Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-23
Cnristrnns medttatioss.
RICHMOND. December 81, 1888


To the Editor ofthe Disp0'ch:
Christmas. the period Of peace on
Earth and Good viii TO Men" has in
the fight of time about dawned upon
us once more. II is generally regarded
as the day Of nativity OF oar Lord. and
its celebration has always teen observed
with great solemnity and rejoicing,
though too frequently with other than
sacred and festal customs. Though
smarting under a keen sense OF disap-
pointment we tender 10 one and all, as
gracefully as poor human frailty viii
permit, the compliments OF the season.
sincerely hoping that JOY and happiness
may visit every home, that the poor
may not be forgotten nor neglected,
that passion, prejudice, aud Ill
will for the once be consigned
10 the grave Of oblivion. The
knell of departing year is tolling. All,
yes a few hours more and Ii will he
numbered with the irreyocable past
and take its place in history. As We
pause for a moment on the threshold OF
the old wear and allow our memories To
revert back we are deeply impressed with
the rapidity OF It's flight into eternity,
CARRYING with it IN its tremendous sweep
millions Of the human family. To the
rejecting and intelligent mind there is
something saddcning in the thoughts
which now force themselves upon rs, re-
minding us, a. il does, that We, too, are
mortel. and that soon the draperies OF
J. l. l.. nj
will only live perhaps III the minds OF
those who knew aud loved US. No pray
ers that woman can offer, 90 tears that man
can shed, can arrest the destroyer from
Gathering his harvc5ts, and ere another
December rolls around many OF Us viii
have joined that "innumerable cara
van which is now moving - the pale
realms Of shades and shadows. The
proudest works OF mau, upon which the
hand of art has played for ages and
ages. perish beneath the mighty tread
OF time. lis true that Alexander con-
duered every nation upon the face OF the
earth and kings fell upon their knees and
worsnlppcd him that Napoleon drench-
ed all Europe IN blood and tears that
Lee and Jackson attracted the admira-
ton Of the world by withstanding vast
odds, but when Time said ListentO my
command they hung their saOres
upon the clouds of war. Where,
oh where. are the cities of Carthage,
Tyre. Babylon, and Nineyeh, once
the capitals of the world, the empO-
RUNS OF commerce. the great marts OF
aucient civilization Time IS more eliec-
tual in the work OF destruction than
all the other agencies Of omnipotence,
and to-day these great cities arp IA
Wondering ruins. Man may have the
loitiest aspiration for ambition, he may
seek 10 win the highest prize within the
gllt OF any people, yet ii he is not quick
and careful time, noiseless and Taper
ccptbly, will sap the foundations AMI
overthrow the monuments of his pride
which he expected TO leave as testImo-
mails of his existence. The ancient
kings OF Egypt. who erected the mighty
pyramids by means OF mechanism I'M
known to modern science aud cigillZa-
ton, which have been the wonder of the
world in all ages since, fondly hoped
that the inscription OF tLeir names there
on would render them immortal. Bnt,
ali. the rayages of time have seized
them, and to-day they are as inef-
fectual to subserye the ends intended rs
if they bad been written IN the sands
upon the seashors when the tide was
rolling IN. While. We are meditating
upon these great mutations we must
remember also that time changes youth
into age. strength into ieebleness,
beauty into ugliness, annihllsteS all dis
tinctions bv his remorseless scythe. and
laws everything low III ono common icy
grave. Although he lays his hand
gently upon all be touches. yet it has a
crushing weight that none can resist.
No matter how mighty or potent, when
we look around and behold the changes
wrought. even in our oYa lifetime, We
eau arrive at some idea of what Will be
the effects ofitime in eternity. The year
1909 will soon dawn upon the world, but
how few among the present generation
will live 10 see II ushered IN. The grave
will have swallowed up nearly all Of
those who are nov participating
in tie active concerns of business life.
Sociesyin all its various relations-polit-
zeal, moral. and social-will have under
gone an entire and total change in those
who direct and govern 1t. The present
age Will have passed into history and the
busting millions OF the twentieth CEN
tury will refer to It's deeds of cruelty, its
acts of justice, its notions OF humanity.