The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-31

QUIT and About


spoke of the great wheel. am not
content to pass away like a wea-
vers shuttle" Those metaphors
solace me not nor sweeten the I'M
palatable draughts of mortality
| care not to be carried with the
tide, that smoothly bears human life
to eternity and reluct at the newt
able course of destiny.
am in love with this green earth,
the face of town and country; the
unspeakable rural solitudes and the
sweet security of streets. l would set
up my tabernacle here.
l am content to stand still at the
age to which 1 am arrived and
my friends; to be no younger, no
richer, no handsomer. l do not want
to be weaned by age; to drop, like
mellow fruit, as they say, into the
grave. Any alteration on this earth
of mine in diet or in lodging puzzles
and discomposes me.
Sun and sky. and breeze, and soli-
tary walks, and summer holidays,
and the greenness of the fields, and
the delicious juices of meats and
fishes, and society, and the cheerful
glass, and candlelight and fireside
conversations, and innocent vani-
ties and jests and irony itself-do
these things go out with life?
Charles Lamb.
The German Evening House club
which held its first meeting of the year
with Miss Won Voigt, has now a full
membership list. 1t will meet> Wednes-
day with DR. and Mrs. Jennings.
On Friday afternoon, Mrs H p
Lewis entertained some college young
women at hearts for her neice, Miss
Edith Lewis of Smith College.
Yesterday forenoon was as fine day
for walk as one could ask There
was crispness, a vigor and a brace in
the air that had the effect of novelty
after the mild, sleepy fall. Not that
one would dare to criticise the last
autumn-that would be to tempt Prov
idence. Yesterday was fine day for
the country. 1t held subtle suggestions
of roaring fires and cider and apples
and rustic talk. 1t felt a great deal
more Christmasy than Christmas did.
The man who follows the custom of
selling a corn cure on Front street Sat
urdays after supper, found the weather
cold and business dull last night. He
placed the little bottles containing his
specimens of corns temptingly in a
row on the outer edge of his table
where they formed a fascinating decor
alton, and stamped his feet and swung
his arms to get warmth into them. A
few rude little boys gathered around
and guyed him and his corns, until a
young fellow and his sweetheart, lured
by the ingratiating tones of the vend-
or, sauntered up hand in hand Amid
giggles and vehement denials and con-
siderable flirting of a robust character
he bought her bottle of the corn cure
for New Years present eff you
have corn left, mum, after using that
bottgeful I'll give you another out OF
me own pocket promised the pedler
as he wrapped it up in a bit of soiled
newspaper and handed it to her with
flourish. And the rude little boys
who had been watching the trade from
around the corner trooped back and
began to guy the corn man again.
Time to begin practicing your "0s'
| in preparation for next year. On the
whole, 1900 is an easier and prettier
date to write than 1899.
choice, would prefer to keep on writing
1899 a little longer. You cannot live
with year II months and some ode
days without getting attached to it
Although quite impersonal itself, il
entwines and eneircles personal things
to such an extent as to assume in the
end az certain personality of it's own.
Certain years become identified in
the mind with certain persons or ex-
periences, just as a perfume or color
or tune becomes indissolubly asso-
ciated with a person or a place, the
two living in memory side by side ever
| after not to be separated, till memory
itself fails
A year does not need to have been
especially happy or prosperous for us
| to regret its departure. Time merely
as negative quality is good thing
1t means life, the potentiality of living
Always there is something awful about
the passing of time, and on New Years
eve, when what seemed definitely ours
| is about to slip out of reach, when past
and future are cleft for a single sec
ond, as it were, by a great sword and
our dear old familiar year gives place
| to a chill stranger then more than ever
we feel the great mystery and loneli-
ness of it all.
The Worcester Mt Holyoke Alumnae
association held its annual Christmas
| tea for the, girls who are now in col
lege, yesterday afternoon at the home
of the president Mrs Daniel f. Gay
| Is Highland street
Mrs. Gay received with Mrs. George
r. Bliss, vice president, Mrs Sarah B
Dewey and Mrs.L. P. Goddard, chairman
of the social committee. Mrs. Arthur
Y IRN. s,11.
served the refreshments, assisted by
Miss Annabelle Roe, Miss Helen Epson
Miss Alice Field, Miss Edith Bliss, Miss
| Estelle Potter and Miss Marion White
The tables and chandeliers were
charmingly trimmed with holly and rec
carnations. Mrs. c. e. Hildreth Miss
Hill, Miss Lena Sheldon and Miss Mar
| tina Rolston, secretary, presented the
guests, of whom there were about go.
| DR.. and Mrs A. z. Conrad will BIZ
assisted in receiving at the new year
| reception at Old South church tomor.
row evening. by Mrs. Otis Parker
| There will be music by the Old Soutl
| Mandolin and Guitar club. Following
| are tho committees and other officials
Reception committee-Mr. and Mrs
| H. H. Merriam, Mr. and Mrs A. B
w itAPpit'i 1ui anu MI .. Il. W. SOuD, WI
and Mrs. z. E. Thompson Mr. ant
| Mrs. G. P, Rogers Mr.. and Mrs Walter
Spaulding, Mr.. and Mrs Edward Jer.
ONE and Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Witherbee
Ushers-Dr. Royal P. Watkins, Prof
Clarence White, George Barber, Everett
Eddy, E. r. Goodwin and others.
Decorating committee--Mrs. Johr
Gibbon, Mrs. George Davis, Mrs. c. B
Duffy, Mrs A. c. Williams, Mrs. j. D
in ire I
Cake committee--Mrs. G.. r, Bliss
Mrs. J. W. Hunt, Mrs. Carey, Mrs A
H. Wipslow.
Mrs. Fred Wellington. Mrs Edward