Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-12-27


couraged by condi-
tiOns inspiring confidence in results.
and the nation finds incentive in its
own achievements and natural bles-
sings TO misuse which would COnstt-
tute national crime. If the indiyid-
Uai and the nation are guided by the
experiences of the past as they should
be, the new year will be marked by
progress and prosperity such as they
have never before enjoyed.
At the very outset it should be borne
in mind that the individual is the foun-
tain source of national progress and
prosperity. The spring feeds the
stream, streams unite to form rivers,
and mighty rivers replenish the evap-
Grating oceans. Let the spring fail,
the stream dries up, the river fails,
and the ocean sinks below its natural
level. So the individual, even the hum
blest, must continue his contribution
TO the rising tide OF prosperity, if he
would draw from that prosperity for
his personal needs. just as the spring
draws from the ocean through the con
densation of its evaporated waters
the rain that waters the land. The
element of personal responsibility can
not be discounted without endangering
the welfare of all-neither by the indi
vidual himself nor by society. A
proper sense of responsibility compels
seizure upon every opportunity within
reach.
IL there has been one idea more mis-
chievous than another. as regards in
dividual activity, it has been the one
embodied in the oft-repeated phrase,
The world owes me a living" 1t
does If one earns it, but the world
has nothing to give to the lazy, the in
dolent, the sluggard. In its compensa-
ton the world is reciprocal-it pays
back. on the average, just about what
the individual contributes, sometimes
rewarding meritorious effort generous
ly. Success comes to those only who
make good. There is natural law in
the business world, and obedience to
that law is as essential as observance
of civil law If there is to be individual
prosperity. Certain it is that for vio-
lation of all law there Is penalty which
is sometimes severe
Nor is there any excuse for failure
to do ones part because of the appar-
ent prosperity Of others at his ex-
pense. Human experience has shown
that part Of society cannot long
prosper at the expense of the whole,
and that a part cannot long prosper at
the expense of another part This ex-
per. nee has also accorded with nat
ural law which rules on the principle
of general averages, in spite of many
apparent exceptions. The second
great mistake lies in arguing from
exceptions, a mistake which is always
productive of erroneous conclusions
Exceptions but make good the rule
which only can be the basis of reason
which in turn, if good, excludes excep-
tons. Sound reasoning demands legiti-
mate excuse which cannot be found in
individual failure.
Therefore, the new year with all it's
opportunities appeals to you. 1t places
responsibility on you. Its message is
II up 10 you. IL 1919 Suall prove
a year of prosperity to you, it is be-
cause you will have merited success;
If, on the other hand, 1914 shall have
proved a year of failure, you will have,
in some measure, at least, been re-
sponsible. AS with the individual, so
with the nation.
Let the cynics say what they will,
there's logic in the Joy the world finds
in New Years. One day may be much
like another. but every day is fresh
beginning" The years come and go.
bearing nearly the same freight of sor.
row and failure and bitter disappoint-
ment, but always hope feels the thrill
and uplift of a new chance for human
ity, at the turn o. the year, and all that
makes life worth while is touched by
hopes magic.
New Years comes with the increase
of light and the slow retreat of dark !