The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-30
q SUBURBAN sERNfoN.

To everything there is a season and a
time to every purpose under the heaven
EccIesiastes III :: /.
How true that Isl And although
there is no particularly valid reason
why it should be so, this is the season
and the time when people, generally
contemplate their varied aess OF the
past, and resolve to order their hNes
little differently in the future as
soon as a new year 10 ushered III.
These resolutions always have a treno
in directions that are better.
If a man has a fault if he knows ne
is doing things he ought not TO 40 II
he believes that other and nopler Ell
forts in his conduct or his work VIII
be of larger benefit to himself anu
to those around him, there is no reas'
on whv he should not begin to reform
his WAYS as soon as the need occurs
to him. But custom has deVelopeu
which DEGREES that an eXcellehl LII
for instituting personal reforms Is a.
the beginning of a new year II
pretty good custom, too, in way. VI
many a man would never stop TO thiiih
of his errors and mistakes II tneie
were not some such an event as ne"
Years day to draw his attention 10
them.
OF course this custom of making
new resolutions. is not the real slsni-
ficance of New Years day Ancient
and modern civilized peoples while
differing as to the date they reckoned
al the beginning of their civil year.
have agreed in distinguishing 1t oy
special festivities L r,.arks definite
milestone on Iifo's journey. with mem
cries pleasant. and sometimes other
wise of the twelve months that have
gone by: with anticipations and pros
pects. perhaps. for a brighter future.
A new leaf is turned in the book OF
life and in the history of the world
And that. assuredly, affords proper
occasion for a festival of merry-mak-
ing. for an exchange of kindly greet
ings and well-wishes among klnSIolK'
friends and acquaintance.
This suggestion of the turning OF
new leaf is probably responsible 1or
the practice hat has developed among
men Of making new resolutions on the
day it is done for better and wiser
ordering of their conduct. Most men
now realize that their lives in great
measure are what they make them
that better things will come to them
as thew better equip themselves to take
advantage of the opportunities winch
a new year promises; that better and
higher ideals of living and working
will result in a larger enjoyment for
them Of the joys of life; will fortlfy
them with more strength to meet its
trials and its pains.
Any quantity of misdirected run IS
polxed at the fellow who announces as
the new year approaches that he is
going to signalize its advent by giving
IN this or that bad habit; that he is /
going to try hard to be better man
in all ways But a good resolution OF /
this sort is better made and broken |
than if it were never made at all Nor |
can there be much doubt that many |
of them are kept and that the world |
is a whole lot better off for them than |
it would be had they not been made
Surely no harm is to come to any man
for making the effort to do little
better in one or all things that are a
part of his life, even if he waits until
the season of a new year to make the |
So instead of ridiculing them, good
and new resolutions should be encour-
aged. They are little and oftimes big
spoles in the progress of humanity
materially, spiritually and in every
other possible way.