The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1851-02-14
New Years Day in New York.

| A graphic description of the peeularities a
a New Years Day in New York ie contained Is
1 the following letter to the National Inteigencer
New Years Day in New York half a century
ago, when the entire population OF the city did
not exceed tthe Of what il is now; when The
1 regions ''above Bleecker'' were desoIaie waste
and Chelsea the ultima diule of civilizations
when the nnrthermost lim4 Of "gocd society,"
reached point which now adays would be re.
garled as hopelessy sdown town. when din
ners in mansions which are warehonses t. .dav.
and balls under roofs which have covered notn-
ring but merchandise for this many long wear
were prevalent hospitalities Of the time-iniIlat
remote period, the memory whereof is growing
fainter and fainter with every cycle--New
Years Day may have been very happy. COM
Portable, and altogether satisfactory Anniversary
Then the interchange os evliies, and cordial
greetings, and friendly visits, which the day de-,
manded, were matters of easy accomplishment.
and calling for little exertien bpyond that Of be
ing agreeable and giving your neChbor the
benefit Of it. New Years calls were substan-
tial affairs hospitality opened the front door for
the visiter; good cheer awaited him in the parlar.
and he went away, ii not Il wiser and better
man than when lie came, at least much fuller
aid warmer one. Such was New Years .sonce
upon time. =
But what destiny is that which awaits The
New Yorker on the first day the year in these
latter days. All the unpaid social debts. all the
unscknqwledged courtesies and unfequited
bospitalities of the last twelve months sit heavy
on his soul. The reckoning must be wiped ont
before night; now is his only chance and VIC to
the man who neglects it. if he wishes to keep
bis pace in the realms Of gentiliiy There is
a score Of families in Brooklyn. a good fnnr
miles off-there a neglected relative at VII.
liatnsbnrg, anolher qaalernion of miles--there
an interesting colony OF acquaintances at Jersey
City. several blocks beyond the Philadelpiia de-
potAto say nothing of his New York friends
dotted ong at convenient distances rom tile
Battery 10 Fortietb street, and sprinklpd over
The .Ulr quarters Of the city on tie most impair.
tiai system Of social distribution. Poor man,
the New Years appear 10 him ID the shape Of d
hnrrid monster, 0s whose caprice he is 10 be the
football. and who Is going 10 begin his tyranny
by sending him on an hundred errands all al
once.
Tie truth is, The city has oufgrown this New
Years custom Of visiting. SO very agreeable in
theory, but apt 10 be so very much The reverse
in practice. With census Of over half a mil
lion Of inhabitants and an area proporionabiy
large, il is next to impossible to keep UP as a
universal fashion one which depends SO much
on locality and convenience. One OF these DAYS
our posteriiy viii laugh at this strange notion
Of their ancestors.
Eighteen hundred and filty.one opened with
a keen, cold westerly wind, which braced mp our
nerves pretty well for the duties of The day
A slight fall cf snow on New Years eve had
covered the ground with about three-quarters Of.
an inch Of snow, on The strength Of which the
sleiglls and sleigh-bels were ont in great force,
and by high noon the streets began 10 look as
gay as a carnival Then it was that quiet
observer. with an eye 10 The iudicrous and
a genial sympathy With the current Lnmor of
the day, might have found ample aiment for
his digestion. Old gentlemen, frisking up and
down the Steps, and 10 and ont Of front doors
evidently determined to get the better OF time on
The first day oFthe year. and not only take him
by the tore.lnck,' but shake him into Tie bargain:
Young gentlemen with desperately fast horses
and das3ng seighs, fred with great ambition
10 dazzle whole neighburhoods, bewiIder their
pedestrian friends. and ssdo up a score of calls
in as many minutes; quiet citizens If sociabIe
disposition, with pockets inli ai bsnbons for the
children, bent upon making themselves al home
away from home; conscientious Worsbies trndg-
ing along Tor miles together with a carefully
prepared sslsf, condensed from their wives
catalogue Of gossips and their own commercial
neenneutionss very premature beaux making
vigorous pushes for social recognition, and IN
Producing themselves into fashionable parIoFs 10
the great disgust pf veteran men Of the wnrd. j
two on thfee years their senior, and bellies Of