The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-01-11
Message Of ,s2 70 ,ss.

1
The following communication was
written for "9l to 92'' but came too late
for its proper place. By changing "91
to 80" to .92 to SO" it may suit the
present time as well as If written for,
the present occasion.
The decline of nine-two is a picture
of life. The world was here before so
came, and the world will move on
when 80 is gone. Man comes OIL earth,
fills his respective position, remains
was here before he came., Men have
lived before him, and the bodies of
whom have long been lost In the gloom
of the grave. While yet ennobling
monuments Of fame which the very
few, out of the matiy billions that have
lived, have. erected for themselves yet
stand honored and revered In the menu
ory of ages. Heroes left their deeds,
sculptors their works, philosophers
their teachings, writers their words
all Of these are in existence when man
appears amid the scene. In his child
hoods happy hours he looks upon the 4
achievements with careless wonder
and amazements. In his manhood he
begins to realize them, to see life In
its real apparel, to understand the real
value of time. and with something
twixt hope and discouragement he
seeks to do something for himself. In
old age, with heart hardened by the
knocks of time and mind drilled In the
school of experience, he looks back to
see what has beer done. On his death
bed he calls to his side his son, gives to
him his charge or mission in life, i'm
parts his dying blessing, sinks back,
closes his eyes, and the light OF this
world is shut out forever. Soitis with
81 now fast declining.
The old year dying, looks back at it's
brief existence, sees the pangs of sor.
row that rend the ties of human affac-
tions, hearts pining beneath the veil Of
departed happiness. Sees the wicked
ness, crimes evils, meanness, wrongs,
blasted hopes, ruined souls, wrecked (
ambiti DDS, and deeds of terror more
terrible than the Imagination can pic
ture in plutonian regions. Sees the fail
ures, disasters, ruins, wrecks, wars,
famines, and destruction Of all kinds.
At the sight Of all these deeds of
CHASTITY hideousness, ninety-two would
hide beneath the death shroud as if
10th that ninety-three should see the
blush Of shame and despair mantIed
on his pallid brow. .T :.
But with all this there is much for
which go may justly feel proud. Dur
ing its brief stay, 1t has witnessed
changes of all kinds. It has seen Inn
provements and great discoveries. It
has seen mighty disturbances in the
political fields. Nations bidding def
ance to nations, crowned heads deposed
aud empires demolished. The world
Is q year older but on the plains of civ
ilization and enlightment is the world
the proper distance in advance of
year ago? In other words, has the
world been bettered by the existence s
Of ninety-two? The human genius
has been busy devising means for the
better condition of man. There is
need of reform, there is need Of inn
provement. Many thingshave sprung
into existence but time is yet required
for their completion. That time is
with ninety-three. Look to it, and as
she old passes away the new begins
where the old leaves off: mark we'll
The pd5pt and when your days are out
see e y00shave made the proper ad-
vsncenieBf bud see wherein the world
hns been bettetea by your existence.
But Ealher bis stern and
never sHefying Nly,Ssess No! The
old year with Nh " slief breathes
lit Is ended deSGxt4 join his
i1Sthe 16(s E3e new
year comes in with en- NH G6eort
filled with great expepts -
with serene bushes, as II f4lpo 3
ing in fragrant fields of fancfed kaD !,
ness. But the demands of fihao &fe
more real. Improvements mustS ~
made, developments be begun, invefs
tions contrived. So let ninety-three
live that all demands may be met, and
that mankind may be bettered by Its !.
existence, and may you, kind reader,
30 live that you and others may be
benefited by having lived through
w. j. w.
San Saba, Texas.