Middletown transcript., 1895-12-28
THE NEW YEAR.

MIDDLETOWN, DEL, DEC. %, 1895.
THE NEW YEAR.
Who can tell what year will bring
forth? 1t is not of the uncertainty OF
life and the certainty of death that we
are thinking though to take a business
sense view Of Christianity aid of the
promises of the gospel of Christ it
would seem that every rational being
would accept the conditions of saliva
tion and make sure of Heaven. If
there were "miIlions in it''men and wo-
men would be rushing>pell nell to in
sure their right and title to the treas
ures that corrupt and fade away, but
the value Of the soull 1t is an old
story, and men and women live as
though they have no belief in the fu-
tnre or in the gospel Of Christ. But it
was not a sermon--not of this Kind, at
least that prompted our conjecture as
10 the results of 1896. 1t was because
we were thinking of the wonderful
discoveries, inventions and progress of
the past years.
A quarter of a century, when spoken,
seems like long time, and it is to all when
anticipated, but to him who has passed
or approaches the half century line, it
appears brief enough, when reviewing
the years. 1t has not been very long since
New Years 1871, and in our own
country what rapid strides in the de-
velopment Of every branch of industry,
every line of work. A quarter of
century ago the population Of this
country was 3S, ,55S. 81 and to-day it is
nearly double that. In 1871 the speed
of the railroad train was % miles an
hour and to-day it is 45, with trains
running on special time for hundreds of
miles at the rate of a mile a minute.
Twenty-Five yeaI agoit took steamer
fourteen days to cross the Atlantic while
now the floating palaces make it in five
and half days. The telegraph offices
have increased more than five fold, and
where there was not a telephone there
are now G50,000. There was not an
electric street railway a quarter of
century ago and to day there are in
this country 450, Governing mile upon
mile of the street and public highways.
The velocipede with iron tire was
then thought marvel, and SO it was,
but what of the ''safety" with pneuma-
tic tireP This list might be extended
indefinitely, and, when we consider
it, and look to the future we are pre-
pared to listen to any proposition.
Nothing is too great for the ingenuity
Of man. This is progressive age and
we must get on the car of progress or
we shall be le ar in the rear. But
how?
How shall we enter the train of i'm
provements, take passage on the New
Years cars? BY reading, by thought,
by study. By the Improvement Of the
golden hours as they are given. The
year 1896 will bring to most of US 1896
periods for rest and labor, of twenty
four golden hours each. How will we
spend themp 1t is for US to say, to say
in part at least, for some of them must
be given to the daily vocation, but
some of those hours are at the disposal
of each and every reader Of the TRAN
CRIPT for use or abuse, for improve
ment OF dissipation. 1t should not be
all labor for there never was truer
pr0yerb than "all work and no play
makes Jack dull boy" but he who
hopes to be something, to get some
where in 1896, must begin with the
New Year and put to the best use the
golden hours
New Years resolutionsl Certainly.
Good resolves are always in order and
never more SO than on New Years
morning. Because some laggard laughs
at his own failures, should not deter
you from making resolutions and from
keeping them. What shall they bep
Examine yourself and determine,
What is the first deficiency? Set to
work to qualify yourself TO master it
and then do it. 1t is easy TO tell what
your neighbor should do but for your
self it is not so easy to obey the Greek
sph rism, Know thyself." 1t is a
most valuable knowledge, however,
and the New Year can not be used to
greater advantage than the becoming
acquainted with self. If people only
would begin to learn more of self and
o.bother less about knowing more Of
their neighbors, how blessed would be
the year 1896.
But what do you hope to accom-
plish in 1896 Are your objects worthy2
Willyou be of those who shall make the
year notable for some great invention7
or will you do more than that-gain
the mastery over self and live for the
good of mankind?
1895 1t is past, or nearly so, but
1t should not be forgotten. Its pleas.
nres and joys and triumphs may well
be remembered, and SO may its defeats
and its wasted opportunities that they
may warn against future failures.
Then good bye, old year, thou hast
brought us many new friends as we'll
as blessed opp ,rtunities and We thank
thee for them.
1S96l Welcome, New Year, and may
the lessons of the past enable US to i'm
prove your every period. May you
bring prosperity to the country, peace
and plenty to the people, ,and may trrth
and honesty and righteousness prevail