The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-12-21
OUR LAST"1S3y.'

the century. And incidentally we may
observe that the paper has been under
the present editor just twelve years.
With these three facts-the close OF
the century, the close of the year and
the close of d dozen yesrs editorial
work, MANY things crowd for utterance.
thu greater part of which we sur-i
press.
To review even in paragraphs the
wonderful Developments during
this last year of the century aid give
one forecasting glimpse at the fnture,
would demand too largely on our space
this week, which Is taxed already viii.
more than an ordinary cfo"ding 81
business announcements.
First, and chiefly, we mention the
good feeling that prevails throughout
the country generally, in North Cs;1,'
p!ina particularly and in HALIFAX coun-
ty especially. 1t is with the people OF
North Carolina that this paper has to
do in general wav and with those OF
Halifax county and Scotland Neck In
q particular way. These latter are, Tor
the most part, our supporters and pa
irons. nd their interests are, therefore.
nearer to us than those OF any other
people.
TIL COMMONWEALTH corgratnlate7
Scotland Neck on The very fine buai-
ness c...lditir3- t.-,.s uo7" pevalI here,
and is g'ail with the paonle CT the en-
tire Colt try that business interests ere
on a &C. III basis. To our farmer patrons
we say il, all clnoor that it Is with
great gratitude for their bettered con
dition we have observed their fairly
bountiful crops and the good prices
they have realized for the same.
The year OF 1899, the last OF the old
centnty, closes with gladdening fare
we'll 10 all, by reason OF the fact tia.
the rise in prices generally and the less
strained condition of the people fnan-
cially make us all hopeful for the tu-
1ure.
Before another Issue of TIE COM
HoNwEALTH rolls from the press, those
of us who shall live to sec it, will have
taken step we have meyer taken be-
fcre-we shall have stepped across the
line that divides two centuries; and
while no doubt the sun will rise aud
set for us as 1t always has, and the
hsndlworks OF God will show no more
change than the usual attrition OF
years marks upon them, we shall soon
confront new conditions as they relate
70 the activities of human enterprise
and the march and development OF hu-
nan progress.
During the dozen years which the
editor has held dear every interas. Of
orr patrons and readers, we have striv-
ca to set to work and nourlsh such influ-
ences as would prepare al! fer the
changes that must inevitably come
with the passing of the years. We
have endeavored to make these col
umns faithful chronicler of passing
eyents-such as we haye deemed fit tor
publication and while we know that
our news service has been confined, 70,
the most part, to happenings of local
nature in this town, this and adjacent
counties, We have covered the field az
well as circumstances would warrant.
What we have written and printed
in these columns as our own views ant
opinions of matters pertaining to th'
public interest, has been weighed care
fully, and given for what it was worth
II our utterances have been at an
time unsafe we trust they have not in
fluensed any one to make mistakes. ]
in any way they have been worthy {
confederation and helpful toward
maintaining truth ana REFRESHING erro
we feel repaid in the very work.
And, now, with gratitude for an
good We may have done and regret fe
all mistakes, we cast farewell glanc
at the past and turn eagerly to the f,
ture, and beg our readers and friend
to Join hands with us in an even Sc
Element of all obligations to the pre-
ant o,,d n.,eh ont into the new ce1