The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-02

the fields be unfruitful, let the brier and
| the berry grow in the tangles of the
pastures. They bought the farm not for
the grass, but for the lights and shad-
ows which creep across its fields, and
for those other lights and shadows OF
the past which memory recalls.
| Go through the poor hill towns of
| New England, and how often do you
| find the one fine building in it, the
| public library, the public hall, erected
by some old friend, who went from this
place in youth and poverty, to come
back in old age, in health, to build
monument in memory of other days.
If you would have a tree fruitful you
must root it in the earth; and life is
| mean or sweet as it is rooted in larger
or lesser memories.
This new year is the last year of the
| century. What other century has been
so eventful? 1t has witnessed the birth
of the great industrial forces OF mod
ern life, which have changed the very
| face of the earth, reshaped the life of
nations. brought popular government
into authority advanced education,
quickened discovery and invention and
| literally rolled the earth into new or
bit We are so living in the midst of
important changes that we do not see
the far-reaching influence of many
! causes which seem to be comparatively
/
The humble artisan in Germany dis
covers or inyents the art of printing
| by movable type, and his invention
! changes northern Europe in its faith
and government, and gives the initial
movement to the establishment of this
republic across the sea. The preaching
of a mendicaat monk set on foot the
crusade of the Holy Land. which de-
stroyed feudalism, tore down the bar
ons' castles and usnered in the sway of
popular government.
There was a dispute between two orr
entail nations concerning each others
influence in Corea, and out of this came
the Japanese war with China. This
war brought Japan into the family of
nations. and opened the door for the
abolition of its old faith and the well
looming of a Christian civilization; it
ishook China out of the dream of ages,
divided her territory, pierced her great
wall with the influences of the western
nations, and has revolutionized the re-
ligious, national and Industrial life of
the eastern world, while it has recast
the life of the western nations.
How swiftly events are chasing each
other upon the great stage of contem-
)orary history, and how wonderful
even to us who are in the midst Of it,
/, seem the Kaleidoscope changes of the
world.
l have large faith that the new year
7 upon which we enter is to be a year
f greatness and prosperity to our
country. We are internally at peace
. u larger extent than we have been
for 100 years. Previous to the war of
: the rebellion we were alienated from
| the south by the curse of slavery, and
/ snce then by the bitter memories of
dfeat. But the year has brought north
! AID south together under the inspira-
! is fraternity and loyalty which makes
tie nation one. We are the richest
nation in the world, and far-off nations
aIa coming to us for loans as they
have been coming to England, which
t has been the money centre of the earth.
We hold today over 5000, 100000 of mint
l ed gold in the country, while the treas
t ury is filled to embarrassment with it.
f England holds but $500, 900, 900. Our eX-
+ pots have exceeded our imports during
2 tn. last year by $500, 100000, and these
viii be largely increased during the
E coming year. We have invaded the
2 graf industrial nations of the old
c world with our iron, and are sending
i GU rails to Russia, China and Austria
e liza Our machines are ordered from
4 Germany. We lead the world in rail-
I road and electrical supplies, while the
e cotton grows in our southern fields
win unwonted plenty and we are in
S moiern times what Egypt was in an
S cielt days-the granary of the world.
S Thre is again the music Of flying
WHEELS in our factories, the air is
t daIled with the smoke of foundry and
2 furnace. There is the hum of human
$ labr and returning prosperity is bring
4 ing the gladness of hope to our people.
| pie.
] And so l believe that our nation is to
met with courage and with ability the
larger problems of its national life. A
e greet responsibility is thrust upon US.
1t vas not sought, it was not desired,
3 it would be avoided now, if the nation
e coull do it without cowardice and with
out qualification, but it has come, and
, it Ito be met, and it will be a sad COM
t menary upon people that have solved
a the argest problems of modern times
] | if ii cannot solve this new question
y whicl confronts 1t.
4 lave no sympathy with an Ameri-
y canism which takes counsel of it's fears
..--,. lot RS dopes. However derelict the
2 Anne lean people are in the ordinary on
i soini of their national life, they are
neve faithless in the supreme moments
l of a .reat crisis-and / believe that our
e natiol will not only realize the gran
deur Of it's opportunity, but the great
ness If it's duty-and that craven cow
e ardic, no bling adherence to the
= | LldJTtW llTllIdLlOuS VI OuE IlllllldIu III Z
e provhcialism, will prevent oud measur-
Y ing ID to the full standard Of our age
q Ind Cestiny l accept as the wise teach
| ing the hour, the words of the bril-
i liant patriot, who tomorrow becomes
governor of the empire state.
Win we move from the old into the
: new louise, we take that with us which
we Value most, and go into the new
t year, we ought to carry from the old
{ everything which helps us on the for
: ward march. We have had defeats
:. and 1ctories; let us leave behind the
I defeas, the failures, the discourage
7 ments-all that weights us down with
Il sad aid weakening memories, and carry
5 with only the stirring music of our
I victories.
y We ought to carry with us, too, all
n our friendships. Life, with it's hard
l CONVERSATIONS, is leaving little time for
c friendhip; we have many acquaint-
e ances, but few friends. Friendship is
$ of slov growth, and the world is too
: busy Dr the slow knitting together of
: those leart ties which sanctify and en-
d noble ife.
q year our loyalty to the causes that
e have claimed our love. All of us, in
n momelts of high enthusiasm, have
e given ourselves to some great cause
e charft, benevolence, good citizenship,
= self eolcation, art-something that is
e above The mere struggle for food and
u rainier; but we become weary, our
e enthusiasm dies, and we become faith
S less tothe banner which we have fol-
lowed. Let US not be weary in well
n doing, Ind let us not make the whole
I. aim OF life, the solving of the little
e questiel what shall we eat and where
:. | Wlth1l shall he Nlof An