New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-26

! The LATE November days have sOmbrc color
ing Of their own. The crimson and purple lights
of outumn have faded and grown pale The
CHANGE Of season has been forced upon even
thc toughest and hardest trees. such rs the
great oaks In the early morning there is Il
lustrous glimmer Of frost from every slope OF
lawn and every hollow in the meadows;
and even at noontimc the rich msts Of sun
light settle upon woodlands bare and sere, from
which the last vcstige OF summer vcrdurc mas
disappclred When the cold wind is keencst 1t
clutches up the vacrant leaves and sweeps them
into sheltered hooks. where they may die in
hence This swirl of the leaves Is all that re-
mains from summer rich in foliage and YER
durc.
Early and mid-autumn have their browning
glorics of color and fruitagc They are full Of
the inspiration of mature and perfected achieve
mcnt when Natures manifold forces have been
exercised and all her wondrOus processes of
growth and rpcning have been accomplished
Those are days when successful men. who have
fulfilled in large measure the earliest hopes that
stirred within Them can find much that Is con
genial and satisfying in the autumn landscape
with it's rich setting Of color and its sense OF
fulncsS and peace The pale grays and sombrc
browns Of late November are for other eyes.
The rustic of the swirlIng leaves has Il gentle
message for other ears. 1t Il time when less
fortunate and even bitterly disappointed men
can take counsel with sympathetic Nature and
find consolation for carking cares and despond-
cnt hopes.
How many men there are in this workaday
world. who have been faithful TO their trusts
and constant and pcrscycring in their labor, yet
who from one cause or another seem 10 have
missed their chances. Their lives were once
full Of hope and promise. They were eager to
do "A large and useful work. They were conf
dent that there were vacant places in the world
which they were destined To FILL They had
noble ideals of work AMI living: they knew Of
wrongs which needed 10 be set right; they
hoped 10 make themselves useful in their time;
they had vague dreamy ideas. which they
meant To put into books that might be read
for generations But somehow the years have
passed and little has been done. What once
seemed easy now appears like an Illusion OF
callow youth Experience has brought with II
Il SOLDERING sense of limitations The AMOR of
early manhood has passed. The chill breath of
increasing age has nippcd and killed ambition
lust rs the sharp frosts have cXtinguished the
last CLEANS OF summer vcrdurc in the trees of
late autumn. All that remains from bafiled
and confused lifetime Of patient labor and I'M
fulfilled purpose is the swirl of the crumpled
leaves OF hope and memory.
Late November teaches that nothing il ever
lost in an orderly universe. The fairest and
earliest wild flowers will be- found another sea
son in the hooks and hollows. where the swirl
Ing leaves now find the shelter Of an uUlis
turlcd grave. out of the mould protected by
their warmth and enriched by their death will
spring loyelincss and fragrance Of bloom, new
life coming from the last touch of expiring life
The fugitive leav have not only served their
purpose in contributing their full share 10 Il
summcrtdc Of glorious vcrdurc, but they are |
also preparing the way for fresh surprises of |
color and beauty another year. Nor is anything |
ever lost in the moral economy Of an orderly |
world Lives inspired by high ideals are never |
wasted though their full force may not be |
brought To bear To the best advantage. The !
'avoring chances which fall 10 the more fortu-
latc may never come: the results may disap-
,oint youthful expectation; The deepest roots of
lie may run underground into graves where
lear ones are buried; but the world has been
he better and the richer for the noble think
Influences that will endure and bear fruit.