Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-12-29
THE OLD YEAR.

The great. powen Of Europe have been
conVulsed IRON centre 10 circumference
over international and diplomatic questions
England, Germany, France, Russia and
China, have been % disturbed that, like the
sword Of Damocles, their peaceful and com.
mercial relations we're suspended BY a single
hair.
England, proud, hAughty, arrogant, ty.
rannical and overbearing, has been, and is
stiii, waging barbarous, cruel and relent-
les war opoo the Beers, brave, patriotic,
Industrious and frugal people Of South Al
rca And 10 Tar her well armed and well
disciplined army has been met with such
determined resistance, and with such loss Of
lie a. 10 spread gloom over the British cap
ilal. England hAs been and Ia still ActuAted
BY greed. The oracle Of the Pythian Apollo
declared that nothing bat avarice could be
the ruin Of Sparta" And an excellent
writer has said that this declaration not only
applied 70 Sparta, bat 70 every wealthy and
prosperous nation.
Great problems have confronted, and still
are confronting, our own country. The war
with Spain closed after q comparatively
short duration with victory resting upon
our arms, but left the nation with problems
OF q far more grave and weighty character
problems the solution Of which will require
large expenditure of treasure, suffering
and q further flow Of blood. Cuba has fall.
en- uudeF nuT r,foteffnra,. NATL h.. 800
people are thought 70 be capable of sell.
government, Porto Rico has come 10 "a az
one Of the trophies Of the war. The Philip.
pine Islands have been ceded by Spain to
our government alter the payment OF twenty
millions OF dollars, but we have been en-.
gagged Tor months in . war with the natives
Of these Islands, who are marshAled by
brave and determined officers, and from all
we eau learn are we'll equipped with all the
appliances Of modern warfare. The prose
cution Of this war has been and is still at
tended with an expenditure OF millions OF
dollars and streams Of the best blood OF
American youth. With every mornings
sun can be found many brave boy With
nothing but the blood stained grasses OF the
swamp as their pillows In death. and the
clinglng stars 10 the spangled vault Of the
blue sky As their silent wAtches-stars As
they looked softly down upon them whis
pered gently Of the loved ones lar away al
home.
Notwithstanding the iron bound growth
OF trusts, combines and monied monopolies,
the people OF this great and growing coun-
try, 10 the numerous and diversified avenues
Of trade and commerce, the pursuit OF Ak.
ricuiture and the more retired aud quiet Az
ocations Of life, have prospered 70 some ex
tent. We have good wages and more secure
employment Tor the lAboring classes. A
widely difused prosperity, carrying with il
contentment, has blessed the people Of this
favored country. Whilst death has struck
down many oi our distinguished men aud
hung its badge al the doors OF many an
humble cottage, through the kind and ever
watchiul providence Of the Great Jehovah,
who can hold the seas In the palm OF His
hands and lash the mountains into dust,
epidemics. Now conIented aud happy at the
ciose vi the oId.year, We have only the naked
limbs oil Trees, stretching upward like with
cred arms, serving 70 remind as that the
calendar winter 10 with Us, and that the
season OF bleak winds and OF driving snow
storms has come. MAY God temper the
wind W the shorn lambs"
With the death of the old year, what
food OF memories, q tide Of thought PUSHES
over US like leaves following leaves 10 q
storm, or clouds chasing clouds driven by
the wiad swept heavens.
We al IRE older by year since the old
yea iaw1 ned upon Us, and let 1t be hoped
be,ler or and happier. All have felt the
irova diversity, and at times have been
TIC fei d objects Of the smiles OF pros
peIisy. We have sailed during the twelve
months gone by on rough waters, and often
under fair skies-along the sunny side Of
the stream where the wild flowers grow and
the soft winds rustic midst the bushes and
the reeds. We have met grieis and their
twin, but unlike, companion pleasures. We
have seen sadness and sorrow and bruised
spirits and detection and imperiled or lost
lives, and have known gayety and frivolty
and mirth, and the gladness and beauty Of
love and the delights Of realized ambitions.
sorrow has not walked alone, and neither
has Joy. Deaths have been chronicled, but
along with them have come the records Of
births. The year has been sufficiently filled
with broken vows and the proceedings OF
the divorce courts, but TO the music Of we'd
ding marches, all burdened with the aroma
OF orange blossoms, happiness has been con-
summated In the same old way, and the dull
monotony Of bachelorhood and maidenly
Ioyeliness and loneliness have been cllmaxed
and relieved by the uniting words and bene
dictions Of the ministers.
The records Of the various years do not
widely vary. When analysed and reduced
TO their component elements they are alike
made up of sorrow and happiness. ln those
people who make up the unfortunate part
OF our communities, the sorrow weighs more
heavily than the happiness. In those whom
the world considers fortunate, happiness is
the outweighlng ingredient. The old year
may not have brought us all that We ex'
pected or hoped for. All things may not
have terminated a. We most desired. The
past is not 70 be remembered or recalled in
this respect. We must look forward for
hope, when there is reason for hope. We
have to grapple with the events OF the
future, and like the eagle to his eyry, spring
with sublime hope and resoute will 10
urAndest achievements In oil that concerns
ourselves or the community Of which we
are part.
With kind. tender and grateful farewell
10 the old year, We extend Happy New
Year TO all.