The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-01-27

oAlNI bOUlS, OaiI ~ lofO'
DEAR s1R:-This has been great day in Saint
Louis-the custom of calling on friends on this day
is very general, and the return Of New-Years day
looked forward to with bright anticipations.
The celebration is opened, on the night previous
to New-Years day, by the firing of all kinds OF
guns, pistols, crackers sc. &C., the streets are
tmongcd with mSsquerading parties, who perform
all manner of antics under license of their dress;-
bonres are blazing Nil about the city, making bril-
liant this scene Of rcvery and confusion. Carnival
seems to have commenced in good earnest, and it
requires no great stretch of the Imagination, to fam
CIV yourself in the far-fnmed city of Rome, upon one
of those carnival nights, of which we have such
glowing accounts. 1t is of no use to attempt to
sleep, for tho spirit of fun and froc is in the as
cendant, and amid the shoutngs of the countless
throngs, the ringing Of the bells and tho CHATTER and
shrek of drum and fife, together with the nces-
SAINT roar and din of ten thousand guns and squibs
of all descriptions, you might as we'll undertake to
sleep in tho crater of Etna, or, as Collins says,
i" with your head in the mouth of cannon"
About 10 o'clock this forenoon, the whole town
seemed to be agog. Even the schoolmaster is once
more abroad () and all seem determined to spend
at least one day in recreation. 1t is cheering to see
SO many bright, happy people in one day there is
nothing pleases me more than to see the poor, in
dustrious, hard-working man, throwing of for
while the cares Of life, and driving from his mind
the thoughts of pinching poverty and oorroding
| ,-;k baekin in the
beautiful sunshine which kind aud benevolent
God has created for all men alike.
| Iwish we had more holidays in this country, and
little less utilitarianism II wish the poor had
more time to rccreate in, and that they could be
brought to look upon this life not all gloom and
hardship, and upon the world, not MS vast pen-
Tertiary, where they must toll and sweat for months,
but as beautiful and fruitful vineyard, in which
they arc to labor, and in the products Of which they
are to participate. This Think would tend to
elevate the condition and character Of tho aboring
classes, and the same labor which Is now done
goomily, despondingly, and moroscly, would be
happily, easily and cheerfully accomplished.
The day has been delightful; not cold enough to
freeze. Indeed, the winter here has been, some
like October at the North, perhaps little colder
| In my travels to-day l found many things to
amuse me what is more amusing and laughable
than to see green pumpkin make his debut into
some drawing room, containing half dozen pretty
Lades2 All at once he finds himself standing face
to face with the fair phalanx;- no poor fellow ever
charged upon Mexican battery with half his ire
pidaton,-his bushes would become an Adonis,
and as ho sta,nmers forth his set speech for the oc
cason, ("wsh you happy new yesr') how natu-
rally be drops into chair, as though, forsooth
Of the painted beauties before him had let fly a
whole culver full of cupds darts at his poor heart
After uneasy wrggling in his chair for a moment,
with an awkward bow he takes his leave How
gratefully, and with what ng-drawn breath does
he suck in the pure air, as he leaves the house,
thankful that he has again escaped from an encoun-
ter with the "darncd critters" as SAM SLICK says.
Many other incidents l noticed, which excited my
bump of mirthfulness exceedingly; but as my can
die Is burning low in the socket and my eyes grow
ing DIM must close this epist!e, with the compli-
mems Of the season to you.
| am, yours truly
!