The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-01

1t has been ntimaed to us from a source which
we are not at liberty to mention, although we
violate no confidence in disclosing the fact, that
there is great probability of very serious de-
monstraton to-day on the part of a certain class
of our population. 1t is rumored that quite p con-
siderable number of young men, hitherto ranking
among the most respectable portion of our COM
munity, and including, it is said, some of orr
every best society, intend to make an indis-
criminae foray upon many of the most fashionable
residences in the city, with the view of appropri-
ating TO themselves whatever in the eating and
drinking line those houses may afford. The
dwelling of the beautiful and accomplished Miss
IN - street, we are assured, will be at
tackled by at least two hundred of these despera-
does, who, after efecting an entrance, propose TO
seize and carry off with them immense quantities
of the fine old wine for which that splendid man.
sion Is celebrated. The magnificent establishments
OF Mr.. and of = & + e, Esq., are also
seriously threatened, and although no application
has yet been made by these gentlemen, that we can
learn, to Marshal HERRING for protection, we do
not doubt their intention to give the intruders a
warm reception. We presume that the whole CITY
WILL as is usual on such occasions, be the scene of
similar attacks, and would admonish our citizens
to prepare themselves accordingly We think that
the ladies had best remain within doors and array
themselves in their most becoming attire, and in
case of emergency, arm their servants with punch
bowls, decanters and such other domestic weapons,
as may be most convenient. In the meantime,
we hope that Mayor SwANN's "police-arrange-
ments' will be as admirable and as efficient as
usual, and afford US that perfect protection
in person and property which he has heretofore
been in the habit of extending to us, in DAYS of
Public Elections, and other occasions of popular
excitement. Nor in making this suggestion do
we wish our readers to suppose that we are only
testing. New Years Day-for it is of the social
observances with which we hail the advent of the
New Year, that we are speaking-more than any
other American holiday, seems liable to be abused
Owing, perhaps, in part TO our peculiar geo.
graphical position, situated midway between the
North and the Southland partly to the mixed
character of our population, composed of persons
from every portion of the UNIoN-not excepting or
forgetting the Eastern Shore of our own State-a
larger number of such holidays in the course of
the year, seem to fall to the lot of Baltimore than
TO that of any other American city. Thanksgiv-
ing Is observed here almost as religiously as in
New England, and Christmas much more So
while the Fourth of July is celebrated among us,
with degree OF patriotism and drunkenness which
may be equalled, but not surpassed-esewhere |
Of these holidays, several are of foreign origin |
and modern importation. The festival of Thanks |
giving, for example, as we have heretofore men
toned is relic of the primitive faith and ideas of
the New England Puritans that of New Years.
OF the manners and customs of the early Colonists |
OF New York Those hard-drinking, steady-go-
ing Dutchmen used to observe it with great solem-
nifty. They exchanged gifts and visis-forgave old |
enmltes-and renewed old friendships on that day
AS matter of course, many pipes were smoked, and
much Schnapps consumed yet, as might be ex-
pected, among people of their phlegmatic tenn
permanent, without leading to any serious or hurt
full excess. Not so, however, with the modern
Of New Workers, from whom we have
borrowed both the festival and the mode and
manner OF its observance. By them it has been
into day of universal license drunk
enness and neutrality-suspicious. respectable
peoples houses into bar-rooms and their di,uyh-
tiers into bar-mads, and resulting only
in nausea and headache. To such an extent
have these unpleasant consequences of n system of
lndiscriminate visiting and universal tipping, been
carried in New York,-that this year, we find
number of influential journals in that city advo-
eating, if not the abrogaton ofthe custom, at least
an entire reformation of the social obServances at
tending it. Prominent among these reforms, and
ITSELF by its obvious necessity and pro-
priety less to readers than to those for
whose benefit it was originally suggested-is the
of the practice of offering ''refresh-
nents" to visitors, out of which have grown
most if not all of the abuses which we have
Shorn of this Objectionable feature,
here is not only no reason why the Festival of
New Years should fall into disrepute, but every
'eason, why it should be one of the pleasantest-
rs it is the first-upon the Calendar