New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-20
- ,sr,. a. unnatural as not to make some sort Of

and the accents OF anectOn 10 the eiders, VINO nave
Al, along been in the secret and are tickled to be
TINS reminded of their younger selves when they
niayed the same ingenious trick, perhaps with the
Tery same words. 1t s all nonsense, and foolishly
morose moraiziDg, TO cant bereupOn over the
selfish, calculating spirit of nephews and nieces,
children and grandchildren. With their "comph-
mems" 10 U.s. as with ours 10 each other, there is
some good feeling mingled with the calculation:
When jenkins meets Inc on the LIST OF January, and
hopes may have many returns Of the same and
wish the same TO him. what harm if the wish If not
so thoroughly ardent "a for ten per cent dividend
at the next semi-yeary declaration OF an insurance
company in which am interested There issOme-
thing in it, 1t is not wise to quarrel with lump OF
quartz ore because it is not solid nugget.
All the children being provided for-and ship
loads Of amusing paythings are now for sale III the
streets and in the shops OF the poorer quarters
that they may be bought for sou and two sous
apiece so that the humblest little toddlers in re-
ceipt of some poor toy-there come equally impor-
tunste recipients among the higher classes. say
recipients because the sixfoot concierge is as sure
of bis gift as your three-fOOt child. And though
sure he is impOrtunate. Not That my excellent
or.keeper. the P6re Martin, nor exc his better
three quarters the very good natured but efficient
Mere Martin, ever lisps word in these days of his
annual expectations. But | cannot help noticing
that NAV appartement is "made" more promptly,
deity, neatly; the water jugs are fuller, letters
come up stairs from the lodge more directly from
the hands of the postman; am wished more ssec-
Tomato good days and good evenings at matin and
yesper passage past the door, any time these past two
weeks, than during the preceding twelvemonth,
though will say that Pere and Mere Martin are
paragons in their profession without regard to times
and seasons. The pOstman comes in these days, not
TO leave letter for You at the door but mp stairs to
your room, and begs your acceptance OF his card
which is an almanac for next year, and as you see,
begins with the first Of January. Not that he asks
YOU for anything-nether does the waiter ut the
place where you dine drink your coffee-but YOU
had best give trfe, for your own sake, and you
ought to for his You will both of you be the better
for it, Their wives, am told, must by no means
be overlooked in the general distributions Of gifts
They are said to accept anything from cashmere
shawls and life annuties to boxes of sweetmeats.
Somebody must receive great quantities OF the latter
for the shops dealing in the endless variety Of this
article are very much frequented by customers;
and such of them as are situate in the wealthy quar-
tiers of the town are now especially at night, among
the most elegant and brilliant shops of the capital
One other kind of gift and receipt now covers every
possible everybody omitted i'll the above classes
EVERYBODY makes the NewYear's visit in person,
sends pastebOard representative, which lattery,
in cases, with doubtful taste, bears beside the
name, the photograph Of the owner.
NeW-Year's week, as You may judge, so occupies
everybody with the special duties of the that
politics. foreign or domestic-even murder trials
and duels of which last, of late, we have had four
or fve--attract little no attention The difficulty
of making the coup d'etat and constructing his new
government at the close of 1851 and beginning of
1852 was materially alleyated to its author by
what in its stricest sense, may be called the cir
cumstance of the time.
1t is pleasing reflection to little ones that the
great paryenu, with all his success and power,
not raise himself to hight free from the bore COM
20 hmm Nv ne call He
not have to pay them, it is true, but receive he
must and the Monittur has already advertised so
much of the world as have the privilege of entrance
10 the imperial presence of the hour and order of
their going. There will be this year, as usual the
ordinary gifts of cgionary honors.
Quite apropos of my theme. must mention for
the possible benefit of NEWCOMERS the actual sue
cess at Nice of reform long since proposed to be
introduced at Paris by that kindly satirist, that
practical mOralist, that genial grumber over mod
ern follies, AphOnse karr. From the 9th of this
month up to the LIST of January, inclusive, and from
9 o'clock a. IN. till noon, and 3 o'clock p. IN.
till 6, there is a room open at the Hotel de Vile OF
Nice and an attendant official to receive and record
the contributions and names of contributors which
and who are presented and present themselves
The offerings must not he less than ten francs. Al
ter the last named date is passed, list % the sub
scribers will be posted at the Hotel de Vile and in
other public places of the town. The persons
whose names appear on the list will be Judged to
have made all the calls which they should cOnven
tionally make on New-Years day. AT future day,
so many of them as choose TO attend will decide i'll
public assembly upon the charitable application to
be made of the product of their contributions.
Here is not only great saving of time to the call
ers but saving of bcstatOns on doubtful cases On
the part of the first class and of wounded suscept
blites on the part of the second class, which is
specially commended to the thoughtful meditation
of economical New Workers and New YOrkesSes be-
tween now and January ], 1859; until which time
Your and--tO so many of them, male and female as
native intelligence and ingenious love of journal.
istic knowledge lead to take in THE TRIBUNE
their correspondent, making HE profoundest bow,
wishes all the happiness that can be crowded into
the next three hundred and sixly-ive days.
TIE MIDNIGHT MASS AT THE MADELEINE.
The midnight mass Of Christmas eve was cele-
brated at the Madeleine i'll all ts wOnted splendor,
and once attracted vast crowds to it, solemn
and striking ordinances. BY 10 o'clock the vast n-
terror of the Madeleine, incomparably nobler and
more imposing when lighted up al night than when
seen under the dull imprisoned rays forced into 1t
ungracefully aud unwingly by day, was occupied
by a dense assemblago, filling area, trbunes, and
upper galleries. and waiting patiently two hours for
ceremony which was to endure two hours more from
its commencement. Nothing could be more or
derlv aud edifying than the general aspect of this
immense congregation, composed almost i'll equal
numbers Of men and women and of every rank of the
population from highest to lowest. The rich and
drawing-room-like decorations of this magnificent
church put forth all their splendors for the occasion
and the eve was dazzlcd by the display oil sides of
rich drapcres carpets and gorgeous candeabras aud
prestly vestments, sparkling under blaze OF light
IN the midst of which the superb white marble altar
witi it, LOFTY figure ofthe Virgin borne aoft by winged
angels Of gigantic size-one Of the finest works Of
Pradicr-lltcd itself and it, bright iluninatons
sunlight center of attraction. From time to time VI
rAbbt Dagucrry, the cure OF the Madeleine, crossed
the spacious platform before the altar, aud scanned
the congregation with his keen eye, 10 see whether