The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-01
New Years Day.


To-day we usher in the new year in the usual
New York style, which is, as we have before re-
marked, by no means good style. We are all
supposed to enter upon eighteen hundred and
iifty-nine with a large package OF good resolu-
tons which are manuf 3ctured on the last day Of
every Dece ubcr to be broken up the first day Of
every January. The manner of celebrating the
day-tbat is, making it the excuse for baccha-
nalian orgie-is the chief cause of our selfstult6
cation. AS rule, general holiday among
miAed population like ours is general nuisance,
made 80 by drinking, fighting, and rowdysm of
all sorts The deduction is plain, that if the
univ eisal celebration of New Years is nuisance
and we have within the last week received en-
dorsements of our structures upon it from many
respectable quarters, we say that 1t follows plain
ly that such nuisance ought to be abated. At
the same time we do not assume the Spartan or
Puritanical code, and attempt to deprive the peo-
pie Of all classes of any recreatons or amuse-
ments of proper and beneficial kind. We favor
the increase rather than the diminution Of holt
days. Our argument is that the practice
of general visiting on New Years day is
proper enough for a village or small town,
such as New York was q hundred years ago,
but that it is manifestly absurd in q great me-
tropolis, with population suburbs included-of
over million souls. Our social life is as vet
disorganized, and very many people the rising
generation especial Require some training be-
fore they can behave properly in drawing
room.
The history Of the observance of New Years
Day may give some shadow of excuse to the bar
barians who abuse il here. 1t was dedicated by
the Romans to the god Janus, not the most re-
spectacle Of the NEUROLOGICAL dcities. The
Romans celebrated the anniversary of the
double-faced god with shows, masquerades,
games and feasts, and so on. Very likely they
roasted a Christian or two, by way of cheerful
and seasonable variety. The early Christians
tasted on this day, by way Of contrast to the
heather. So it will be seen that we have fallen
back into the slough Of heathenism. At the
time of the Reformation, however the Anglican
church gave us the example, and, with the Roman
church, assigned the day as the period for the
feast of the Circumcision. TO the Romans
Years, and that of presenting gifts, which
were only at first respectful tenders from the
servant to the MASTER or the inferior to the supe
rior. 1t does not appear that the Roman custom
took root in Britain, the festival of Christmas
having been the chief holiday from time imme-
mortal. I'm Holland, however, the custom of
celebrating New Years Day was universal; and
the old Knickerbockers brought it to New York,
where it has degcnerated from being period of
cheerful festivity to general bacchanalian orgie
alike Injurious to the fame of the city and dis
graceful to the boosted civilization of the age.
We believe that the custom is not observed to
any great extent in any other city except San
Francisco, where if all stories are true, it is even
greater nuisance than here.
We believe that the custom of celebrating New
Years Day is going out. 1t involves great ex-
pense and trouble for no adequate recompense.
As we are informed many people will not re-
ceive to-day; and, judging from the terrible con-
dition of the streets at the present writing, the
number of visiters will be smaller than usual
And finally, if the younger portion Of our people
desire to preserve vestige Of their favorite holi
day, they must be careful to use its privileges in
a more guarded, temperate, sober and polite
manner than heretofore. Thus and thus only
can they have really happy new year; for which
blessing to all our readers we sincerely and
earnestly pray.