Connecticut western news., 1922-12-28
 A Rule ' of Life


 ginning, and so far as our person. <. A al experience is concerned a new year" may start any time, there Is something about the ending of Decem- Der and the first week or so of Janu- ary that makes even the careless thoughtful. The passing year has brought both joy and sorrow-what may not the next have in store Where shall we be when the New Year bells fall on our ears again? Who will be with us? Shall we be Ill or we'll? Disquieting questions that disturb our ease and Ipake. us inclined to fear.
 We have blundered sorely, 1t may be- in the old year; some of its pages are blurred with regret, or the sombre what happiness may have been ours there Is always something we did or left +undone which saddens us as we remember. Shall we make the same mistakes once more, leave the same plotted record7 Our hearts grow chill, and we turn away, dfsheartened on the New Years threshold.
 1nIS 'lS lHc SplTIL which to face the battle that lies be- fore us. It is right that we should look back to see where we failed, and how. But this once recognized, with our plea for forgiveness plea that will never be refused If we are truly sorry-we must lift up our hearts again and set out to slay our enemies. They are within us, not without. h. side our citadel dweHs that evil tenn per, that pride that indOlence, that greed or envy which tempts us to de sert our colors-to think that the fight is hopeless. Each of us has his own special temptation, and, once we real ize the form ours takes, the way lies straight before us.
 It's the fashion to smile at New Year resolutions, so often made only to be broken; but they are a definite help if we make them firmly intending to keep. them! They will only weaken us if we throw them to a troublesome conscience merely as a sop-something to keep 1t quiet for the time, until 1t goes to sleep again. Providing that they be sufficiently elastic to change their form when there is reasonable cause, rules fence in duties that might be neglected. and keep them in the forefront of our minds. But to multi ply rules is big mistake, for there Is one which, faithfully kept, will make us both blessing and blessed.
 The Rule of Love. Just loving our neighbor as we love ourselves; serving him, trusting him, hoping for him. Refraining even under grave proYoca- ton from saying what would sting if he, said it to us; forgiving him as we would be forgiven; considering him as we would be considered; helping him when he needs 1t with the thoughtful delicacy which makes help acceptable instead of humbling; respecting his weakness, his prejudice, his infirmity laughing with him instead of at him; and, should there come a time when sincerity demands, we should say what we know will not please him, taking care to blend truth with charity.
 All the little" rules we make for ourselves come into line with this one. The Rule of Order-oh, how many New Years have we not begun with the resolution that we would net leave our things about, nor lose them, nor hide them away! For we cannot be untfdy all to ourselves any more than we can be i'll tempered and not spoil someone else's pleasure; and nothing is more upsetting to already wearied brains than the fuss and worry of hunting for things which should be ready to hand. The Rule of Punctil- fousness in little things, that famous "oiler of the wheels of life" will make us both polite and punctual, as we must be if we would be pleasant to work with (judgipg other peoples preferences by our ownD The Rule of Getting-Up-In-Time (this almost deserves all capitals D means, If kept, great deal more than our own con venieRces, since everything we do or leave undone is bound to react on our neighbors.
 And even If we often fail to keep, even f1tfully, the golden rule which entoins us to love them as ourselves,