The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-12-30

oLuSC- ~, yes she Sdlus We JUL
think, we just typewrite."
On the eve of the New Year let us
be old-fashioned once more; look back
into Time, and look forward. What
has been the loss the last twelve
month, what the outlook for the
twelvemonth to come. Let US take
stock. What resolutions should we
venture On?
Weary of present materialism, we
will look to character first of all.
What retrogression here the past year?
Have we grown shade more selfish,
lax, unsympathetic? And do we hypo-
critically call our selfishness 1.-The
proper looking out for our own inter-
ests?" Do we look with increased
pride on the laxity and term it ''tol-
erance," an advance in worldly wis
dom? Are we satisfied with the mar
rowing of our sympathies, and do we
speak of this as more philosophy
Quite likely.
And now comes the contemplation.
How far do we want this to go on?
Shall we let self-interest. letting
down of standards, unsocialism go on
to an old age ruled by mercenary mo-
tives. marked by low principles, by in
humanity? Heigho, Just this calling
of things by their right names has
brought us Up short; we tremble a
little over the careless past; are afraid
of that urss~ory old age. Maybe it
would be well on New Years Day to
old-fashionedly put up some old-fash-
toned notices:
For selfishness is DEATH
Il had very unpleasant conversa-
ton with my conscience"
Every man takes care that his
neighbor shall not cheat him. But
q day comes when he begins to care
that he do not cheat his neighbor.
Then all goes well. He has changed
his market cart into chariot OF the
SUM-"
Let us go on taking stock. How is
is with the health of the body? Has
that been neglected. has it been over
considerations evil no less than the
other? Have we jealousy guarded the
share of sleep its due. not stolen there
! from in mistaken ambition, mistaken
pleasures? Has the daily generous
gift of air and sunshine and flying
cloud and fair sky been unregarded;
the world too much witn u.s." Have
we been neglectful. with gross care
lessness paid no heed to building up
wasted tissues; expended energy at the
price of health? Or have we been in
temperate of wine and meat?-the one
evil no greater than the other. Have
we thought and talked nothing but
symptoms. been wholly concerned with
the carnal? So many omissions, so
many over-anxieties we may have been
guilty of. Let US put in prominence
on, New Years Day:
"a sound mind in sound body"
1.-The oest part of health is fine dis
| position. 1t is more essential than
talent, even in the works of talent
Nothing will supply the want Of sun
shine to peaches, and. to make
knowledge valuable, you must have
the cheerfulness of wisdom"
Have we been cross, irritable, irritat-
ing? Let a man practice tic minor
virtues" Have we been inaccurate,
untruthful? in all the superior peo-
pie | have met. notice directness,
truth spoken more truly, as if every
thing of obstruction, of malformation,
had been trained away"
/ Have we been hermit, or frivolous;
one extreme or the other? Have we
shut ourselves away from mankind.
lived life Of selfish seclusion, un-
troubled ourselves with civic and So
cial responsibilities, got ourselves into
a state where any reminder of tn,
great seething life outside seems un-
pardonably intrusive. unwarrantably
impudent? Look out, look out Hang
these worus where your eyes may light
upon them oft in the New Year:
HE prayeth best who lcveth best
All things both great and small. I"
And the over-frivolity. What has it
al amounted to; the late hours. the
night-of-it piled upon night-of-it? No
looks, no thoughtfulness. no time for
charitable deed. for hunting up neg
lected friend, for the kindly homely
duties. True. I'VE must have society,
We cannot spare variety" but like
wise tl>e we must have some variety
from Society. Body and soul need
luiet, rerose, an escape from jar and
fret. And what is the New Year guide
for this laundering?
"'Tis the fine souls who serve US.
and not what is called fine society
Have we been lonely. thought it not
possible to find a friend? Take heart
from these words:
"Nor scour the seas, nor sift mankind
A poet OF friend to find.
Behold. he watches az the door.
Behold his shadow on the foor,"
Have we been too busy, too hurried
Ito be Kind, gentle, responsive; have we
EXALTED business" moderated friend.
liness?< Let us hang this where the
light will shine en- 1t full and bright:
Life is not so short but that there il
always time for courtesy" Have We
been unrelenting: unforgiving, retail
atory? Dare we 50 continue, SO -
little ourselves? His heart was as