The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-12-29

NAA~ PHEASANT oHe'
7NE Hostesses offered wine, eggnog
III II and all sorts of drinks to soften
the asperity OF out of DOORS to their men guests;
different sort nartaken Of at each house soon
set brains in whirl and manners suffered. The
hospitality was abused; gentle ladies' outraged
by having to receive men so far under the infiu-
ence of liquor that names even were forgotten.
So, CT course tife matter rectifed itself, as
all such things will after 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 have noted that In many cases the old
time custom is reyivng; 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 that
look upon the wine when it is red and partake
Of just enough. Better, then, to offer nothing
stronger than hot coffee, to those whom one
knows well the foaming glass of welmade egg
nog, that will not leave remorse along with
splitting headache the next morning.
This may not mean what it does bring but
where possible "let the dead past bury its dead"
and greve not over the mistakes of 1910 II
they can be rectifed let them be SO; II not waste
vain regrets what cannot be helped, but
determine that exactly such mistakes shall not
happen again.
beCduSe WHdL ID experience lOF IL uOJ 10 CSdCn.
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 thought of as possible, we
mortas are forever forgetting lessons that may
have been burned into our souls by this MOTTO
be-escaped teacher, and going into troubles anew.
quite as bad, even If different.
BY the time we learn it is time to die, usually,
but we are fortunate to learn at all. It requires
all the cearness Of brain, all the activity of mind
all the fortitude of endurance to enable us to
steer clear of the pitfalls of life anyway end
If we have not learned the lesson Of caution by
and through experience, how can we hope to
escape these pitfalls again?
It is not in the making of good resolutions but
the determination to do the right thing, that our
best course lies for this new year, that brings
again the chance. If we can escape consequences
let accept them without murmur; they are
never so hard in the enduring as in the dreadlng
And, first of all, let us all decide, deep down
in the inmost recesses of our hearts, that
own failings are quite as great as those of our
feHow-creatures. This in itself is so very worth
while. To say, Il would not do so and so" is to
mean that you know nothing about It; you do net
know what you would do If you were situated as
the perpetrator of the very thing you are
condemning
Make allowances for temperament, for envl-
TOnmenC, IOr ancestry, lOr lack or education along
the lines that perhaps you have been fortunate
in traversng. 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. 1t is for this Christ
was born and the calendar of years begun within
the week after "the Holy Babe" came.
Where hostess is quite sure of the congen-
iality Of her guests. she plan nothing more
agreeable than the watch party" for New Years
eve.
First of course there can be cards or dane
ing or music, all three with other attractive
methods of entertaining. but as the hour of mid
night draws near all assemble in room. This
should have two doors. and big clock in full
view. When the first stroke of the twelve sounds
one Of the doors is 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 as the last stroke sounds
Then appears a lovely boy, with beaming
countenance and happy men. He bears culver
within which 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 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