Gilpin observer., 1910-12-29

! !:
brought hosts of friends to
exchange greetings and good wishes
~ for the coming twelve months. Just
1&A why the custom of ladies receiving
Au3 and men calling has fallen into dis
~ use is long story and not very
6AA pleasant
7AYs. Hostesses offered wine. eggnog
u " and all sorts of drinks to soften
the asperity of out of DOORS to their men guests;
different sort partaken of at each house soon
set brains in whirl and manners suffered. The
hospitality abused; gentle ladies, outraged
by having to receive so far under the infu-
of liquor that names even we're forgotten.
So, CT course, the matter rectifed itself, as
all such things will after a while Women
= ceased to keep open house when men ceased to
appreciate the honor shown by their reception in
warm. softly lighted rooms by bevy of fair
women. daintily gowned and happy to extend
greetings for the New Year.
But l have noted that in many the old
time, custom Is reviving: charming women are
again welcoming their men friends. but not with
variety of intoxicating liquors to steal away
ideas of propriety. 1t is not every man that can
Took upon the wine when it is red" and partake
OF just enough. Better, then. to offer nothing
stronger than hot coffee. or to those whom one
knows well the foaming glass Of well-made egg
neg. that will not leave remorse along with
splitting headache the next morning
This may not mean what 1t does bring. but
where possible 'let the dead past bury its dead"
and! grieve not over the. mistakes of 1910 II
no vain regrets over what cannot be helped. but
determine that exactly such mistakes shall not
happen again, r
Because what is experience for II not to teach ??
Harsh and seemingly without any feeling of pity.
experience is indeed the school for fools,' and
yet do not learn. Like the inventive mind of
the active child who does all sorts OF things.
nobody on earth ever thought. of possible,
mortas are forever forgetting lessons that may
have been burned into our souls by this MOTTO
De-eSCaDed teacher
quite as bad. even II different. t4
BY the time we learn 1t is time to die, usually
but we are fortunate to learn at all. It requires
all the clearness of brain all the activity OF mind
all the fortitude OF endurance to enable us to
steer clear of the pitfalls of life anyway, and
II We have not learned the lesson of caution by
and through experience, how hope to
escape these pitfalls again?
II Is not In the making of good resolutions but
the determination to do the right thing that our
best course lies for this year that brings
again the chance. II can escape consequences
let us accept them without murmur they are
never SO hard In the enduring in the dreading
And first OF ALL let all decide, deep down
in the inmost recesses of our hearts. that
own fangs quite great as those of our
feRowcreatures. This in itself is very worth
while To say, Il would not do and so" is to
mean that you know nothing about It: you do not
know what you would do II you were situated as
was the perpetrator Of the very thing you
condemning. -a
Make allowances for temperament, for envI-
ronment. for ancestry. for lack Of education along
the lines that perhaps you have been fortunate
In traversing Say to yourself. Perhaps should
have done much worse" Then you will have
reached the heights OF understanding OF the frail
ness OF human nature and be prepared to make
the new year better for yourself and all with
whom you have associated. It is for this Christ
was born and the calendar OF years begun within
the week after "the Holy Babe"r came. ~.
Where hostess is quite sure OF the congen.
iaty of her guests. she plan nothing more
agreeable than the watch party for New Years
First of course, there be cards dane
ing music, all three, with other attractive
methods of entertaining. but the hour OF mid.
night draws near all assemble In room. This
should have two DOORS and a big clock in full
view. When the first stroke of the twelve sounds
one Of the doors Ia opened to admit the old
year." feeble old man. who passes through the
room with bows to right and left. disappearing
through the rear door the last stroke sounds.
Then appears lovely boy with beaming
countenance and happy mein. He bears CULVER
within which are arranged small gifts for each
present, wrapped and tied to represent arrows: !:
one of these he presents to each guest as he
pauses In turn before them. When he has dis.
tributed to all, he disappears. but turns at the
door to blow a light kiss to the assembled com.
pany. The windows are then thrown Open let.
ting In the cold. fresh air. with the chimes Of
bells heard in the distance. Refreshments may