The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1913 THE PASSING YEAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1, 31 December 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1913 THE PASSING YEAR.

The year 1913, which closes to-day, will be a memorable one in the world’s history as a year of great industrial and financial unrest, and one also more than usually burdened with war, disaster and general upheaval. The trouble in the Balkans, and revolutions in Mexico and in China have been especially the cause of carnage, and for a time the whole European balance trembled. Happily that great danger passed and though the Balkan question is by no means settled—or is ever really likely to be—there is now practical agreement amongst the (Beat ' Bowers as to how far the combatants shall be allowed to go and to whom territory in dispute is to lie allotted. Apart from the complications arising out of foreign relations the Mother Country has had her hands more than toll with troublesome internal affairs. 1 he puzzle ot .how best to deal with the misguided militant suffragette is still unsolved, while in Ireland revolution; is but thinly disguised over the Home! Buie proposals. The dark cloud of unrest which still hangs over India—brightest, jewel ol Britain’s crown—' may well cause deepest anxiety. Strikes and bitter labour disputatious, in many instances accompanied by outrage and violence, have broken the ponce of the industrial world almost continuously during the year in Britain, *Amorica, and in other lands. Even in this well-favored spot we have! just gone through our most'.strenuous! and most costly strike experience, not I without benefit, perhaps, from the |

lessons learned in the trying and bitter school of experience. Outstandingly the lesson learned ought to be I 1 that the strike is an obsolete and fool-j ish weapon and that it must bo aban-l ' doned. As it is always the sad lot M of the world’s Press to chronicle, there j 1 has been tnneh loss of life in mining | disaster, by shipwreck, and through!' other causes. Truly a doleful list to j * the credit of l!)ld—predicted an un-j 1 lucky year. .Nevertheless -it lias not ,< ‘ been all badness: science has advanced 1 particularly in medicine, electricity j s and engineering; the conquest of the 1 air has made amazing strides and to 1 all of ns there have come at least somej 1 happy days. That 1!)]-) will bo a year; a of less strife and stress and strain, it wo may all sincerely hope, '{'he outlook in many directions is distinctly brighter and with stout hearts we may step out to welcome 1911. Sincerely trusting that to the world it may ' prove .better than the one that is pass- '* iag, we heartily wish our l eaders one | •' ind all ° 1 a A Bright ami Prosperous New Year.!"