Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-01
lSS9--lS90.

The old year is dead. The new year is
born. The past is rolled up in the scroll of
time gone. The future is spread out before
us. Whats past is prologue" What is
present and to come is action. But the
prologue is often not without its lessons,
ats stimulus, and its inspiration. What the
harvest has been may be made an earnest
of what the harvest will be.
The Prologue 1889 in Virginia is not q
perfect lyric for the Commonwealth or for
individuals. There are breaks in the rythm
and here and there sad elipses. The year
has not been one of unalloyed blessing.
There has been sorrow. in many house.
holds and calamity in some communities.
Certain sections of the State have suffered
seriously from foods, and fire has not failed
10 claim some sacrifice of property.
Nevertheless, our blessings have been
manifold. The brooding wing Of pestilence
has not lowered over us, appalling dis
asters involving loss of life occupy but
little space on the record, good govern
ment has been our portion, and its con-
tinuance is guaranteed to us, and as
whole our material, social, and religious
progress has been great and gratifying.
The prologue encourages us to face the fu-
ture with stout hearts and earnest hope,
and with stern resolve that when 1890 shall
have been placed in the sepulchre of the
dead years our work will be worthy tri-
butte to it.
That part of the prologue which relates
TO Richmond is peculiarly interesting, IN
spring, and full of promise, as will be seen
from oGr annual review OF the year pub
lished elsewhere in this paper. Richmond's
progress has been rapid but steady and
conservative. and the exhibit is prophesy
of wonderful development In the future
along all tho lines of trade. manufacture,
building, &c. Touching this matter the
statistics speak for themselves and call
for no elaboration at our hands. All that
need be said is that they bidus to be thank
full and determined 20 be true in all the
obligations of citizenship 20 the reputa-
tion, name. and fame of the city.
But there is another theme the prologue
suggests A voice comes from the bier of
1889 &c each individual and asks, How have
you spent the year and what are your reso-
buttons for lS90-no, not for 1890. but for
to-day? The advent of the new year is
commonly looked upon as O season for re-
form, o season for forgiveness, season for
softening asperities. But the trouble is that
too many Of usresolve for tomorrow andto-
morrow. and that tomorrow never comes.
"Act, act in the living present." should
be the motto for to-day. Tomorrow may
harden the heart and may have its snare
and its pitfall. II there is tho seed OF
malice in you breast pluck it ont ere 1t
groweth into vine that shall Irvine about
and poison your whole nature. Ii you
have the impulse to give your enemy soft
answer. speed to do it, II charity would
lead you, follow her. He that is true to his
better nature to-day. true to himself to-day,
will have the sweet consolation OF know
ing that much that the recording angel
had written against him in 1889 viii have
been blotted out by tomorrow. For him
that would wait until tomorrow it may be
that the page Of 1880 viii before tomorrow
cometh be turned down and sealed. 1t is
the present. not the future, that must re-
deem the past.