Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-01-01
From "Time's Telescope"
rrHE NEW YEAR.


We long-we hope-and cen swift time seems SLOW
Enquiring ask, while We, would not know,
What may this year revealf
What may il notl-Ah! one short year may send
To his long home, loved, valued friend
Bring others to our view
Lay hundreds low in death-Alas! replace
Full many a well-known and lamented face,
BY forms entirely new.
O'erwhelm the happy with unnumbercd woes
May ease the captve's doom:
A heeting year, ere it is past and gone,
May add fresh beauty to the form of one
Decay aIother's bloom
May ope to sorrow pleasures blssful door,
Make the poor wealthy, and the wealthy poor;
Thus change the forms of fate
May shower profise, from golden realms above,
On private homes the joys of peace-and love-
Bring dscord to state.
Could we look forward but through one short year,
How would the smile alternate chase the tear, Il
The tearits place supply;
How one sad hour would viewthe mind perplext
Perchance relieved, and free from care the next,
Ere yet that tear was dry
But though weak man alone can truly see
What hath been-s-not what yet may be,
Well fondly paint the best,
III
Through its fair glass we'll view the opening year,
And while We hope, we're best
The notices which follow we have collected
from English Periodicals printed some years
hack.
"The name given to shis month by the Ro>
mans was taken from Janus, one Of their divini-
les, TO whom thy gave two faces; because on
the one side, the first day Of this month looked
towards the new year, and on the other TO-
words the old one.
"On this day is celebrated the Giro umcsion
of our Saviour, a rite of the Jewish law, insfen,
Joined upon Abraham as a token Of the cove
-aan God made with him and his pos'eriy.
"rhe institution of this festival may be traced
to the sixth century at latest, a special office
being provided for it by the Second Council OF
Tours: The Office Of Circumcision was com .
posed, for reasons in some respects, similar 10
those for which the Homily was written. The
Calends of January, or the beginning OF the
New Year, was stated annual Heather ties,
,ival, celebrated in the most gross and llcen-
,ious manner. Even after the suppression Of
these idola'rous rites BY the emperors, men aud
women exchanged dresses, and manv trregu-
lseiiesfook place a, this season. BY some,
this ft.tivsl.is called the Octave ofchrisimas
but, by most persons, New Years by Al
the committeeman 81 the Ne,o lear, we rejoice
With our friends, after having escaped the dan
gers tina, attend every season; and congratulate
each other bv presents and wishes Tor the hap
DIV n,inuance Of that course, which the anti
rnts allied 'Sirennrum Lommerciuna The value
Of tne gir is not 50 mueh,an ohjrc:, as the time
and the civi,ies with which i. is presented.
erhr Romans, at his time. sent presents al
swertmeats, as dried figs, honey, Sc. (streg@)
exprts ,ing wish. that their fiji nds mis"l en-.
10Y the sweets of the year, into which they had
entered. A relic Of this custom is still obs -
we'd in the south OF Sc6tland, where he swee-~
tie,skon, sort Of Plum cake, constitutes the
Nv Years Gift. Among the northern ma
tions, it was customary for subject, to,presen'
gifts To- heir sovsreigns, which we're called jo-
ag'a6r, yule gifts.
IA ancient custom, yer retained ir m ny
places, was once 7ractised on New Years E z;
YOU, e WON n went arou, with wasail bowl
Of spiced ale, and sung verses as they went trpm
door 10 door. The composition was ale, NUT
megs, sugar, ,oas', and roasted crabs or apples;
il was Gale i.amb'> Wool The anti,nt phra-
ses Of euaffing among The English twas halle
and drinc held ara synony wi,htne Come
here's to you,' and 'Pl! pledge vou,' Of he nre-
sent day.. In G'oucestet SHIRE, the WASHERS
still carry about grca' bowl. dressed up with
parldnds and ribbons. and singing.
ain France, particularly IN Ike south. early in
the morning of Nv Y"a's Dsv, a round Of
visits is commenced 70 relations ana friends.
to wish Mfp happy new year, and to present
them with bonbons (,weet-mrats) ''rhe la
,iors are s; visited beg nning wi those ar
est in affinity, then those that are Further reno
we'd, and lastly come The friends and aoquain-
tapce. Its contes, of poii'eness on this occa-