Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-01-01
SeasOnabIe Reflections.

/ Time in his rapid and ceaseless flight,
has again brought us, in gIadness, or in
sorrow, for veal or for woe, upon anoth-
II er year. eve have no branches OF the
| sacred mis,letoe to distribute among our
II friends on this occasion, after the man
ner of the Druids, nor golden knife TO
cut them with, FIVE had nor consecra-
ted forest wherein to perform the ceremo-
/ ny but we trust we can make an offer
ing, which, though less imposing in form,
will be equally acceptable. We offer,
then, our grateful acknowledgements to
our friends for the steady and unwaver-
ing support which they have afforded US
in our difficult and arduous profession,
not only during the year that has just
expired, but for many years now lost in
the fight Of ages.
H We hold il to be both natural and lau-
dable TO commemorate the birth OF The
year, even as sort Of second birthday
Of our own, by acts Of worship TO Heav-
en-, aud OF kindness and beneGcence to
our fellow men.
The observance Of the day, by visits
of congra;ulation and the presentation Of
gifts, prevailed among the Romans, from
the days even of Romulus down to the
decline and fall Of the Roman Empire.
III Al npo poriod ,nIooI in tho .,o,o.
Of gifts, their custom became so far an
abuse, by system of exto,ton which
sprang up among the powerful, that the
observance Of the day vas prohibited by
Claudius. or course the poetry and
sentiment Of the occasion were lost,
when tho offerings were no longer Of the
heaH, but, thesabwes being checked,
the custom was too sacred among the
! people TO be reinquished and though
| dlterward condemned by ecclesiastical
councils, because OF the alleged pagan
# ism Of the ceremonies, the people could
not be detached from this grateful obser-
vance.
\ Among the Saxons and the Northern
nations of Europe, the day was observed
by the interchange Of visits, by kindly
salutations, and by such extraordinary
| festivities, that the people reckoned their
ages by the number of these joyous sea-
sons in which they had participated. 1t
was not, however, the Saxons who
brought the custom into England, since,
as we have alreudy intimated, the day
had long before been celebrated by the
Druids Saxons and BrtoGs, therefore,
united at once in all the delightful obser-
vances and associations olthe day. But
in process Of time, in the matter Of gifts,
abuses appeared in England, as they
had done long before in Rome. Henry
/ III. has been charged in history with
having extorted presents and Elizabeth
is said 10 have levied contributions in
this way sufficient for the supply Of her
wardrobe. Pins in her day were just
beginning TO be known as substitutes for
wooden skewers, which, ill then, had
been used at the toilette table. Pins
were, therefore, in those days an article
Of luxury, and for while they were the
most acceptable present that could be
made to lady, even of quality. Some
times, when the presentation Of pins was
not convenient, a composition in money
was substituted and in this practice we
find the origin Of the phrase pin mon
ey.'
The French, of modern nations, are
said 10 bear the palm for the brIl!iancy
and cos,lness ofiheir New Years fesli-
val. Gifts, Of bon-bons and sweeimeats,
and light and beautiful fancy articles,
are made in proiusion and not only
these, but rich presents of jowelry are
bestowed. Elen Of wealth often spend
from six TO ten thousand francs for New
Years presents ; aud in the coniection-
airy line alone, it has been computed
that the distributions in Paris amount in
cost TO more than twenty thousand pounds
sterling. The day is also observed in
| France somewhat in the same manner as
the New England thanksgiving g-as n
day fer family gatherings and social ies-
tivities at the dinner table, and evening
merry. makngs. Relatives are all visit
ed, beginning in the morning with the
nearest in blood, and ending with the
remoiea-but neglecting none. And is
not this beautiful custom
But enough Of the past Let us look
10 the present and the future. The Gu-
tire Alas ! who knows aught Of it !?
Or who would dare TO raise the curtain
If he could In one respect we all are
happily constituted. Who would bring .
back the past year, with oil lis cares, lis
trials its sorrows-a and lis crimes !--even
were all its Joys in the train, i(he might?
Or who, since Hope is always springing
fondly in the breast, would avoid an en-
trance upon the new year, prepared Ell
'her to graPple with the storms Of human
life. or 10 bask beneath iis sunny smiles' !
But in either event, let there be no too
strong reliance upon self. Our desii.
nies are IN other and higher hands, aud
however III may choose to shape them,
there should not le muinur Wo