RESOLUTION MAKERS
From: Portsmouth Herald, December 31, 1914
Any weakling can make resolutions. It needs a strong man to keep them. That is perhaps 
why New Year’s resolutions are so often futile. The strong do not wait for high days and holy days to amend their conduct or carry out their resolves. They obey Gothe’s dictum:
“Seize this very minute,
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
And so it happens that the large army of people who wait for the New Year before effecting a reformation in their lives are seldom successful in carrying out their intentions. They are not possessed of the spirit of energy and resolution necessary to achievement. It may be argued that it is better to make good resolutions, even though they are not carried out, than not to make them at all. This is open to question, however. Unfulfilled resolves continually repeated, tend to weaken the character, and to reduce one’s faith in oneself, just as resolutions put into practice are conductive to strength and self-confidence.
Very little tends to overbalance the resolutions of the average person. In fact, many people welcome any excuse to exonerate them from the carrying out of their resolves. One individual determines, let us say, never to lose his temper. He comes down on New Year’s morning with a set smile on his face. Alas! It is short-lived. The whole world seems in conspiracy to drag him back to his former frame of mind. The coffee is cold, the letters which look so alluring prove to be chiefly bills and begging epistles, he falls over the doorstep as he leaves the house. All these minor annoyances, which, if rightly met, would have helped him to conquer his weakness, serve but to throw him back into his original state, and before evening he is as bad as ever he has been.
Or take another very general New Year’s resolution that of getting up at a certain time in the morning. When the day dawns, any reason whatever is grasped at to evade this. The weather is too cold, the alarm was not loud enough, he is sure his watch is fast, he doesn’t really feel well enough to risk getting up earlier than usual, and, after all, he asks himself, is there any real reason why he should? A thousand-and-one excuses the average individual will make to himself rather than perform what he has designed to do. The world is full of wobblers of this kind and the more they wobble the weaker they become.
Another reason perhaps why the average resolution-makers so seldom achieve their purpose is that they attempt too much. They make two, three, sometimes six resolves at once, whereas to carry through one resolution is quite an admirable feat.
As Thomas A. Kempis says: “If every year we could root out one vice we would sooner become perfect men.” Impatience is at the root of many defeats. It is customary nowadays to sneer at the virtue for which the name of Job is synonymous, but those who say that patience is the virtue of an ass or a beggar’s virtue are not so wise as the Spanish proverb-maker, who said “Patience! and shuffle the cards.” Most people shuffle the cards eagerly enough, but the patience is lacking. Seeking to grasp the stars at a bound they fall back to the earth.
And so, if people at the commencement of a New Year adjusted their designs in accordance with their abilities, and instead of sighing for the unattainable made the very most of the opportunities vouchsafed to them, one would hear less of broken resolutions and wasted lives.
“Do the duty which lies nearest ot thee which thou knowest to be a duty,” said Carlyle. “Thy second duty will already have become clearer.”
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[Editor’s Note: the following was taken from the same newspaper and page as shown at the top of this article]
LOCAL EVENTS DURING 1914
Jan. 1.–New Years; threatening weather.
Jan. 1.–Inauguration of new city government: Mayor Yeaton [Harry B.] delivers his inaugural; Fred E. Drew, re-elected city clerk
Jan. 1.–Austin-Lincoln Association observed the Emancipation Proclamation with fitting exercises this evening in U.V.U. hall. Seth M. Jones of Franklin assumed the duties of collector of Internal revenues for this district, succeeding E.O. Crossman of Lisbon.
Jan. 5.–The first workman’s train ran over the new navy yard steel bridge this afternoon. Thomas S. Nowell died in Seattle, age 81 years.
Jan. 7.–Storer Post, G.A.R. and Storer Relief Corps. hold join installations this evening.
Jan. 6. — Widow of Salvi Ferrar, who lost his life by being buried in a trench at the plant of the Portsmouth Brewing Co., entered suit against that company and Sacco & Wood, the constructors for $15,000. Miss Laura Kenney’s resignation as commercial teacher at the High School announced and ot take effect Jan. 23. Board of instruction met and Mayor Yeaton declared Ira C. Newick as entitled to the seat of Joseph Foster resigned; upholders of Miss Martha Kimball protested, but Mayor insisted; case now goes to court.
Jan. 7.–The Portsmouth Board of Trade and Merchants Exchange held its annual meeting at the Rockingham Hotel this evening: Fred M. Sias chosen president.
Jan. 8. –Robert Hines, a veteran of the Civil War, died at his home on Gardner street, aged 82 years.
Jan. 11.–George W. Mates died at the Portsmouth Hospital from burns by an exploding lamp.
Jan. 12.–Home for Seamen opened at 110 State Street. James Timmons died at Portsmouth hospital from heart failure as the result of a broken hip.
Jan. 13.–Local banks held their annual elections; no change.
Jan. 17.–Mrs. Emma B. Folsom committed suicide by poison. Mrs. Arabel Z., wife of William H. Moore, died suddenly. Mrs. R. Jane Robinson, widow of John Robinson, died at the Wentworth Home, aged 67 years.
Jan. 19.–Joseph N. Stickney, a native of Portsmouth, died in Cambridge. Installation of officers of De Witt Clinton Commandery, Knights Templar.
Jan. 21.–Mrs. Janet Cobb died at her home on Deer street, aged 90 years.
Jan. 24.–Edward Tozier, aged 52 found dead at the foot of a stairway at the home of his brother-in-law, W.C. McCallie, this morning.
Jan. 25.–James D. Locke died in Charlestown, Mass., aged 76 years.
Jan. 26.–John Gerrish of State street fell on the ice this evening in front of St. John’s chapel and sustained severe scalp wounds.
Jan. 27.–Mrs. Catherine Grover died aged 85 years; she was the widow of John Grover. Silver wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Kehoe observed.
Jan. 28.–Mrs. Charlotte Young, an aged colored lady, dropped dead on Washington street at 1 o’clock this afternoon; heart disease.
Jan. 29.–Unoccupied block on Water Street owned by J. Howard Grover entered during the night and all fixtures and lead piping stolen.
Jan. 30.–Frank C. Amazeen found dead at his boarding place in Hanover street this morning; heart disease.
Feb. 1.–Fred M. Wentworth of Danver, employed at the Gale shoe factory of this city, suffocated to death by oil fumes at his home.
Feb. 3.–Conductor Ira C. Hutchinson of the B.& M. railroad, a native of this city, died at Salem, Mass., aged — years.
Feb. 6.–Hearing, largely attended, in the interest of freeing the New Castle toll bridge, unanimous in favor thereof.
Feb. 8.–Seaman’s home formally opened. Rev. Aldred Gooding, Mayor Yeaton and others taking part. Will of Mrs. Frank Jones made public.
Feb. 10.–Edgar Beach, with several aliases, brought here from Philadelphia for robbery at Little Boar’s Head last summer; held in $10,000 bail and sent to jail.
Feb. 11.–Storer Post G.A.R. and Storer Relief Corps had an observance of Lincoln’s birthday at their hall.
Feb. 12.–Mrs. Margaret O’Keefe, widow of Patrick O’Keefe, died, aged 72 years.
Feb. 13.–Mrs. Elizabeth Pickering widow of Nehemiah Pickering, died at the Home for Aged Woman, aged 85 years 5 months 25 days. Mrs. Margaret Bradley and Harry E. Frizzell disappeared today; former leaves little child and an aged mother.
Feb. 13.–Williams Laws, an elderly resident of Newington, found in the snow on the lines of the Portsmouth and power railroad, badly frozen.
Feb. 17.–Mrs Louise Hall, aged 42, found dead in bed this morning at her home on Charles street; heart disease.
Feb. 19.–P.M. Robinson, treasurer and general manager of the Frank Jones Brewing Company died at the Rockingham Hotel this evening of pneumonia.
Feb. 22.–Washington Birthday, a colour day.
Feb. 23.–Observance of Washington’s Birthday by rining of bells morning, noon and sunset. Pascataqua Congregational Club held its 70th annual meeting at the North Chapel; dinner at Rockingham Hotel. Mrs. Amanda M. Jellison burned to death at the residence of her son, Percy Jellison on Lincoln avenue, by the house catching fire.
Feb. 24.–Ralph W. Junkins, teller at the First National Bank slipped on the ice near Middle street church and broken a bone of the right leg.
Feb. 24.–Judge Hoyt of Probate Court sustained the decision of the medical experts and declared Miss Sarah J. Farmer as sane.
Feb. 25.–The Association of Past Commanders of DeWitt Clinton COmmandery had annual banquet at the Bellevue, Boston.
Feb. 26.–Daniel Clark, an old-time fisherman, died, aged 83 years. Osgood Lodge, No. 45, I.O.O.F., had its roll-call, over 200 present.
Feb. 27.–William R.F. Kimball died, aged 79 years. Mrs. Jane White, widow of Benjamin F. Lusk, died at Milton, Mass., aged 84 years, 6 months.
March 1.–Six children of John Whalen, truck foreman of the B. & M. railroad, saved from asphyxiation by the timely cry of a little child; gas came from the flue in the furnace.
March 2.–Body of headless woman found drowned at Hampton Beach identified as that of Mrs. Mary Danielson of this city, who had been missing several weeks.
March 5.–The Federal Fire Society held its annual banquet at the Rockingham hotel. Frank W. Daley, formerly of this city, arrested in Manchester, where he was charged with breaking and entering, and arson.
March 6.–Fire engine Col Sise, No. 2, arrived from the works in Manchester, rebuilt and in flue condition. Mechanic Fire Society had its quarterly supper at the Rockingham hotel with Dr. Staples as host.
March 7.–Frank D. Daley went to jail in default of bail on the charge of breaking and entering and arson at the Hotel Derryfield in Manchester.
March 9.–The annual city appropriate bill passed by the city council, carries $307,047.86 of which sum $237,088,86 is to raised by taxation, the balance coming from the water rates.
March 11.–Navy department decides to build the submarine at the Portsmouth navy yard at a cost of $550,000.
March 12.–J.H. Hartley, principal of the grammar school at Greenland, came in this city on the 10th to visit the schools, and not been heard of since then; found in a dazed condition.
March 13.–Mrs. Betsy Foss died, aged 93 years, 11 months, 5 days.
March 14.–Walter R. Foss a native of Portsmouth, died in Everett, Mass., aged 89 years, 1 month 27 days.
March 15.–Timothy Clifford, a pensioner of the Frank James Brewing Company, died, aged 80 years.
March 17.–Henry Pearson, aged 60 died suddenly of acute indigestion.
March 19.–Annual district meeting of the I.O.O.F of District No. 5, held this evening at Odd Fellows hall; large attendance.
March 20.–George W. Guppy died aged 74 years; a former owner and manager of the Times and the weekly States and Union.
March 22.–Died in Philadelphia, Ellen Louisa (Hackett) Stoddard, in her 72d year, daughter of the late Hon. W.H.Y. Hackett. Amos S. Foster, a native, died at Roslindale, Mass., aged 75 years, 11 days; he was for many years chief clerk at the Portsmouth post office.
March 23.–Isaac Evans, a young colored man, arrested charged with attempted holdup.
March 24.–Jack Tremper of Union street accidentally fell from a second story window at his home while adjusting a blind, and sustained a broken arm. Special meeting of the Board of Instruction, strongly recommended the building of a new school and to locate the same at the West End. Isaac Evans case for alleged holdup not pressed and pleaded guilty to simple assault, for which he was assessed costs of $7.90 a fine being suspended.
March 25.–Died in Lynn at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Susan W. Junkins, widow of James Junkins, in her 94th year.
March 27.–Eastern State Boys conference of the Y.M.C.A. opened in convention here for a two day session.
March 28.–Christopher H.R. Woodward of New York appointed manager of the Frank Jones Brewing Co.
April 1.–Samuel A. Rand, an esteemed citizen, died aged 74 years.
April 2.–Mrs. Susan Dobson died at the age of 79 years. Miss August Pepperell Salter of Washington street died at the age of 83 years; she was the last of the family.
April 3.–Mrs. Lena A. Morrill of Smith street sues the city for $5,000 for alleged damage to her property by rates which infest the South street dump.
April 5.–John H. Bellamy, a widely known woodcarver, died, aged 77 years, 11 months, 11 days. Capt. Nathaniel D. Lindsay died at the home of his son, aged 77 years.
April 8.–Lafayette N. Newell died in his 81st year.
April 9.–City council votes to purchase for $1500 the lot on Lafayette road owned by the Consolidated Coal Co., and to accept the offer of Thomas A. Ward, owner of the adjoining lot, to give the same for a playground, with the one condition that no building be erected on it or that no roads be laid across it.
April 13.–Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Freeman died aged 79 years, the daughter of the late Oliver and Lydia Senter.
April 18.–Mrs. Josephine Richter died in her 79th year; she was the widow of Dr. Emil Richter and a daughter of the late Hon. Richard Jenness. John Holland died, aged about 66 years. Thomas Edwin Rand, a native, died at Berwick, Me., aged 78 years 9 months.
April 21.–Mrs. Sophia S. Wood, the oldest lady in Portsmouth, died aged 97 years, 4 months, 8 days; she was the widow of James Wood, who died at 104 years. Mrs. Josiah Seavey died aged 91 years.
April 23.–Company of marines form the navy yard in command of Capt. Buttrick left this evening for Mexico in protection of American interests there; great and enthusiastic throng of people greeted the men.
April 25.–Sam Lessard, an Italian stabbed tonight on Wall street by an unknown assailant; taken to his home on Islington street with a knife wound in his stomach.
April 28.–The 95th anniversary of Odd Fellowship observed by Canton Senter with the entertainment of its sisterhood club.
April 29.–Miss Olive W. Locke died at the Home for Aged Women, aged 87 years. John Newick presented with a solid-silver loving cup by employees of the Eldredge Brewing Co., in recognition of his 32 years service as head brewer there, and from which he retires April 30.
April 30.–Portsmouth Peace Society formed with Harold H. Bennett as president.
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