Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-12-03
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those olden days-the pom.p and fashion
of the national capital looking out upon
the passing spectacle. There Marquis de
Lafayette passes, escorted by the chief
men of the land, who have been author
lied to welcome him in behalf of ma
ton which he helped to set free. On
through that avenue pass the throngs
toward the presidential residence, where,
to greet them, come out on the platform
built to review the passing century.
Washington, and the Adamses and JEFF
ferson and Madison and Monroe and
Lincoln. AS that long and brilliant
procession, vanished, but now a resur-
rected and remarshaled host, passes be-
fore that reviewing stand, / see another
procession coming from the opposite
direction to meet this. They are the
presidents, the senator's, the Legislators,
the judges, the philanthropists, the de-
liverers of the twentieth century. They
come up from the schools, the churches,
the farms, the cities, the homesteads OF
the continent. Their cradles were rocked
on the banks of the Alabama, and the
st. Lawrence, and the Oregon, and the
Androscoggin, and the Potomac, and
the Hudson They have just as firm a
tread, just as well built brow, just as
great brain, just as noble heart, just
as high purpose, just as sublime a
courage passing in procession one way
through that avenue as the other pro-
cession passes the other way. Yea, the
men coming out Of the twentieth GEN.
fury in some respects surpass those COM
ing out of the nineteenth century, for
they have had better advantage, and
will have grander opportunity, and will
take part in higher achievements OF
civilization and Christianity.
The Century's Watch Wight.
What meeting on this midnight 10
O'Clock, the two professions of the
mighties of two centuries Uncover all
heads and bow reverently in prayer.
Thank God for the good done by the
procession coming out Of the past and
pray to God for good to be done by the
procession coming out of the future.
But halt. both processiousI Halt Halt!
Break ranks Back to your thrones, ye
mighties of the nineteenth century and
enjoy the reward of your fidelity Back
to your homes, ye miehties Of the TWEEN
tieth century, your congressional chairs,
your Judicial benches, your presidential
mansions, your editorial rooms, your
stupendous responsibilities and do the
work for the twentieth century, Fare
we'll and tears for the one procession.
Hail and welcome to the other process
sion.
1t has been custom in all Christian
lands for people to keep watch night as
an old year goes out and new year
comes in. People assemble in churches
about 10 O'Clock Of that last night Of
the old year, ard they have prayers and
songs and sermons and congratulations
until the hands of the church clock al
most reach the figure IL, and then all
bow in silent prayer, and the scene Is
nightly impressive until the clock in
the tower of the church or the clock in
the tower of the city hall strikes H. and
then al rise and sing with smiling face
and jubilant voice the grand doxology,
and there is shaking Of hands all
around.
But what tremendous watch night
the world is soon to celebrated This
century will depart at IL O'Clock Of the
31st of December, Of the year 1900.
What a night that will be, whether
starlit or moonlit or dark with tempest
1t will be such night as you and I
never saw Those who watched the
coming in of the nineteenth century
long ago went to their pillows Of dust.
Here and there one will see the new
century arrive who saw this century
enter, yet they were too infantile to ap-
preciate the arrival. But on the watch
night of which speak, in all neighbor-
hoods and towns and cities and CONT
nents, audiences will assemble and bow
in prayer, waiting for the last breath
of the dying century, and when the
clock shall strike IL, there will be a
solemnity and an overwhelming awe
such as has not teeu felt for 100 years,
and then all the people will arise and
chant the welcome of new century OF
ioy and sorrow. of triumph ard defeat.
of happiness and woe, and neighborhood
will shake hands with neighborhood
and church with church aud city with
city and continent with continent and
hemisphere with hemisphere and earth
with heaven at the stupendous departure.
and the majestic arrival. May we all be
living on earth to see the solemnities
and Join in the songs and shake hands
in the congratulations of that watch
night; or, if between this and that any
of us should be off and away, may we
be inhabitants of that land where "a
thousand years are as one day, (" and in
the presence of that angel spoken of in
the Apocalypse, who at the end of the
world will, standing with one foot on
the sea and the other foot on the land,
"swear by him that liveth forever and
ever, that time shall be nc longer. F"
Don't Look For Job In Honolulu.
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