The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-31
The Dissertation OF New Year, Day.


The political and social decentralization Of
people always proceed with equal and exact
steps. In this city the municipal government
has been gradually growing more and more
corrupt weak and inefficient during the last
twenty years. 1t has been administered gene
rally by irresponsible and disreputable persons
who have attached to their skirts a crowd of
leeches clsmoring Niolently for the spoils If
any respectable or responsible man found himself
among these cormorants, he was glad to get out
such company as soon as possible. The poll
ans, as a sort of security for their tenures of
Office have been the ready advocates and pro-
tectois before the law, Of the bullies who con-
troll the primary elections and monopolisc the
polls. This evil example has not been without
IL M raj effect upon the rising generation, and
the city of New York can now produce more
plentiful crop Of juvenile rowdies, scamps and
scoundrels, than any other metropolis in Christen
dom. Encouraged BY the companionship, coun-
sci and example of rascals older than themselves,
these young rowdies think there can be no limit
to the exercise of their peculiar appetites, and
they act upon that hypothesis.
On ordinary occasions, the exploits Of
the rowdy population are usually confined
to their own special cliques, but in
season Of general festivity like the holidays
which we are now enjoying, the barrier between
them and the respectable classes of the commu-
nifty is impaired if not broken down altogether.
They make New Years day the period of Bac-
chanalian festival of the most disgraceful charac-
ter. II should be properly the time for general
settlement for all the shortcomings and errors of
the past year. and hopeful earnest desire to
avoid similar derelctons in the future Inter
changes Of friendly courtesies between neighbors
and intimate friends is proper upon New Years
day, rs matter of course; but there is really no
more special occasion to pay visit then than on
any other day Of the year. In fact, with the
usual influx of bores and fellows who know
nothing of the ordinary courtesies and proprieties
of life, the practice Of New Years visiting has
become so far unpleasant that many persons,
visited and visitors, have dropped it altogether.
The voluntary ahrogation of the custom seems to
he "a fact almost accomplished 1t is abrogated
the moment that it ceases to be universal rule
10 pay OF 10 receive Nlsls, especially Oh THAT Jay.
In the fashionable world it was once the custom
to issue invitations to sorfes to persons who had
the en'rfs Of the house on New Year day. but that
has been done away with long ago, and the mere
fact that man visits house on New Years day
gives him no warrant to enter its doors again on
any pretence. Nothing could keep up the Gus
tom Of New Years visits were it not for the
vanity Of some silly women, who boast of the
number of 'calls" they have had during the day.
OF all the small female ambitions this is the pet
tiest. 1t is gratifying to know, however, that
the custom in its exigcncy has received severe
blow at the hands Of many respectable people
who will not permit their hearths to be invaded
and the household gods polluted by prying
strangers, with their strings of common place and
dull, ceremonious compliments. A heavy snow
fall and no refreshments will nearly do the
business for the great bulk of New Years callers
tomorrow. The snow we are pretty sure Of,
the absence of creature comforts will he marked,
as we learn, on all hands.