Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-01-12


Mr.. French returned brief reply, and immedistely
LETT for this City, where he has been for several days
back. Freach will not be received as the Rcpreserf
tative al Nicaragua under any circunstancesabut
the government cannot refuse much longer 70 cog-
nizc that of Walker, and to open diplomatic rela
tons with it.
The meeting of the National Democratic Commit
tee in this City the Sth instant may be regarded
as the formal opening Of the Presidential campaign
for 1856. The business before the Committee is to
designate the time for the meeting of the next Ma
tonal Convention, Cincinnati having been named as
MECKLENBURG
New YORK, Jan. 9th, 1856
Editors N. C. Standard:
We have just commenced new year; and ii 1t
should continue and end as it began in the great me-
tropolis of the United States, a happy and merry
year is before u.s. But time, in its rapid Hight rolls
on and every year. every month, every day, brings
ills and troubles, and carries us that ihuch near
to that bourne from whence no traveller returns:
Yet how difficult to believe it, TO feel it, to realize III
We act as though the space between ourselves ana
eternity was widening with or age ana our .''e,
business in this world was to prepare to live, instead
of to prepare for DEATH Is it not s ange that man.
reasonable man. intelligent man. will push on through
sunshine and ran pain and ans uish for the almighty
dollar, which he knows can be with MN out LOT
moment and pause to think OF his eternal nap
with i, many brave and noble souls have gone down
to the grave. Thousands have fallen by the sword,
and tens of thousands by the ordinary diseases
which flesh is heir to- But it is to us like throwing
rocks inlo the sea the water is only agltated tor
moment, the chasm is closed the breezes come, the
wave sweeps on and the agitation ceases forever
So with our fellow men; they fall fast around us
we list for moment-the bustling world PUSHES on,
and we are carried with it, and the memory OF our
near and dear friends dies gradually away as the con.
centric rings caused by the rocks N the water ana
at last are entirely forgotten. But enough OF TINS.
Let's Danish care and let the future take care OF IT.
SELF We will be merry to-day if we arc miserable
tomorrow. The new year opens brShtiy-may "
end So First of January is celebrated in New York
by all classes, the great MISUNDERSTANDING Is
only partially observed. Business OF all kinds bat
selling liquor, is suspended and the entire male pop
ulation turn out in their best and celebrate the day
after their ow taste and fashion. Some sing. some
read some dance, some visit, some tight, and some
get tight. capital day the first for the lovers
of sport With SNOW under foot and c!oudless
sky overhead the fast men had all they wished Tor
or desired Hundreds OF sleighs were out, convey
ing to and fro both young and old gentlemen; Ill
many cases fathers and all pay pass hire, to see
their sweet hearts and friends, who were prcared
with Smiles cake and wine, to give them warm,
sweet, and merry greeting Eve before the LIST JAN
uary every house is upset and renovated from the
attic to the cellar. New furniture, new carpets,
splendid dresses and costly pearls, and sparkling
diamonds are exhibited, and the extravaganza man
ner in which some of these houses furnished and
decorated with frescos and paintings, and sculpture
would astonsh the nobility of arstocratc Europe
The fitting out of fashionable belle for the OCCASION
would make a considerable hole in North Carolina
fortune The ladies and bar keepers all remain at
"home" to receive company; no female OF any pre-
tensions is the streets or caught out OF place
The excitement amongst the ladies on that day IS IN
tense for fear of being sighted this is shared in,
hyn Ttinx
the quality OF the visitors as about the hunters
Each lady keeps list, and the door is watched with
deep socitude at every sound OF the bell, to see II
one is to be announced or dozen; 1t only one, 1t
brings disappointment No matter who it is, If 1t IS
dozen monkeys with InouStachcS, all IS right as they
count twelve on the list l observed on the table Of
one of the ladies, list of her visitors, which amour
ted to 81 at five O'Clock; visiting is kept up until
six or seven in the evening Opposite each name
she had sketched their profile: was well done;
could at once recognize the likeness OF some OF my
acquaintance. AS you both fashionable gentle
MEN, perhaps little information regard to New
Years visiting in New York may be of interest 10
you. You must first procure CREASED hat, new KID
gloves, new suit of clothes, carriage and gentle
man in livery, if you have the mcans-printers al
ways have, you know-at any r"te, so MM6 del.n-
quent Subscribers; but if you should accidentally
happen to be short, say your horses arc lame, and
take your foot ill your hand and start about noon
When you get to the door examine your list, which
is prepared beforehand to see if your name and
number corn eSpond with the name on the door plate
sometimes man gets in the wrong pew-as he Is
not acquainted, he does not discover his mlstakc-
pull of the bell brings the door open hand your
card to the goil-laccd individual in waiting, follow
few PAGES in the rear pause at the door oil the recep-
ton until you think your card has reached the
hands Of the lady, the. enter, bow, and be seated
a glass of wine and cake somemes-not always
is handed Sip and taste, then rise and retreat back
wards, occasionally casting your eyes behlnd-you
may stumble OttOmans and chairs, or bring up
in the corner; but do not turn ybur back, let the
consequences be what they may that wouldn't be
etiquette. When you reach the door, bow and re-
tire You then entitled to invitations 10 parties
from the ladies' Isit not pleasant to be fashonabe3
But what kind of time do you have in those elegant
houses? of course you must say capital; and Miss
and SO is charming belle; aud Miss 30 and so is
the most lovely creature in the world, and it was
such a treat to meet them. Now two-thrds Of those
fashionable houses owned and occupied by sue
cessful old butchers and BARRIERS, who have aassed
their fortunes in few years. You know all fashion,
able people enjoy themselves, whether North or
South, particularly those young gentlemen who pay
fashionable passes, and have to wait in cold room
for half hour more for ladies' to arrange their
toilet, who are ssoding, if young ladies ever do such
naughty things, and wondering what in the world
those fools called bother them for that they had
better be at work. So some papas think.
accepted an invitation from two of my friends to
SIT up with them to see the old out and the new
one in. About midnight we started fer restaurant
to get some refreshment; as entered, the keeper
took the door, and inquired what that meant? He
stated he expected an attack from society of men
and halfgrown boys called Calithumpians. Well,
observed to my friends, if that is in the bill offare,
we had better get away. Oh no, said the proprietor,
am ready for them; and in case they get in, you
can retire from the back way if you do not feel dis
posed to engage in it yourselves, which, assured
him, did not. The oysters were soon brought, and
were put away in less time than they ever were be-