved by results. The
past year was one of general prosperity.
| The crops were good, traffic large, and
the balances Of the lcdgcrs fairly Satis-
factory. Yet had not the crops been in
readiness TO restore Il somewhat de
cining spirit of confidence the wind
up Of the years business would have
told far different story. The limit Of
normal manufacturing production was
shown to have been passed in several
instances. The imports had overcome
the exports, and 4 drain had COM
mcnccd on the gold in the country.
These are not necessarily bad condi-
tions in themselves. Under some cir
cumStances they may be symptoms of
perfectly healthy state Of affairs. But
there are other things connected with
them in our case which give them an
unfavorablc significance. They in
dicatc drift in the way Of home cX-
travagance and Of over, or rather un-
even, production which must be cor
rcctcd at more or less expense before
matters assume a harmonious and Sc.
cure shape again
Thus the business prospects for the
new year are complicated with few
considerations which did not suggest
themselves n year ago. But the flow
of the grand tide of prosperity in this
country is so much greater than its
ebb that it ill-bccOmcs one to do more
than counsel caution. 1t is no land fOr
an habtual crOakcr, for he is constant.
ly disappointed, All We need TO do is
to fit our financial vessel for the storms
and to shorten sail when they threaten.
The advent of the new year has an un-
avoidable reference to the advancing
age of the individual. 1t is to him as
mother birthday and forces upon him
a realizing sense of his position in the
ceaseless ilux of human life. He ought
to be better able than he was yeal
ago to discern the shape his earthly
destiny will assume. He must be q
thoughtless individual, indeed, who is
not driven to introspection at such {
season, and in that occupation it is not
for any one to intrude.
How n LnwYer Trentod the Gaze.