The Yale expositor., 1910-12-30

ny 4 HAS not been so many years ago
XM that even young people cannot re-
#E member when New Years day
WH brought hosts of friends to
UH exchange greetings and good wishes
1SH/TA for the coming twelve months. Just
~ REA why the custom of ladies receiving
~ AHA and men calling has fallen into dis
"a a. is a long story and not very
4AN. pleasant one.
7AT Hostesses offered Wine eggnog
II N and all sorts of drinks to soften
the asperity Of out of DOORS to their men guests;
a different sort partaken Of at each house soon
set brains in a whirl and manners suffered. The
hospitality abused; gentle ladies, outraged
by having to receive men so far under the tnhu-
ence of liquor that names even were forgotten.
So, CT course, the 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 l have noted that in many the old
time custom is revving; charming women are
again welcoming their men friends, but not with
a variety of intoxicating liquors to steal away
ideas of propriety 1t Is not every man that
look upon the wine when 1t 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
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 grieve not over the mistakes Of 1910. II
they can be rectified let them be so; IL not waste
no vain regrets over what cannot be. helped but
determine that exactly such mistakes shall not
happen again.
Because what is experience for II not to teach?
Harsh and seemingly without any feeling Of pity,
is nd
yet we do not learn. Like the inventive mind of
the active child who does all sorts of things,
nobody on earth thought of possible, we
mortals forever forgetting lessons that may
have been burned into souls by this MOTTO
be-escaped teacher, and going into troubles anew.
quite bad IL different.
BY the time we learn ii is time to die, usually,
but 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 If we can escape consequences
let accept them without murmur; they are
never so hard in the enduring as in the dreading
And, first of all, let us all decide, deep down
in the inmost recesses of hearts, that
own ratings are quite as great as those or our
feHow-creatures. This in itself is so very worth
while To say "I would not do so and so" is to
that you know nothing about it; you do not
know what you would do If you were situated
was the perpetrator of the very thing you
condemning.
Make allowances for temperament, for envi-
Tonment 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. 1t is for this Christ
born and the calendar OF years begun within
the week after 'the Holy Babe" came.
Where a hostess is quite sure of the congen-
faity of her guests, she can plan nothing more
agreeable than the watch party" for New Years
eve
First of course there can be cards or dane
Ing music, all three. with other attractive
methods Of entertaining, but the hour OF mid
night draws all assemble in ROOM This
should have two doors. and big clock I'm full
view. When the first stroke OF the twelve sounds
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
ccuntenance and happy mein. He bears quiver
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.
tri5 ted to all he disappears. but turns at the
door to blow light kiss to the assembled com
many The windows are then thrown Open let
tirz in the cold. fresh air. with the chimes OF
bells heard in the distance. Refreshments may