The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1911-01-21
For The Sea Coast Echo.
NEW YEARS GREETINGS.

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Now that "the melancholy dirges
over the dead year" are only a tender
fugue in memory, we welcome the New
Year with a brave and hopeful jubilee,
which expresses the constancy of that
miracle of change which is the signet OF
this vast universe. We have reached
another waymark on the road of Time,
and scan from an eminence, as it were,
for one transcendent moment, the scenes
from which we have SO recently parted, !,
and, with prying eyes, seek to penetrate
that which lies before US. 1t is the fit
ting time for deliberate introspection !;
to take stock of individual and immor-
tai interests; to reckon what imp erish-
able dividends the investment of living
forces and vital energies yields US. Be-
fore any consideration OF growth in wis
dom or virtue, we must look toward the
object and the purpose of living; re-
membering,
''Not failure, but low aim, is crime,
and that
'sWho aimeth at the sky,
Shoots higher much than he who means tree
Science proves that state Of equlll-
brium does not exist in the organic
world, and that the state of Balance is
impossible except in theory. Natures
defense against waste, that decay OF
faculty follows disuse of function, runs
it's uncompromising parallel into all
mental and spiritual realms. The old
Mohammedan story which Carlyle tells
of the Dead Sea dwellers, who were
turned into apes, because "not using
their souls they lost them'', is only a
vivid portrayal of the immutable law
which cannot be suspended or chan geo
in its operations, How many of us
border this danger of apedom? Not
how much soul power have we, but how
we'll do we use it? Not exactly what
are you doing, but what are you trying
TO do? For well we know,
"Who bends the bow
And lets the arrow from the strained string go, |
Strikes somewhere near the object Of his aim
md surely, too.
Who does the best his circumstance allows,
Does well, acts nobly; angels could no more"
In reviewing the nurture, training and
achievement of Richter said, |
4 have made as much out of myself as |
,ould be made of the stuff, and no man |
hould require more''; yet, God might |
equire more, for he has manifested to |
Is in the adoption of sons Power, not |
# ourselves, which can ennoble her
.dity and rub out all lines of linn itation |
,ver since the star of promise shone |
above the humble manger at Bethlehem. |
The pursuit of all study, the exercise |
If all skill, the practice Of all art, is
only cheat and delusion, an emp I'll
ness and snare, unless 1t yield the |
essence of that perfect science which is
10 live justly and pleasantly with our
fellows; to discover the good and the
beautiful in all that surrounds US; and
to delight in training flowers of love
over the black crosses which mark tn e
road to eternity.
The world wants our strength; our
courage, hope and cheerfulness; in the
words of the grand old German, it is
saying to us continually: "Give me of
your faith, l have doubts enough of my
own!"
In spirit of aspiration and devotion,
as we look out tonight over the i'm
ocean of Futurity, let US
send up to Heaven the TIE Deum of a
renewed and lofty purpose, and, with
fresh resolution and quickened energy,
begin to build for ourselves, each one,
ladder of ST. Augustine; and, in our
tedious Journey work, let us ever take
a consolation from the very "Joy OF In
for
'sIf sorrow never smote the heart
And every wish were granted
Then faith would die and hope depart,
And life be disenchanted.
"And if in heaven is no more night
In heaven is no more sorrow
Such unimagined pure delight
Fresh grace from pain will borrow"
DOROTHY DARE.
Bay st. Louis, Miss.