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ESTABLISHED 1800.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1891.
PAGES 9 TO 16.
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GOING TO SWEAR OFF?
IF SO, HKBE ABB SOBIK HINTS THAT
MAY BIS LP YOU.
Tlio Vlows of Lending Clorymcn on tho
Formation and Carrying Out of Now
Your Evolutions Don't BuhoIvo to
do Too Much.
As the time approaches when tho nvorago
man, realizing the error of his ways and being
sorely troubled thereby, resolves to bo other
than tho average man, which, it ia perhaps
needless to state, the poor fellow rarely suc
ceeds in becoming, it is interesting to know
what Is thought of the attempt. The Herald,
conscious that there are many who ridiculo
this custom of swearing off, declaring that it
Is foolish and without good results, deter
mined that opinions from some of tho city's
noted clergymen should bo given its readers
concerning the question. To that end, tho
Rev. Dr. W. A. Bartlott, of tho New York
avcuue Presbyterian Church, was consulted.
"Doctor," said the reporter, "The Her
ald would like to hear what you have to
6ay concerning the habit of swearing off, if
you will permit tho expression. That is, tho
custom of turning over a new leaf on New
Year's Day ?"
"Well, young man," replied Dr. Bartlett,
smiling, "I must confess that I havo never
given the subject much thought, and therefore
hardly know just what to say in reply to your
inquiry. It is undoubtedly very appropriate
at the close of the year for us to look over not
only our material accounts, but also look over
our spiritual accounts, that they may bo
corrected and properly balanced and a new,
clean set of books be opened on New Year's
Day. No better place is there In which to
bury our faults and errors than in the grave
of tho old year. Although I havo never had
occasion to very closely observe the results of
this practice, sti 1 1 cau but think well ot it.
Yet, virtue has no relation to time or space,
and therefore one should do and be good all
the year round. The season should not play
an important part lu controlling our efforts of
goodness. In other words, wo 6hould chooso
no one day, no ono season for the making of
good resolutions, but should bo always ready
to not only make them but also keep them.
As the lasting qualitUs of New Year's Dav
resolutions, I should say everything depends
upon those who mako them. Of course wo
are not all constituted alike, and so in keep
ing our good resolutions some of us And it
much more dtfllcult than do the rest of us.
But, even we fall, it is better 60 than never to
havo made the effort. So I say that tho cus
tom of making good resolutions on Now Year's
Day can do no harm and possibly much good.
Then, too, it is undoubtedly true that many
make good resolutions on that day that they
would probably never think of doing but for
this custom."
"What do I think of New Year's resolu
tions," repeated Father Walter, of St. Pat
rick's, "I think, my dear young man," ho re
plied in his well-known hearty manner, "I
think tnat they are most excellent, and they
should be encouraged In every way. But 1
don't believe that ono should form too many,
for even ono Is very difficult to keep. If but
ono good resolution is formed each Now
Year's Day and religiously kept ever after
ward, much good will then havo been accom
plished. Therefore, I would say do not en
deavor to do too much, for then none are
likely to be kept. My observation has been
that one good resolution formed each New
Year's Day will bo moro Hkoly kept than
when more are determined upon. But let
that ono be a far-reaching ono. For instance,
lot tho man who would mako a good resolu
tion on Now Year's Day rosolvo to abstain
from and discourage tho use of liquor. Then,
if that ono resolution Is observed, that Is done
from which will spring more real good, not
only to himself but us well to others, than Is
dreamed of. And let the ladles who will re
ceive on that day resolve to servo their callers
with nothing more intoxicating than a cup of
good coffee and that ono resolution will like
wise do moro good tnau they dream of. Yes,
my son, Now Year's Day resolutions are ex
cellent things; excellent."
The Rev. Dr. GeorgoII. Corey, of the Metro
politan Methodist Episcopal Church, was
found In his 6tudy, and in answer to tho
Herald man's inquiry said: "The forming of
good resolutions is a very good plan at any
timo of tho year, and tho practico should not
ho a limited ono In any respect. But for tho
reason that tho plan is a good ono and always
seasonable, Now Year's Day resolutions
Bbould commend themselves. My experience
is that a great many men begin the new year
with many good resolutions and with great
hope of success in keeping them, and I be
lieve that not a few succeed. Before making
a good resolution wo should think. Not that
wo should think only at such times, for noth
ing should bo done without thought, but wo
6hould first think out tho good. resolution.
Next, wo should well consider tho motlvo
creating tho good resolution, for next in im
portance to tho act of thinking out the resolu
tion is tho consideration of Its motive. If
upon consideration tho motive Is found to
lack goodness then does tho resolution lack
that which is good and should not bo made,
Having thought it out, and having satisfied
oursolvcs that tho motive prompting it is
good and wholesome, wo should then act
upon it at once, and, of course, continuously.
A very good motto In this connection, ns in
deed a very good ono at all times, is this:
Think out your own llfo and live out your o wu
thought. Tho general tendency of man is
good, but ho does not think, and hence wrong
exists. Therefore, I would say think, young
mau, think well and long."
Tho Rev. Dr. Domer, pastor of St. Paul's
English Lutheran Church, said: "The best
time to mako good resolutions is when wo see
tho need of them, and if made then tho cus
tom is a good ono whether the timo ho New
Yeai's Day or another. There is undoubtedly
something in the change from tho old to tho
new year which awakens in mau the desire, if
not always tho purpose, to turn over a new
leaf. Very fow of us como to that period of
tho year without a hope ot making tho new
year better than the old ono was. Such hope
Is indicative of progress. I think, however,
that this hope of making tho now year better
than the old one Is born at Christmas, a
festival particularly ono of homo and child
life. Then It is that woof a larger growth aro
children onco again, and wo look back over
our past and see how greatly it could be
bettered. The Christmas festival is an excla
mation point in our lives, and marks the
utterance of a wish, of a hope to begin life
anew and mako it better. So it is that out of
the hope born at Christmas Bprings the forma
tion of good resolutions entered In upon at tho
beginning of the now year.
HOW IT HAPPENS.
Why Purchasers Sometimes Fall to Gat
All They Pay For.
"Many people wonder," said a gentleman
to a Herald man tho other day, "why it is
that there is frequently a difference between
tho quantity of goods purchased and tho
quantity received. Naturally, tho store
keepers aro accused of careless, if not dis
honest, practices, and that, too, even when
they solemnly assure their customers that tho
matter Is entirely beyond their comprehension.
To-day I witnessed an Incident which throws
a little light on the subject. Near the corner
of Twelfth and I streets one of the numerous
delivery wagonB of ono of tho great stores of
tho city met the delivery wagon of a largo
grocery store. Both wagons were heavily
"loaded with goods. Both" drivers pulled up,
and, after a few moments' conversation, tho
import of which I could alone divine from tho
action which followed, the driver of tho
grocery team reached back and hauling forth
a largo box opened a paper Eack and handed
his friend several fine apples, which tho latter
carefully stowed away in his pockets. Of
course, the customer for whom those apples
were intended was robbed, and no doubt will
accuse the grocer of short measure, while he,
having Implicit confidence in the honesty of
his driver and clerks, will be sorely perplexed
for a fitting explanation."
THE COMING BIG BA.TTL.E.
Frank P. Slavln, Who In Expected to Moot
Sullivan.
Tho most Interesting figure In tho sporting
world to-day Is Frank P. Slavln, who, In all
probability, will fight Sullivan, with gloves,
for the championship of the world, early next
fall, in a place and for a puree to ho decided
upon in the future. Slavln's true name is
Patriclc F. Slavln. Ho was born at Maltland,
New South Wales, about thirty years ago, and
learned blacksmithiug and boxing while a
youth. At tho Australian gold fields ho de
veloped to be a good all-round athlete. In
pugilism ho WA6 a pupil of Peto Jackson,
with whom ho fell out, and who Is said to
have vanquished him twice, onco with gloves,
aud onco without in a bar-room brawl. Slavln
made a tour through Queensland and con
quered every local pugilist who stood up be
fore him. Later he "won several fights In
Sydney, hut Mike Costello checked his career
of victory in two drawn battles. Jack Burke,
of England, was defeated by Slavln, who af
terward went to Englaud, where ho changed
tho order of his Christian names. Ho de
feated Jem Smith and Joo McAuliffo. Ills
last fight was in Iloboken, N. J., In Juno,
1891, where he defeated Jake Kllraln in nine
rounds. Slavln is taller than Sullivan. He is
enormously largo chosted, but comparatively
weak in tho legs and loins. In condition he
is considerably lighter than tho redoubtable
Bostoniau.
MARSHALL WILDER'S CHAT
STOEIES NEW AND OLD BUT ALL
WELL TOLD.
Tho Little Bumorlst's Woolily Contribu
tion to thoBudcot of Fun A Personal
Komlnisconce A Toast for Now
Year,
Correspondence of Tue Sunday Herald.
New York, Dec. 20 Mr. Depow told a
good story tho other day of the late Horace
Greeley. Mr. Greeley used to hold his head
down over his desk and was very Impatient of
being disturbed while ho was writing. Ono
day a mau came In and said, "Mr. Greeley."
The veteran editor paid no attention, and tho
mau concluded to go on with his message.
"Mr. Greeley," ho said, "wo want your sub
scription of $500 In furtherance of a plan to
prevent men from going to holl." Without
looking up Mr. Greoloy replied: "Won't
give a cent toward it; there ain't enough
people there now."
Apropos of this, somebody onco asked
Colonel Bob Ingersoll if ho was going to
abolish hell. "Yes," ho said. "Well, you
can't do it." "Well," ho retorted, "If I
don't, you'll bo sorry I didn't."
Talking of hell reminds mo of several
anecdotes I lately heard about certain com
plications of married life. Ono gentleman,
whose mother-in-law was in the habit of visit
ing him very often, was discovered by her
one day In a very blue frame of mind. The
mother-in-law said, "What's tho matter,
John?" Ho said, "I was just thinking you
will never visit us again." "Why not?"
"Because you never go away."
It is a hard thing nowadays for widows and
widowers to marry. Complications often
arise. Suppose they both have children by
their former marriage aud then more children
come. A state of things Is very apt to super
vene like what I heard tho other day of a
widow and widower who had married again
and are living very happily together, but
their children not infrequently cause trouble.
They havo altogether about ten. Ope day
tho wife called the husband to tho door and
said: "Charlie, como hero qutck." "What
is It?" ho said excitedly. "Just look here," she
said, "there's your children and my children
fighting with our children." A remark onco
made by a woman in reference to a man who
had married twice was "He didn't deserve to
lose his first wife."
Do you want to know how to make ladies
sit down In front of you at a theatre or other
public performance at an Important part of
the proceedings? All you havo to do is to
say, "Will the beautiful lady standing in
front pie? so sit down ?" Generally about
twenty-eight will sit down quick.
Sometimes my audiences out West are sur
prised at the small size of tho leeturer and
sometimes I must confess that tho lecturer is
surprised at tho small slzo of the audience.
In those cases I am always glad if it rains,
for then I can make use of that incident to
excuse the smallness of the house.
I heard the other day of an entertainer who
had but one man in the audience. Ho went
on with his lecture, without noticing, ap
parently, the small size of his audience.
Finally ho took out his watch and 6ald, "I
shall conclude in a few minutes," whereupon
tho audience said, "I don't caro howsoon
you're through, for I'm the cabman who
brought you hero."
I find, generally, that the masses of tho
people, wherever you find them, aro anxious
to be kind to little folks. I 6aw an incident
of it tho other day just before a great match
game of ball at which about ton thousand
people wero present. Crane, the great pitcher
and athlete, before tho gamo commenced,
was pitching tho ball to the little 4,ma6cot,"
hardly six years old, who accompanied the
team. Tho crowd looked on and every time
the little fellow made a good hit tney ap
plauded him and cheered him just as though
ho had been a professional. It was a small
thing but it showed tho kindness of heart on
tho part of tho people and I havo noticed it in
many other instances.
Even "toughs" aro kind-hearted when you
strike them right. A certain doctor, living
in East Fifty-third street was called to see a
patient late at night, At a lone ome 6pot ho
was "held up" by two men who demanded
his watch and money. "Boys," ho said, "put
down your pi6tols. I havo only a watch and
a two-dollar bill lu my pocket. Let me rea
son with you. I have been called out from
a warm bed, to tho bedside of a poor girl.
Look in my bag and see my doctor's imple
ments. They will show you that what I 6ay is
true. I will go to tho corner and treat you
with two dollars, if you will let me keep my
watch and go to tho sick girl afterward.
No," said one of them. "You go to tho
girl and make your call and we will take tho
treat afterward." The doctor went on, and
returned as ho agreed, treated the men, and
saved his watch. This Is a true story.
What's tho difference between a dude and a
pin? One has a big head and gets stuck on
himself, and the other doesn't.
Tho other evening Colonel Ingersoll was
dining at the Lamb's Club and Steele Mack
aye, who was in the chair, had occasion to
introduce him. "Of course, wo all know," '
ho said, "that Colonel Ingersoll docs not be
liovo in God, but wo who know Colonel Inger
soll and do believe in God, know that God
believes in him."
Hero's tho latest about another famous
character ex-Speaker Reedi The Congress
man, who is a very stout man, was in Loudon
tho other day and was just about to enter a
cab when tho driver said, "Hist, go in quietly;
I don't want to havo tho horso seo you."
I think it was an old bachelor who said,
"Nature shudders when she sees a woman at
tempt to throw a 6tono. But when she at
tempts to split wood, Nature covers her head
and retires to a dark and mouldy cavo in
despair."
Hero is a farmer's complaint about some of
his city boarders last summer: "There aro
somo things I don't like about city folks.
Some of them aro so stuck up you can't reach
them with a hay-stack pole, and others nie
so blamed friendly they forget to pay their
board." Yes, this is tho same farmer who
went Into a city hotel tho other day and on
being handed the menu was not at all sur
prised or disconcerted, as he turned around to
the waiter and said: "Bring mo everything,
I'm from the country."
A superintendent of a Sunday school intro
duced to his class a gentleman who called up
a boy and said, "My boy, have you a pocket
book?" "No," said the boy." "Well, I'm
sorry, for If you had, I was going to give you
twenty-flvo cents to put into it." Next Sun
day tho same man visited tho school and the
boy was ready for him. Ho called tho boy
up and asked him if ho had a pocket-book.
"Yes, sir," said the boy. "I am glad of It,"
said the man, "for I wa3 going to give you
twenty-flvo cents to buy one " That shows
how easy it is to get out or difficult situations.
I have often heard it said that truth is not
always the most profltable when followed
strictly. It is sometime hinted that newspaper
men are given to act on this principle. But
hero is a case where the editor of a newspaper
found It of special service. He had recently
died and gone to tho pearly gates, where he
met St. Peter, who, as is customary, asked
him his profession on earth. He said he was
a newspaper editor. "Big circulation, I sup
pose, of course," said St. Peter. "No," said
the editor, "in fact, our circulation was ono
of tho smallest In the country." "Pick out
your harp," was the saint's comment.
Hero is a good toast for New Year's which
was first proposed the other day byMr. Sidney
Rosenfold at a dinner of the Lambs' Club:
"Here's to the dear old days and tho dear now
days, and the dear old boys who make the
dear new days as good as the dear old days."
Merrily yours,
Marshall P. Wilder.
To-Day's Services at All Souls'.
Christmas services will be held at All Souls'
(Unitarian) Church to-day at 11 a. m. and 7:30
p. m. The following selections will be ren
dered: "Unto Thee, O Lord," Watson;
"Those Holy Voices," Bartlott; "All They of
Saba," Rhlneberger; "When Fall the Shad
ows," Ccsta, and "Christmas Anthem," by
Watson. Tho choir consists of Miss Nellie
Chir-clif, soprano; Mrs. E. R. Grue, alto; Mr.
Frank Baxter, tenor, and Mr. W. A. Wldnoy,
bass and director. Dr. George W. Walter,
organist.
SPLENDID GIFT OP $1,000,000.
Anthony J. Drexel, of Philadelphia,
Founder of tho Drexel Institute.
Wo give a portrait of tho Philadelphia busi
ness man, Anthony J. Drexel, who has im
mortalized himself by building and endowing
the Drexel Institute, recently opened in that
city. Tho building cost $300,000; the endow
ment is $1,000,000, both tho munificent gifts
of Mr. Drexel. This distinguished phllan
trophist Is head of the bauklug firm of Drexel
& Co. His noble generosity has for its ob
jects, "the extonsiou and improvements of
Industrial education as a means of opening
better and wider avenues of employment to
young men and women."
The Chndoulno Affair.
Paris, Dec. 20. M. Rlbot, tho Minister of
Foreign Affaire, has postponed until Monday
his statement to tho Chamber of Deputies of
the questions at i66ue between Franco and
Bulgaria growing out of tho Chadouino affair.
SAIurdoretl Whilo at n Game of Cardb.
Fittsuuro, Pa., Dec. 26. "Tonoy" Barry,
during a game of caids on the steamboat Key
stone State to-day, bralued with a club George
RoHnson, whom he accused of cheating.
Both menre deck hands. Barry escaped,
SB Wf
THE HOLIDAY TRADE.
LINES OF BUSINESS THAT ABE CON
SIDEBED NOT IN IT.
But Thoy Got Tholr Share Just tho
Same-Talks With a Lawyer, a Boal
Estate Donlor, an Auctioneer, and an
Undertaker A Timely Hint.
Ono would naturally think that tho amount
of attention given by all sorts of people to
the purchase of holiday gifts at this time of.
year would seriously interfere with trade in
tho moro substantial lines of business. This
was what a Herald man thought the other
day when ho started out to ascertain tho facts
In tho case. Tho results of his investigation
aro Interesting.
First a prominent attorney was consulted.
Surely here was a business checked by the
spirit of good will prevailing at this period of
tho year. At this timo at least wrangling
and legal warfare wage not. Yot, just the
opposite was learned. Tho legal gentleman
smiled when tho Inquiry was made, and re
plied: "While I cannot say that tho extent or
our transactions is greater at this time.I can say
that thero is no cessation of hostilities. There
is a popular Impression that people go to law,
as the saying is, moro often when money is
scarce than when It is plentiful, but my ex
perience is, and, I dare say, tho experience of
every lawyer is, that lawsuits aro more fre
quent in prosperous times than in any other.
Lawyers must bo paid, you know, and thero
are many other necessary expenses which
make tho luxury of a lawsuit a rather costly
one. Therefore he who sues must have
money. The moro money afloat, tho jmore
frequent is litigation, and not even the innu
merable attractions oftored at this season to
those who havo money prevent an expendit
ure of Ta part of It In Instituting litigations.
No, young man; tho Christmas season has no
horrors for tho lawyer."
A well-known auctioneer was next ques
tioned. "Is tho auctioneer's business affected,
by the Christmas season?" he mused, repeat
ing tho question asked him. "Yes, it is," ho
replied, "but not to a very largo extent, for
the reason that ho reinforces his business dur
ing tho Christmas season by tho sale of such
merchandise that at other seasons of the year
ho would not handle. About the first of De
cember our regular business falls off, and
does not rise again until well after tho holi
days. To counteract this decline wo secure
consignments of such goods as will In a meas
ure attract tho average Christmas buyer, sucIk
as silverware, paintings, books, etc. In that
way we protect ourselves against any real loss,
which wo would otherwise experience. Of
course, we aro not always successful, but we
are generally."
An extensive hardwaro dealer was next
visited. "Yes," ho said, "this is a dull sea
son of the year in our business. But, I cannot
say that its dullness is duo to tho holiday
season, for each year even in our line
a greater number of novelties are intro
duced especially designed for the holiday
trade, the Bales of which go in a groat
way to prevent tho Christmas season from
being our dullest. Of course, the hard
ware trade depends in a great measure upon,,
and is inilueneed by, tho state of tho building
trade, and as this is about tho dullest season
in that business, our business Is so influeucedi
by it. Yet, because ot tho reasons I havo
given you, it Is becoming each year less dull."
Ono of Washington's many real estat&
dealers was next questioned. "This is our
very dullest season, but I cannot say that it Is
due to tho Christmas season. It is true that
mo6t people at this time of tho year are moro
interested in tho purchase of less substantial
things than real estate, but tho dullness in our
business Is duo moro to a desire on tho part of
people to study the market and make prepara
tions for the coming season. Then, too, at
this timo purchasers of real estate are busily
engaged in tho settlement of their business
accounts, and for that reason really have u ot
tho opportunity to engage in buying or sell
ing. In other words, thoy aro too busy with
other matters. Tho business is not at a
standstill by any means, tho true real estate
man's business never is so. Sales aro being
made every day, and somo of them at least, I
know, to have been promoted by tho holiday
season. So, it cannot bo said that tho roal
estato business is depressed because of tho
holiday season."
"No," said a prominent builder, "It cannot
ho said that th,o dullness In building just now
iB duo to the holiday trade, and I havo yet to
learn that It ever was so. But ono reason can
he assigned, aud that is tho lateness of the
season and tho fear that work would bo
interrupted by cold weather if begun now. If
we could bo assured that tho weather would
cause us no inconvenience, orders for build
ing would bo plentiful. But such an assurance
cauuot, of course, be had, and for that reason,
and not because of the holiday trade, tho busi
ness of building is dull, It will lemain so
until spring, and thou look out for one of the
most active seasons ever known here."
An undertaker's sign met The Herald
mau's eyo, and saying to himself that there
was a business certain to bo rendered dull by
the desire and tho determination of people to
live through tho holiday season, tho pro
prietor was duly accosted. "My dear young
fellow," said tho undertaker, "our holiday
business as a general rule is very good indeed."
"How is that?" The Herald man asked,
rather startled by tho answer. "Well," he con
tinued, "it is just this way. People eat more
timing tho holidays than thoy do at any other
ono 6easor. of the year, aud consequently thev
eat moro of that which injures them. An in
creased death rato follows, and as an increased
death rate meaus an incj eased business for us,
the undertaker's business Is promoted by the
holidays."
Tno point made could not be overruled, and
it is hoped that the readers of The Herald
will govern themselves accordingly.
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