St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-01
SAINT PAUL.
THE END OF THE YEAR.


and the outpourings Of all more or less
generous natures. Among the greatest
joys of childhoods days are the antici-
patton and realization of the visits OF
the fat and Jolly fellows, who, regard
less of SCOT and the later-day new
tangled range arrangements, continues
to enter the houses by the old chimney
mode. 1t matters not that the pudgy,
genial individual of the juvenile imag-
ination in reality may be displaced by a
tall, lank pater familias. or a spinster
aunt who at other seasons show precious
little patience with the prattling young
sters. The child, little older grown,
is on the tiptoe of joyous excitement
buying and making and giving pres
ents and specializing upon the returns OF
the season in substantial remembranceS
and party pleasures. Those Of budding
mau and WOmanhoOd to whom the whole
year is bright with hope and ambition
find the sweetest pleasures centered
here. Fathers and mothers. brothers
and sisters happily vie with each other
to fill all hearts, young and OLD, with
gladnesS and amalgamate the ties OF KIN
and friendship which the struggle for
existence so SOrely strains. The With
cred heart of chronic bachel0rhOod be-
comes infected, and shaking loose some
of the barnacles which have been gath
cUing upon it. unites with all the com
mcndabe phases of human nature to
disseminate the Remittance Of the birth
Of the Prince Of Peace and the extern
sion of good will to all mankind, and
the diffusion Of the spirit and deed Of
generosity, Of philanthropy, OF charity,
of brOtherly interest, of kindly justice,
of genuine and general JOY with which
the season is supposed to be laden.
This spirit may have moved men to be
grieyOuS before being Just. There doubt
less are many aching hearts, many
falling tears which simple justice could
displace with comfort and radiating
smiles. The economists can tell us
more of this. But the feeling of gen
eral JOY and the familyhOOd of common
humanity, if it be but for the moment,
leaves its pleasant impress Of the clos
ing wear, and spurs one Oh TO more al
titudinOuS aspirations, to broader
thoughts and more generous deeds.
As, invOluntarily with us, the passing
fragrance OF the flowers is still sweet in
our recollection long after their decay,
and a few bright deeds of an otherwise
ordinary life makes the remembrance of
that life an inspiring one, SO does the
completion of a tWelVe-mOnth with gifts
and gaety make more satisfactory and
more encouraging our thoughts Of the
year that is closing.
tut
But this merry season over, and its
roiIicking eXcitements Quieted people
look forward to the beginning of a new
and happier and more prosperous year.
Mere incinations become wishes and
wishes become Well-fOunded and we'll
made resolutions. Resolutions beget
formulated plans and calculations.
Plans begin 10 shape and proportion
themselves more or less in accordance
with the caliber of the TesOlyent, Then
follows the inevitable speculation as to
the outcome of this plan and that. tits
but human nature that we should enter
tain certain degree Of curiosity and
SOllcitude as we set our pace for the
coming year, for it is to us an untried
field about which we shall only know
much at its close. Its bitters and
sweets are alike concealed, and how
wise was the Creator who made ii so.
BY common consent the birth of year
is preceded by quiet little moral and
intellectual resolution accompanied by
numberleS STesOlutiOnS which have given
40 the history of eacn year a cOnSid-
cradle part Of its character. The reSo-
lutlOns, unWittingly Of the TesolYents,
may lead the revolution aStray. We
may be poorer, instead of richer. We
may be worse, instead of better. How
fortunate for us, then, that we cannot
know the future year, and can find
much incentive for the happiest of hopes
and most lofty plans. Upon what we
bring to the year will depend almost
entirely what the year will bring to us
III turn. Circumstances and conditions
may initiate against some of us. Cries
of misery and distress undeseTyed come
to us now so distinctly that all the eX-
element and all the laughter ana all
the greetings of the season cannot
drown them. Virtue stands naked and
Shivering in uncanDy and unWholeSOme
places. Valiant and able men are she'd
ding tears over pitiabIe condition that
some form OF oppression has brought
them to.
But public thought is being centered
upon injustice in all the various shapes
that we see it at present, and those
wrongs are certain to Succumb. The
grandest and nObleStresOlution that can
be made on New Years day is that we
will do by every brother man as one
would be done by. If heart is aching,
find out why and cheer it. If a wrong
is being done, find out how and right it.
1t is no excuse to say that we have not
time to do these things. 1t is, indeed, a
selfish estimate which puts the value of
time beyond such employment. and if
every man would make these resolves
and abide by them there would be little
agony, little disappointment. few tears
but at the tomb.
I I
OF course. we have to deal in our pri-
Vate thoughts with minor matters, too.
Some Of us, nearly all of us, have a spe-
clal desire to create or increase our
fortunes. Some are in mental hunger
for an education in some particular line.
Some desire social or political diStinc-
ton. Some have great mechanical,
financial OF educational projects to carry
out. Some, God help them, want clothes
and bread!
Again, we have failings and short
cOmings of the existence of which we
are perhaps more cOgniZant than the
world thinks, and of which we wish to
rid ourselves. Habits of all shades from
mere indifference to positive wicked
ness may have developed a hindering
and threatening hold upon us, and we
may have come to recognize the neces-
sity Of freeing ourselves from their
grasp. Or we may appreciate the value
some undeveloped quality would be to
us, and we desire TO cultivate and en-
large it. To the sUrong and the resolute
man all these things are possible. Hon,
est and active desire usually fathers
success in these things. No luke-Warm
promises will avail. No haphazard
running after imaginary good will eve1
reach the gaOl. Learn which way is
light and keep your face toward it. Dc
not merely promise with the lips, but
with the soul. The signing of a score
of pledges, the making of avowals, are
of no avail if not supported with the
moral courage to fulfill them. Vel
developed determination is worth more
than all the resolutions in Christendom
There are weak. iTresolute people who
wish much and accomplish little-peo
pie who seem inclined to do we'll and tt
do right, but are lacking either in ability
or in the firmness necessary to maintain
good ground when it is taken. llsucf
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