Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-01

diaries in cipher. Mr. Pepys con-
spieuously did so. with the conse-
ouence that when some centuries later.
| his confessions were decibhered, no.
| body wished to punish him for his
shortcomings; which We're indeed
greatly enjovcd for their quaintness.
They may have always seemed quaint
| to his Maker who knew as well how to
account for Samuel Pepys then as We
do now. and since he had invented him,
| was amused as well as panied by him.
Fit we cannot be sure OF this, while
we can be sure that We can only be
better by trying to be so: and though
we cannot urge our readers to keep
diaries. even in cipher, we think We
think we can fifty urge them to form
good resolutions, at this season, when
the good resolutions Of the past year
have mostly gone to pieces. There is
nothing morbid. or conscious, or UNI
wholesome anywise in resolving to do
nothing that is not perfectly right, and
true and noble during the year before
us. We shall. ourselves, editorially
speaking, not form any such purpose,
for we do not feel the need of it; but
we fear that there is hardly a reader
of ours whom something of the kind
would not advantage. We may do our
readers injustice; and we will not push
the quest too far; but we should really
like to know whether there is one of
them can truthfully say that he has
derived all the benefit he might from
the exemplary tore and temper of this
publication during the past year. Has
he read every line of it as he ought?
Every paragraph of the Comment"
Every one of the '''headed editorials"
All the NEion? All the poetry? All
the advertisene,its2- Having done all
this. has he lhdas care to speak of us
to his neighbor, tc the stranger within
his gates. to the fellow at the clup
whom he has suspected of not reading
us?
1t can be answered us mot very can.
didly. we OWN that this is a very mar
row and selfish view of the matter and
We could grant that it was if we had
meant to offer ii as the sole view But
we had not aHs1 we de not We offer IL
in illustration, merely. of the sort of sin
OF omission which forms the guilt Ct
the resolution Breaker. He does not 50
much resolve that he Will do sucn and
such good things during the new year.
/ he did the affair would be much sim
pler, and he could more easily keep him.
self up to the work But he resolves
that he will not do so and so. and unless
we very much mistake him he keeps on
doing the things he promises not to 10
That is where he falls down. and that IS
Where he finds it most difficult to pick
himself UP.
1t should be understood that good reso-
.utions are usually, or not invariably.
against bad habits,- none of which we
VIII specify, lest our readers accuse US
OF being personal, and having one or
ether of them in mind. 1t is in the nature
penitcnt TO be constaltly on his guard,
and while one may readily remember to
40 fine thing or noble thing, when
The chance offers, or the duty thrusts
itself upon one lin th5t offensive way of
the shabby. or low. Sr disgusting, or
wicked thing. that ons. vowed ones self
note the facts not wish the expectation
that the reader will be spstantly and fully
able to profit by therh but partly for
the psychological pleasure that their
recognition gives. and partly, in the hope
of suggesting, dimly remotely, way out
of the vicious circle in which the reason
'eddies round and round" 1t is appar
ent at this glad hour of the infant year.
that we ought to form good resolutions
and not put it off till the Fourth OF July,
or next Christmas. Yet it is just as APP
parent that if we resolve not to do this
or that, we shall pretty surely do it, be
cause we forget not to. On the other
hand, it is again just as apparents that
if We resolve to do this or that good
thing, we shall now and then do it, be-
The good resolution ought therefore to be
positive, and not negative, in its terms.
This seems to us the solution. and we
commend it to our readers. For our
selves. as VIC have already hintcd, We do
not feel the need of so sharp spur
Harpcr'S Weekly