The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-01-03
Another little drop has sunk into the

Another little drop has SUNK lht" the
great ocean Of infinity. Another
trembling ray from mans lifc-sun has
been sent upon its mission through
mensurcless space. Another round mas
been fashioned In the ladder Of destiny
and before us is the now year. All
the mighty centuries. with their ag-
Qrcgate creation Of form from chaos
have been built from these molecules
of time. AS the coral IN the depths OF
the sea becomes ne basic fragment N
n continent only when II has yielded
up the body In which IL was senoate
organism. ~ our years, precious 20 ua,
thrilling with the emotions that mark
existence, become fragments OF the
worlds history only when we lose our
grasp 81 them and they are gone. They
become imperishable only when 10 US
they have dropped petal by petal their
DAYS, and their color and fragrance
have departed.
Time In the most profound OF all
mysteries, the most unfathomable OF
all secrets. Intangible yet potent,
coming whence who can tell, going
whittier who knows? Each year Is an
spitoIne Of all that has come and gone,
since the first indcstructible atom Of
matter displaced the darkness Of prt-
mordinl emptiness, and wandering on
the wings Of ether found an orbit, and
became the nucleus Of n universe. With
in the bosom Of tho years lies the
story of man from the cradle TO the
grave, the unwritten history Of unborn
,,tions; the rise and fall OF empires,
.vs,,ns and creeds; tho riddle which
can nevei DC read by mortal eyes We
look at the p,st and strive TO grasp It,
meaning, TO garnE. up few sheaves OF
wisdom. We turn oui -eyes 10 the III
ture, onrnptured at the mirage OF wa7-
ing fields OF untroddcn effort, rady for
the sickle of the mind, and looking
backward and forward the precious
present slips away and tomorrow be
comes yesterday.
A now yearl Heir of oil the wcaltl
Of the old years, pulsing with possibil
ity, great with promise. It's we'll tina
we bow the knee and lift the heart
a. the old passcth. End tho new comet
out Of tho door Of tho Etorehouse G
future centuries, surrounded by II
cycle OF days, each bearing aloft It's III
lit torch awaiting the signal OF tn
bridegroom.
Nations, like the planet upon whic
they live, have their era OF subsidenC
and emcrgencc, their tidal wave
and earthquakes, their glacial epoci
and their periods Of tccrning fertilit
Of thought and achievement rs we'll {
Of glory and prosperity. Now an
again they are shaken to their oentt
and old forms give way TO newer an
better. Thus Is the miracle of create
made rccurrent. Looking upon Il
life-chart of nations, as 1t lies spree
out before us In history, we SEQ hel
and there IN illumincd mountai
peax, a Mohnmmcd. Christ. Luther
Cromwell, and here and there burne
ont crater of passion, o Waterloo,
E1odden Field, n Gettysburg. Mou
tain-penk and crater nro n pnrt Of Il
great scheme Of humanity, nbidil
places for the eternal sunlight guidil
men TO loftier heights Of PATRIOTS
and purity, or warnings Of the sm'
dering fires which keep tho ear
throbbing with heat and vitalit
when prisoned, but unclaimed invol
Il In ruin.
The year that has gone has been O
Of regret and disappointment to as o
people. Like the prophet Of old
have looked to the heavens for 81
and found II not, and bowling {
hearts we have waited with what
thence we might for Time, the heal
70 cause us 70 forget our wounds
that WINS In the Old year. but the da
of new future shines upon US. AS
g.. RHxe upon It's first roseate ray we
tire to ourselves the qualification
hope dcferrcd. We hear In tho To-
Of the boil, still quivering with
dirge Of tho past, now strain
breathes Of hope, tells Of strife sootl
20 peace, hatred quenched In forgl
neas. We follow tho ray and II le
~ 70 tho embcrs on the hearthston,
the old year. Looking closer, we
Il was kindlod there. Amid the as
Of shame and violence, fires Of pair
ism and brotherly love still burn
Dark indeed will DO tho old year I
sces them quenched In our land; dar
still tho now year TINT gives no prom
Of liberty under law and no respect
the ideals Of the past.
Another year, would we linger In
portals Of tho past, where we h
been gnrlandod with love and 10,
where ago hos crowned us with I
%ionS Behind us the crowding Gel
siss push like great army hurry
IN hot haste 10 tho victory. Onw
they press, sweeping oil before tn
~ -,
willing. We are hurried forward tow
those battlcmenta, which, seen al
against tho horizon. may DO u
shrouded and 80 near ut hand that
next step will bring No to the {
gates which open but once TO O
mortal, and behind which there
mystery greater than that Of T
Those trampling centuries, thunde
forward with tread like the mus
che stars, $50 loud it deafens INC
cara" arc advancing to carry ma
the highest pinnacle Of hope
achievement. Woe be to us II each
NO Join not the host as valiant sold
ready TO storm any fortress Of w
and prejudice, willing to do battl
oording 70 the strength of our I
and the Justice Of our cause.
Logical
''well, it's about time to make
New Years resolutions"
whats the use2 Didn't you b
all those you made year ago?''
Certainly. That's why I've g.
make new oneA"-Detroit Tribune
rp.~
On New Years. when she hears him 81
He'll swear on every fault