The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1851-02-14

their own age; and now and then some gentIe-
man of conviviaI turn of mind with cnHinsed
notions of etiquette, who, after great difficulty
/ in finding The door.5el and being conveyed into
the drawing-room, DISCOVERIES that he Is in The
wrong hous,', and covers his embarrassment by
"taking little something" and reiYeating very
flushed and with perpexed stagger.
All this ontside--bul Within under The en-
chantmentof becoming light, elaborated toilets,
and noaparea Of good humor and sweet smiles
how much moro to admire The stately old
lady whoreceives you with historic dignity Just
as she did somebody else thirty wears ago, and
who has confused idea that you are your father
or uncle; the blooming young lady, the very
young lady, who is perfect aspen Of bewitch-
cries, and diffuses afabiity from the tips of her
fingers and the ends Of her curs; The maiden
lady who knows every body and grows coniieen-
tlal on the compliments of the season.; and
the charming mama who introduces the young-
est daughter to all the world, and thinks really,
after all, it is a delightful custom, and what
should we do without it7
Happy The man who has a diplomatic attache,
or Senator in Congress, or a Representative,
or an officer in the British army, or a French
Couat, or an English author whom he can pio-
neer to the Darlors Of his friends and bask in the
sunshine OF his celebrity. What stir il made
yesterday when Mr.. James, the novelist, was
known to be abroad on duty as a caller. under
the wing Of a friend. positively for no purpose
OF collecting materials for new work, but Sim
ply as locker on in Vienna. A lion is twice a
lionon New Years day, and wears his blnshinG
honors thicker than ever. If he would win inn
mortal renown let him enter the lists--of yisit~
ors on New Years.
Some people. very silly ones, TO be sure. have
a fashion, which is fast being put down as an
absnrdity. of excluding the daylight from their
drawing rooms and lighting up the gas with
all the briillancy of an evening soiree-this is
partly for the sake Of their compilations, and
partly Tor The sake of the little eclat which any,
thing out ol The way is supposed teconfer. But
gass light is wretched substitute for daylight.
The sunshine ereeps through the crevices' of the
shutters, and now and then, the gas happening
to grow dim, or go out, the expelled daylight
must be admitted like an unwelcome quest
New Years is a dreadful day for very bashful
gentlemen and very near>sighted ladies', especi~
allY when the two are in conjunction. The
very bashful gentleman has no sooner crossed
the threshold than he is overwhelmed by ain an.
comfortable conviction that he is somewhere
where he is not wanted, and ought not 10 be-,
while the very ~nearsighted lady is penetrated
with the belief that he is altogether different
person from himself, and staggers him atonse
into an abnegation o. his own identity by oycr-
wlemng him with compliments which Le
knows OF right belong 10 somebody else. The
very hashtnl gentleman then undertakes To sit
down, with gesture which the very near siellts
ed lacy mistakes for retiring bow; the very
near-sighted then offers cup Of chocolate
which The very basiful gentleman at first de-
cl!nes. but afterwards thinks he will take, and
caps The climax by upsetting ii on the wilton
carpet, and breaking china vase with bis cane,
n the effort % pick it up; the very neaFsighled
lady now begins to see very clearly who sic
mas oeen entertaining, nd The very basbfil gen
tleman gets clumsiiy out Of the house, and goes
home IN stale Of mind bordering on deiiriun.
Towards night every body gets tired, ,egenthe
door bells seem 10 have grown faligued with
ringing, and in door bellies yawn during the
more frequent intervals Of solitude. The gen.
eman who has made his two hundred visits
comes home clamorous for slippers and brandy
and water; the friskg Old veteran of the morning
thinks the day much more fatigning than il was
hriy years ago, for some inexplieahe reason;
he "ast' going man has serious thoughts OF
giving up society as unworthy Of such laborious
cultivation. New Year is gcnerally voted
1ore, except BY the quiet individual, who in spite
q the prevailing furore, pursued the even Tenor
i his way, and mlde rational holiday of il for
MS own amusement.
Such is New Year'sin New York now-a-days.
The seasons be praised that it GENES but once
5ear.