The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-31
CHIMES OF THE NEW YEAR
The SiIvery Cadence of Memory Enchants

CITATIONS OF happy days, prosperity and
peace which pass between mOnarchs on
these occasions. The message of Christ
mas, love and good will, has but been de-
llvered when breaks the dawn of the New
\ ear, and It is quite unnecessary TO sup
pose that hypocrisy has any part in the
formal greetings of rulers any more than
In their PRAYERS. Yet ii the countries of
the earth but spent OH peace what they
eXpend on preparations for war, howmuch
lighter might be tie loads of taxation and
easier the lives of the toilerS.
Philosophers apologize somewhat even
Tor wars. They do not affirm positively
that they are necessary, but that they are
useful in keeping down the numbers of
the race, which might soon overlap the
supplies of food, and preciptate struggles
or Iar more intensity than those fer SUI
premacy. This is admitting species of
beneficeDce in war which is repugnant to
the moral sense, but undoubtedly the
pressure of peace is apparent when starva-
ton comes through Overcro wding.
Mr.. Rayenstein, The geographer. has pro-
pounded calculation that in couple of
centuries the earth will be so overrun
with mankind that there will no longer
be tooth0ld for the seethiDg masses.
Optlmists have since shown that much
greater economy can be obtained in rails
ing and gathering the products of the
earth, by bringing deserts under cultiva-
-
yield where one only Is now raised But
the scoIched regions which would enable
this 20 be done are unhappily those which
break down the cultlyatOr by languOr. owing
to the oppressive heat of climate. The
white man cannot toll in India or eQua-
torlal Africa, and the black man is inGiS-
posed to toll more than he can help for
limited wants and little gariSh fnery
The optlmlst also encourages man to null
tiply and replenish the earth by holding
out the prospect of an unlimited fish diet,
the sea being thus far scarcely titned on
what it may yield. 1t is therefore in order
TO peal the New Year bells merrily, for
gaunt wants not at hand. atleast in our
time, and pOsterity will deal with the
question in its own way, Independently of.
our fOrebodings or croakings. T.
New Year resolutions are characteristics
of; the individual who gives heed to bis
ways. They are formed too often to be
broken by backsliding irresolulion; but
whether chung to or not have generally
wholesome effect. There is a better spirit
somewhere lurking that gives CLEAN of
light ana hope on these occasions. 1t is
sign that self-respect Is prompting to bet
ter courses. The reverie over the past in
which most people indulge is a homily for
the guidance OF the life which remains.
Perhaps there is nothing more hum bling
and melancholy than this retrospect as old
age creeps on.
OVeI Tue pain across WnlcN Tie devious
path of life has been followed lie the
wrecks by the way-the friends. and the
enemies perchance of years gone by
those who were stricken down in the
heyday of success and high prospects,, who
were amiable, good and great-hearted, and
those who succumbed TO the blind fate of
misfortune and failure. AT middle age more
than half the friends of youth have been
swept away by unreienting yicissitude and
the march of time. ln:old age but few re-
MAN,. and those wthered and tottering
and almost glad to welcome death as he
casts his shadow across the threshold.
The; bells of the new year do not jangle,
but the merry tones they were wont to
take sounds in other and younger ears, and
there is only the silvery cadence of memory
to- enchant :. The lightSome step has
yieldedt to the tottering gait and decrepit
stoop. the fiery eye is filmy, the lips mum
BILE in broken accents and, laughter is
tinged with sadness. In those last mellow
days the RETROSPECT is an epitome of life in
its alternating joys; and SORROWS, chasing
shadows and fitting sunshine: So the
chimes ring ON and the procession of life
is ever.reneweu. as the cloud which seems
stationary on the mountain top is perpet-
;ually forming and vanishing IN the azure.
=. - =: - Ton HIT