The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-01-16

DECEMBER 81, 1855.
| A busy day has this been, for all are en-
gagged in preparing for New York's great fes-
tival. The children whose merry vacation
time is drawing to close endeavor to crowd
all possible pleasures into the two remaining
/ days. Their glad shouts ELL the frosty air with
music. Gentlemen walk more briskly than
ever down Broadway. Business for two days
must be transacted in one, and meanwhile
there are presents to purchase, and remin-
/ der given to the tailor to be punctual. As to
! us ladies, there are 4 thousand things to at
/ tend to. Immense responsibilities rest up
/ on us. Our parlors must wear their fresh
est, pleasantest look, the table of each at
least rival that Of her neighbor, and above
all each one Of us must look our prettiest.
In the meantime it is very provoking to
find the pavements covered with ice so as to
render fast walking impracticable. Ice is
indeed great leveller. Yon stately politi
clan, moving with majestic tread; the deli
cate dame who only vouchsafes to walk from
one jewelry establishment TO another aud
the apple-woman at the corner of st. Thorn
as ; allmeet now on common ground. Fan
cy your correspondent with her arms filled
with holiday gifts attempting to cross the
grand pace, the precious freight is in immi
nent peril, to say nothing of its bearer, who
is rescued from the throng of carriages and
borne safely to the other side by the arms of
a stalwart policeman.
Many and varied are the amusements for
the evening, for those who are not too busy
or fatigued to 90 out. The Prophet will
probably attract large audience, as the
Academy will close in few nights more.
Many of the grand, mournful strains of this
opera, sound fit dirge for the dying year.
But the great subject Of talk and thought
is Of the morrow. Yet when to-morrow's
eve shall come, all that we now so eagerly
anticipate will seem vapid and idle. There
is much that is pleasant about this time-h hon
ored custom Of New Years calls. There
is something heart warming in the cordial
shake of the hand and ''Happy New
Year" We behold, too, many friendly face
seldom seen on any day but this, and perhaps
would be forgotten, so occupied are each
in their own pursuits, were it not for one day
in the wear set apart for the exchange Of the
courtesies of life. Yet despite all this, It's
weary work. The topics of conversation
are as yell known and acted upon as though
they were appointed by law. Happy the one
who possesses wit and tact enough to say
any thing worth remembering. AS gener-
al rule we laugh at what is intended to be
Imaginable, keep up a ceaseless stream of
small talk, and feel inwardly thankful that it
is only once I year.
But tonight sad thoughts crowd upon us.
Even the morrow seems afar off. The past
now claims our thoughts, but not among the
great events of the year do they linger. The
thought comes sadly to mind that '55 has
been fatal to liberty; that the fires that a
few years since so brightly burned are now
cold and dead. We think not Of contendng
armies, but of the little band Of patriots
who, scattered over the earth, still pray for
the liberty of Italy and Hungary. With
them 60 our hopes and prayers, that sc
may bring brighter prospects to those who
suffer wrong.
The bright spring, the cool delicious sum
mer, and the golden autumn just past, are
now present to memory, and We sadly ask
ourselves if we have cleaned beauty, kind
ness, and love from the abundant haryests
given us? Alas weary and dissatisfied,
We feel LIES problem is still unsolved; we
feel and know the great mystery of living,
yet we cannot resolve it or make life true
poem the spirit sings the measure, but our
grosser nature cannot follow it. MAY a
bright sunshine usher in New Year, and
new life TO some of as AxNIE.