The Forrest City times., 1894-12-28
HOW TO BEGIN THE NEW YEAR.
Don't Get Discouraged, But Keep or
 Making Your Resolutions.

| Making Your Resolutions.
 It is pretty we'll known by this time that the designation of the first day of January as the beginning of the new year is purely arbitrary. In neither an astronomical or climatic sense has any particular change taken place, and, as a matter of fact, the date, which should have been in March, at the time of the vernal equi- nox has been distorted to it's present place by series of changes extend ing over many centuries.
 But, for practical purposes, 1t mat ters nothing if the year began in July, so long as the seasons came around in their regular sequence. The year must begin somewhere, and the first of January is as good as any other day, and in all probability the date is now fixed for all time to come
 It may be remarked here, however, that fiscal years, whether by nations or corporations, almost invariably be- gin on some other date than the first of January Why this is so no one can explain; perhaps it is due to the in- l herent perversity of human nature.
 How the beginning of the new year became associated with the making of new resolutions is easily explainable. As merchants open up a new set of books, so the average person, not in | business, feels it incumbent upon him. self to open up new set of resolu- tions. How nice it would be if he | could close up the old books, and start the new year with a clean bal ance sheet
 But, as 1t happens, there is no way of effacing the past, so the boy or girl | who looks back on the old year, and contemplates long line of follies and faults, can only sigh for the broken resolutions of the past and make new | ones for the future.
 Perhaps this may not appear to be a very profitable transaction, but it is | better than it seems. No one can be good without first desiring to be so. so that New Years resolutions are first steps toward the end
 This is taking it for granted that we are all going to make resolutions,
 
 Some very worthy boys and girls, as we'll as other persons. are doubtless discouraged by this time, and say. de- spairingly: Ut is not for me to resolve. l can't be gentle, truthful. industrious and studious. know I cant, because l resolved that l would be last New Years day, and before the summer came l was as bad as ever,''
 No doubt that is all true. but there IS no need of getting disheartened about it. "Try, try again" refers to resolutions as we'll us deeds.
 If you can keep a resolve for two months one year and three months 1 the following year there is distinct gain, ana gives reason to believe that you can keep your resolution for a whole year by and by.
 Then consider the pleasure of rnak- ing good resolutions The most mis- chievous of boys may be a veritable saint for an entire day or may be week, and the memory of the event will rebound to his credit and may palliate future mis- deeds. He can realize for one day nit least that there is actual enjoyment in behaving himself, and who knows what impression such a lesson may possibly make?
 Suppose that the resolutions arc only kept on the day that they ara made. We'll, even that is something gained. If everybody resolved to ba polite, considerate and amiable on tba hrst day of January it would certain- " be happy New Years day. Or. better still, suppose we all resolved to try to make some other person happy. Ana why not? It takes very little to bring happiness to the majority of people. A word, look, a smile arc alike productive of pleasure, and cost nothing at all They actually exert a rehex action, making the one who com iers just as happy as the one who re- celVes. And 1t is easier to be in a good humor than in fit of temper. There Is no strain on the nerves. which as everybody knows, tends to shorten life. ''ioi 'en
 So' as we said before, why not bava happy New Year which shall hs twelve months long, since it can be had by simply resolving? Begin on the hrst day of January, if you will. ana repeat the resolve on the second oay ana every one thereafter. Don,t try impossibilities; just simply make some person happy each day in the year and see how happy it will make yourself.-Golden Days.