The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-12-31
New Years Resolves
Better TO Make and Break Them
Than Not to Make Them at All

SOME faceuous individual has de-
y fined New Years day as "a time
when men make good resolutions
4 the confidence of breaking them as
son as possible" But he has much
learn TO his own profit who sneers
good resolutions because some men
feak them To resolve to do right
Des not mean necessarily that one
all keep the promise but such pur-
use, whether outwardly expressed or
awardly understood, is proof that the
idividual is conscious OF abiding sin
4 some sort.
1t is the self-righteous individual
sho Is in danger. Good resolutions
re born of repentance; and repent
nee when genuine is cardinal vir-
he. The self-righteous fellow does
DOT resolve TO do better because his
vanity tells him there Is nothing
'arong in his makeup. He may go
dong committing blunders every day
nd doing no end Of mischief. Such
allow is beyond redemption. Like
phraim of old, he is joined to his
dolls and should be left alone.
Doubtless there are many thought
xss and some insincere good resolves
aade on New Years day. Neverthe-
ass II is a good thing that many
nen do begin the new year with re-
olives TO strive after what is higher
md better. 1t is a marked and glori-
ed improvement upon the custom
nee SO general but now, thank God,
bsolete, of men going from house TO
Souse paying calls and guzzling wine
e stronger drink until before the
ound was completed they were hope
essly drunken.
1t Is a great deal better for a man
% resolve a hundred times and fail
a each resolve than to 60 along con-
ented with his lot of sin and shame.
there is hope for a man just as long
8 there abides In him desire for what
5 better, 1t is well to enter into argu-
aent with ones self only after due
elaboration, but a broken pledge 20 do
aght is far better than no pledge
L all
There is nothing strange in associa-
ion of good resolves with the dawn of
new year. On the contrary, the oc-
ASTON is one that suggests just such a
general practice. The old year has
snded. It's memories suggest Sins
ommitted while conscience slept"
ractices that degraded the moral man,
ollies that brought shame and vices
hat weakened body and brain. But
memory is not all Body and mind tell
he sensible man that such practices
md ia physical wreck and moral de-
ay.
The year is new and clean. The Gun,
aust risen, looks upon II for the first
lime Men Of business close up their
pages for the year ended and begin
new and fresh ones for the new year
hat has dawned. They figure out ac-
,urately their losses and their gains in
ne old year, subtracting one from the
Jther,
AS the merchant hegins his year
anew, why may not the moral nature
II a man be renewed if the memories
II the past year and the physical
shortcomings of the present suggest
he need of a striving after what is
higher and better?
That the practice has been abused
s. no argument against its use That
iome men have made good resolutions
)nly TO break them is not evidence
hat reform is impossible Striving
after what Is right is Godlike. One
aay raise his standard so high as not
o be able to attain it, hut there is
flrtne in every attempt to make better
mes life. Indeed one may find at the
dosing Of long life that he has tried