The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-31
THE OLD YEAR HAS IT'S MEMORIES;
THE NEW YEAR HAS ITS PROMISES

Standing upon the threshold of the new year we yet have a
moment for a fleeing glance backward over the old yea before it
becomes one of the thousands that have gone before and are num-
bered among the things that were.
The old year, like all other years past and gone, is not without
its memories that stand out clear-cut and distinct along the patti
way marked by the ruins OF mans ambition ths monuments OF his
h success; the tablets that record his achievements and the ephaphs
Of his failure.
Those who have succeeded should look forward with humility
Those who have failed should look to the new year will, hope.
But regardless of success or failure, of disappointments that have
been encountered, endured or overcome, or pleasures that linger
still in cherished memory, there is always a melancholy thought
associated with things that belong to the ever rapidly receding
past
Soon the old year will be but a memory, while the new year
spreads out before us with its alluring promises, with its hopes and
Inspirations and with the assurance that we can, by the grace Of
Cod, do with it what we will.
There is no such inspiration in retrospect, Hindsight is clear
er than foresight. We see wherein we failed when we should have
succeeded. We see how we might have succeeded to a greater de-
gree in enterprises that succeeded only in a limited degree.
We see that we missed some Of the best opportunities and
~magnified incidents of small and insignificant consequence. Per.
haps we unnecessarily estranged friends and measured our enemies
according to a %prejudced estimate, AT times, perhaps. we were
selfish when we should have been liberal and narrow when we
should have been broad.
We confess to ourselves that we have Hone some good and
take a Phansee's delight in the fact that we lid not altogether FAIL
in order to salve our conscenccs for our shortcomings.
And then we pledge ourselves to make amends in the new year
for our shortcomings in the old and grid Ourselves about with good
resolutions like a strong man to run a race.
Yet, as we watch the old year iade into the realm Of the for
gotten past, we recall that with all its tribulatons, with its trials
its disappointments and its h~eartaches, it was not such a bad ole
year after all,
For a great many it yielded the full measure of success. II
was liberal to an amazing degree, and fortune smiled upon he
favored ones and bestowed her gifts into the lap of luxury with
generous hand,
1t was a wonderful year in art, science and invention. It saw
the nations OF the world turn from the science of war to the pleas
ant pursuits of peace.
In aviation alone there were four distinct triumphs. An Amer
lean was the first to make the flight across the Atlantic ocean.
British officer was the first to make a NONSTOP flight across III
Atlantic and a British dirigible was the first of its kind to make
similar flight The transcontinental flight and the exciting fins
OF the race among American officers is still fresh in the minds o
the people.
We have witnessed a great and general unrest such as come
TO every country following the upheaval incident to war. Alread
the forces Of nature are at work adjusting disturbed conditions an
the things that were awry are finding their accustomed places q
fitting themselves to new and strange situations.
Labor and capital are approaching a better understanding
each others problems and are in a more sympathetic attitude tina
they have been for many years.
A liberal wage and the adoption OF bonus systems by concern
with vision are bringing the working men to feel that they hay
a,partnershp in the enterprises for which they work. Never b.
&re have successful concerns shared their prosperity to such a
extent with those who made it possible for them to prosper.
During the past year the eyes of the world were upon til
peace conference in Paris, wherein the fate OF nations was scale
and anoient geographical lines were dashed asunder.
~ Iln our own country the eyes OF the nation have been upon II
bate of the United States as it struggled with the treaty and tn
eague OF nations, willing and anxious to render service to humani
but jealousy guarding the integrity of the United States.
During the year the. people Of the United States will elect
president; the people of Tennessee will elect a governor ard pc
haps we shall even hear the rumble Of politics in our local affairs
Thus we find that despite handicaps and vexations the O
year was not fruitess nor in vain. We gather from its achiev
nents, secured in spite Of difficulties, that the year 1920 holds o.
a greater Involvement and offers a larger possibility for succe
than the preceding year because there are no such obstacles in
way.
The hopes, OF mankind were never pitched ON a higher Ike
the promises were never more alluring; the prospect was ney
more attractive, and il we pause for a moment with Our memoir
OF the days that are gone, we yet shall see through the mnts 4
hand of fate that beckons us on toward the unexplored realm
the future.
GOOD WORK
The Chamber of Commerce showed good Judgment in selec