The Dominion MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1928. NEW YEAR’S EVE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 82, 31 December 1928, Page 8

The Dominion MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1928. NEW YEAR’S EVE

Signor Mussolini declares that the custom of exchanging New Year courtesies must be abandoned in Italy, since its only object is to interrupt the Government’s work for hours and sometimes days. In British communities, and amongst Scotsmen especia y. on Hogmanav, the last day of the Old Year and New Year s Day the Government’s work and that of nearly everybody ■ a f y runted in order to do fitting honour to an ancient festival firmly implanted in our national sentiment. no^± r °s t ,to things Signor Mussolini's objection may be due to festivities -the Mians have hitherto to ™ * smile in communities hying under e^ r P Medical Association Ancient customs die hard on the subject the other day presented to Mr. Baldvu opinion, were *of reducing the numbei of noises ’ blic- The list of noises seriously affecting the nerves ° P modern earshot included which it was sought to have abolished from , g the early morning bell of the Most Englishmen ancient tradition in England, and so s lus bell. mo g will probably agree with the t the SB? b'Md ttftS! sa? the pneumatic “Sight on the I* day of the Old Year is in most outburst of multitudinous noises Bells are inventive Fng^miity^as^ro^ded 1 merry-makers fo . r feSti 'and modern noises were invented. that, and tne warm g services, “sitting up,” and “first-footing were ® total of the New Year’s Eve observances of that more resttui ag and X" h£? XSSSed SK Oi h‘ad ,O a *gS“" P o'S l°™velS months that the average individual reviews his errors of business and personal habits and makes up his mind that he will not repeat them-if he Hence'the annual flood of New Year resolutions, many of which may be kept, while many, such is the weakness of fl esh, may gradually wither and die. Whichever may happen the principle is sound, for it is an expression of the fact that though a man may be down, it need not follow that he is out. Even .the ultimate “down-and-out” has had his seasons of hope and deter mination before social oblivion finally encompassed him. As with the individual, so it is with the nation and the world. The New. Year opens with the hope that errors of statesmanship may be rectified and successes amplified and extended; that nations in stress may find the way out of their difficulties, that great causes upon which the progress and happiness of humanity depend wi prosper; that, to quote from Tennyson’s 7n Memonam, the bells will Ring out a slowly dying cause, . And ancient forms of party strife; Ring in the nobler modes of life, With sweeter manners, purer laws.