The Elbert County tribune., 1910-12-30

~ HAS not been many years ago
Eli that even young people cannot re
u member when New Years day
brought hosts of friends to
exchange greetings and good wishes
sSH%vA for the coming twelve months. Just
50 1fS&A why the custom of ladies' receiving
ET ~ and men calling has fallen into dis
& A2 is long story and not very
4AH pleasant
7AT Hostesses offered wine, eggnog
Il u and all sorts of drinks to soften
the asp rity of of DOORS to their 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 men SO far under the inf1u-
of liquor that names even were forgotten
So, CT course. the matter rectiied 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 the old
time custom is reviving charming women
again welcoming their friends, but with
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, to those whom
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. brt
where possible "let the dead past bury its dead,
and grieve not over the mistakes of 1910. II
they can be rected. let them be SO; II 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 IL 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 earth thought of as possible we
mortals are forever forgetting lessons that may
have been burned into souls by this MOTTO
be-escaped teacher, and going into troubles anew.
quite bad. II different.
By the time we learn 1t is time to die, usually
but we are fortunate to learn at all 1t requires
all the clearncss 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 we can escape consequences,
let 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 failfngs are quite as great those OF
feNow-creatures. This in itself is so very worth
while. To say, 81 would not do and so" is to
mean that you know nothing about 1t; you do not
know what you would do II you were situated
the perpetrator of the very thing you
condemning.
Make allowances for temperament. for envl-
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 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 hostess is quite of the congen-
iality of her guests, she plan nothing more
agreeable than the watch party for New Years
eve
First, OF course. there be cards or dane
fng or 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 big clock in full
view When the first stroke OF the twelve sounds
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 the last stroke sounds
Then appears a lovely boy, with beaming
within which are arranged small gifts for each
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 then thrown open. let
ting in the cold, fresh air. with the chimes of
bells heard in the distance Refreshments may