Year: 1878




for the last few weeks we could not
help noticing the accounts OF the
Christmas and New Years festiyi
ties engaged in everywhere il
towns, villages, cities of the United
States, in the old countries of Eu
rope, and even in the distant isles
of the-sea. The season seems tC
have been one of mirth everywhere
But here in Old Lynnville, our AT
rican element excepted, We seemed
to have put on sackcloth and ashes
Such amusements as have been at
tempted have been engaged in serl
ously and silently. Since the Christ
mas tree We have exchanged stiff
bows and wished each other G
merry Christmas, happy new yeal
or fine day, this, DC; and then
ach one went his several ways
gravely endeavoring to make merry
and be glad all by himself, and have
as jolly a time as Robinson Crusoe
had in his island solitude. Who
are to blame for the dullness of Old
Lynnville? What unhealthy inhu-
ence is it that has so effectually
acted like a wet blanket on this
burg, smothered all hilarity and
frozen US all into Pharisees? Are
we nevermore TO hear the inspirit-
ing sound of the violin, cornet and
tamborire, the gay laugh, the joy
Gus interchange of opinion, the
comparison of ideas and the flow OF
wit, while age looks on and is merry
again in the mirth of youth? There
was time in the good old days of
yore when it was possible and not
thought sinful, even IN Old Lynn
vile,


The feast and holy tide to share,


And mix sobriety with wine,





Those who are now the mothers
and fathers of our young men and
maidens should remember the joy
Gus atmosphere which they breathed
in the days of their youth, before
these evil days drew nigh and the
years came which have little or no
pleasure in them for their offspring.
Are they not sorry for their sons
and daughters whose years are a
duh monotony Of seriousness, un-
broken by even an occasional par
ty in Old Lynnville? The wise
man has said there is time Cor
fun. Had Solomon lived in Old
Lynnville in the year of grace 1877
or 1878 he would have found some
thing new under the sun--a com
munity without time TO enjoy itself.
Or if the father of the prodigal son
| had lived in this village, the elder
son as he came from the field would
not have had his jealousy aroused
by the sound of music and merry
making in honor of the return of the
repentent scapegrace. Fifteen or
twenty years ago it was different.
| Then mirth and sound did abound /;
there was life in the old town, but
we have changed all that and to
what good purpose? Are We better
than were our fathers? Are we
more plous; is our morality more
pure; are we more distinguished for
that politeness and amenity of man
ners in which Old Lynnville used
to take a prideS Is the vigorous
puritanic code which is being inn
posed upon the rising generation
producing or likely to produce a
higher type of man or woman than
was reared under the more healthy
and joyous, because more liberal
and natural, code of 20 years ago?
We can all no doubt plead poverty,
and yet our more limited means can
hardly be blamed for the nearly ut
ter absence of social merry making.
The evening party might be made
with little or no expense; why


a
should they be altogether abolished?
We have several households in Old
Lynnville who could at least once a
year encourage the reciprocity of
social intercourse and entertain
ment without being extravagant.
Such intercourse 1--WE speak advis-
edly), dignified and kept within
proper bounds by the improving
presence and example of the older
members of society, who are its real
kings and queens, is absolutely
necessary for the proper training of
young ladies and gentlemen. With
out that healthy Intercourse and in
fiuence, society dissolves into so
many isolated family groups and SO
many selfish pairs of sweethearts.
A town is no longer a community
with an individuality and character
of its own, out a heterogeneous con
glomeration ofself-contained houses
and persons.


A new year has begun. May it
bring US all greater prosperity,
which shall in turn cause greater
happiness. May the young folks
of Old Lynnville have more fre
quent opportunities of meeting each
O,her under the roof trees of hos
pitable people, and in that semi
privacy which only private houses
can secure, indulge in those amuse-
ments OF song and merry making
which are not oaly compatible with
the deepest piety and purest moral
ity, but are essential to the acquire