The Washington critic., 1886-12-31
THE CLOSING WEAR.

The closing year bears near resem'
blance to the years that have gone be-
fore. 1t has had its ups and downs, its
smiles and frowns, its fortunes and
misfortunes, In the usual way. 1t has
taken hence more than the ordinary
share Of the illustrious and great. Like
other years 1t has proved too short for
successfully carrying out all that was
fondly projected at Us beginning 1t
will vanish into the shalowy past,
leaving many hopes unrealizod and
freightod with numerous disappolut-
ments.
A whole year with It's four seasons
and twelve months to come, looks like
a long period in human life. as we con.
template II from the First Of January
How brief and ilcciing and empty of
expected gains it seems as we gaze
upon It's receding distances from the
Thirty first Of December
To the true philosopher, however,
the retrospect is neither melancholy
nor unsubstantial. The years are after
all important factors in the economy OF
individuals as of States. They are
mighty builders, and not of centuries
alone. The hundred years that end
to day have bulded well for human
liberty and political progress, and mod
ern civilization, and art, and science,
and free thought; but they have done
more than this-they have builded the
men and women who have wrought
these wondrous results-statesmen
orators, reformers, broad minded
scholars, great hearted soldiers and
high souled patriots. Every year that
comes and goes contributes something
towards the glory of the race and the
perfection of its development; aud the
history of country is but the history
OF the individuals who compose 1t.
We adjurc the readers of THE
Critic, therefore, to shed no tears over
the dying year Let the dead past go
for what it is worth md bury its own
dead. This is no time for vain regrets,
but for reinvigorated anticipation.
There is much that is worth living for
or we should not so mournfully repine
for what has eluded our ambition.
If the year, to some, has been fruit
ful of sorrows, mishaps and discourage
ments, to others 1t has yielded joys,
successes, larger bank accounts, bigger
salaries and various consolatory bless.
ings. Could We average up its profits
and losses, it would bc found that the
community at large has been the gamer
by 1t.
There is more or less ruin in its
track, but it has added something to
the world it leaves behind, enhanced
the stock of human resource and saved
more than it has squandered of the
clements that go toward the making
up of a great and prosperous people.
The next year may show better aver.
age. Let us hope that it will-in trade
in politics in honest and wholesome
legislation, in private thrift, in public
contentment, in the general welfare
in whatever makes life easier and it'
dividends greater.
A few short hours and the bells of
the city will he ringing out the Old and
ringing in the New Another yeai
will have entered upon its course and
the anniversary be consecrated with tho
social festivities and interchanges ol
good fellowship peculiar and proper
to the season. May it prove a day o.
fnc,,ipatiNn In "A nnl1Dr an1 hDt "a,
sense of the term, with an influence
long to be felt and bequeathing nC
memories to be regretted. We have
little faith in the resolutions that arr
adopted ON the First of January t
be rescinded on the First of February
but in taking all new departures 1t Il
well to bear In mind the importance o
safe and accurate start at the outset
Direction is everything in making
desired point of destination.
SO that while we may not penetrat,
the mysteries of an unfathomabl
future, a clear conscience and sount
judgment will enable us to wait upoi
its daily evolving realities without fea
and without reproach.
The fgneral ceremonies at the Capt.
tol to-day were Of a simple but im
pressive character, BETTING the occ0
sion. General Logan would hay
desired no ostentalon at his obsequle'
In life he was the most unprctentiou
of men, In death he has the respet
that is due him as Senator and soldie
his friends unite in doing him reye
ential honor; the veterans bear the
comrade tenderly to the grave; even th
elements seem to partake of the gel
eral sense Of sympathy with the couI
trys loss aud put on the habiliments {
woe. Yet royalty itself with all /
pomp and circumstance, is never el
tomhed with demonstrations so in
posing as the grand simplicity that SUI
rounds the burial Of a Citizen Of III
Republic,
THE Pittsburg Times denies the r.
ported giving out of the natural g
supply in the vicinity of that city wit
as much indignant feeling as though
were a personal reflection upon itsel
"The diminution is readily accountC
for, says our esteemed contemporar.
/. S.ejther by defective tubing or son
otheI'mrchanica fact Numerous re-
sons might be cited to show that II
area which supports Pittsburg is Il
only true natural gas field and that Il
supply is permanent"