34 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



January, 1913 



HELPS TO THE 

 HOUSEWIFE 



TABLE AND HOUSEHOLD SUGGESTIONS OF INTER- 

 EST TO EVERY HOUSEKEEPER AND HOUSEWIFE 



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NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS 



By Elizabeth Atwood 



ANUARY, 1 9 13 — how the years go by and 

 vanish, and how many good determina- 

 tions go with them ! Every human being 

 has probably felt the sweet superstition of 

 beginning a new life on January first. 

 Every thoughtful child has made resolu- 

 tions on that day with a feeling that some new power would 

 be gained for the future. Habits more or less objectionable 

 would be broken by the aid of this mysterious sway of the 

 New Year. How great the disappointment we, too, have 

 felt when, after conscientious trying, we have failed. Some- 

 one has said: "And yet it is better far to resolve on improve- 

 ment and fail than to have no resolutions to your credit." 



But where is New Year's Day, the dear old New Year's 

 Day of long ago? In New York among comparatively few 

 it is still recognized, but to the many it is like any other 

 day. Oh, the joy of New Year's Day when I was a girl! 

 The fascinating wonder and expectation as to whose house 

 I should be asked to receive. Then the pretty gown, which 

 in those days of long ago was not an every-day affair. On 

 New Year's Day, one tried to look her prettiest and best, 

 and the new gown became a part of the day. 



Then the heights were reached when, as the young 

 matron, I invited the girls to help me to receive. Of course, 

 among those who were asked there was great rivalry, as all 

 the matrons were in friendly emulation with one another. It 

 was a pretty sight to look upon, this group of attractive 

 young women assisting hospitality. 



The excitement was intense as men, young and old, ar- 

 rived in their carriages, usually four at a time. The young 

 men saved for this occasion weeks ahead, planned for a 

 "hack" or "barouche" for this day of days, for bhey, too, 

 had the feeling of rivalry, and all were anxious to crowd in 

 as many calls as possible into this anniversary. 



But all this is gone, and we are left with only memories 

 of what was a beautiful custom. We were brought in 

 touch, at least once a year, with all our friends within 

 driving distance. Old friendships were renewed and new 

 ones begun. There seemed to be more real hospitality in 

 those times, and New Year's Day helped to keep it alive. 

 There were those who abused the day, perhaps, but such 

 instances were rare. 



I suppose rush of business and the demands of an exact- 

 ing public have caused this holiday custom to disappear. 

 With nothing of a patriotic character to compel attention, 

 this charming social event has become only a memory which 

 those of this generation may not share. But there is more 

 than a social function to this day of days, for this should be 

 the beginning of a new year in every truth. 



How many of us have made new resolutions? We can 



at least make them, even if we have not moral force to rise 

 above the trying conditions which render it impossible to 

 carry them out. The fact that we have for the space of one 

 day recognized the need for renewed effort will do us some 

 good. There is so much that each one of us could do — 

 even more than the fullest life accomplishes. 



To begin with, are you in tune with your surroundings? 



If you are not, now is the time to find it out. Turn an 

 X-ray into your innermost self. Ninety-nine times out of a 

 hundred selfishness will be found responsible for your fail- 

 ings. It may be the selfishness of fear or the absorption of 

 self to the exclusion of the pain in others. So many create 

 unhappiness for themselves and others through self-pity, 

 and one of the most insidious emissaries of self is that of 

 vain self-reproach. 



It is well for adults, as well as for children, to ask on 

 this new first day "In what have I failed this past year, and 

 why the failure?" What has seemed failure may be a part 

 of a great scheme working out our ultimate good, but it is 

 well to look into the matter. Emerson says, "Our strength 

 grows out of our weakness," so, if causes of past failure 

 are properly recognized and a determination born of these 

 failures to do better and worthier work in the future comes 

 to us, then, in this sense, they were not failures. Perhaps 

 this may be a dangerous theory, but it can hold hope and 

 cheer for many a poor, discouraged mortal, and on New 

 Year's Day we wish to help and encourage by every means 

 within our reach. 



Would it not be a good thing on this New Year's Day 

 to resolve that each day of the coming year should be the 

 beginning of a new year for us? That each day should see 

 renewed effort and a determination to make our corner in 

 the world brighter because we live in it? We are all so 

 completely a part of the eternal whole, we never know when 

 our part may be hindering unless we stop and question our 

 motives and our actions and honestly take a note of results. 

 We all know the person who radiates good cheer. How 

 glad we are to live in the sunshine of such a personality. 

 What good company. We always try to get hold of them 

 for pic-nics, fairs and various entertainments, but most of 

 all for plain every-day. 



Such people make the world better to live in. Why not 

 resolve to be one of that kind. It might prove to be a 

 higher form of selfishness, because so much would come 

 back to you in love and admiration; but bless such selfish- 

 ness. We do not have enough of it, and how much we need 

 the sunshine of a cheerful comrade, every one of us. We 

 should let go of useless fears and stop fretting and let 

 nature and the sunlight work their beneficent powers upon 

 us. However, we can at least make the resolution to do so 

 and abide by it for a few days just to try its effect. Then, 

 by having more than one New Year's Day, we would acquire 

 the habit of a cheerful exterior and our lives made brighter. 



