Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-01-02
TpnuauratIop of tho New Year

The festivities and ceremonies attending
the coming-in of the new year we're COM
menced Tuesday night. The streets pre-
sented a bustling appearance about nine
o'clock, incidental to social gatherings in
private dwellings, and religious ceremonies
in many of the churches. Old aud young
tbronged the thoroughfares-some medi-
tatipg on the Past others joyous and happy,
living in the Present, and expecting much of
the Future.
In the churches the obsequies attending
the departure of the old year and the birth
of the new one we're impressive and solemn.
A few moments before the tolling of dis
tant town-c clock reverberated the hour of
midnight, and announced the beginning of
the new year, the people of God kneeled,
and, with new resolutions, cent up to the
throne of their Redeemer silently aud noise
lessly as death itself, the advent was made;
and when they arose from their humble po-
sition, they lived in the Present of the new
year.
The scenes, however, in other houses and
places were vastly different. Here were
gathered the young and thoughtless, who,
come what might, were resolved to be "gay
and happy"
Around table ladeued with viauds of a
most delicious nature, with glasses filed and
arms uplifted, they welcomed the new year
with Bacehanslian revelries, borne to the
streets on the waited breeze of new Time,
and dying in the distant, as if they were
dragged out of hearing by the departing old
year. Here, in a dwelling. house whose
damask curtains gives sombre Redeemed hue
to the brilliant lights of the gay apartments,
is congregated social party of young ladies
and gentlemen in or just out of their teens.
Every thing conducive to enjoyment and
happiness, is here. And they are happy; for
their bright and laughing faces tell no false
| hoods; they are mirrors of their inward feel
iDgs, and the reflection reads happiness
| AS the hour of twelve approaches, they form
| in large circle, and in the center on a
throne is placed a representative of the New
| Year. When the hour Is sounded they kneel
and sing u refrain replete with harmony, yet
solemn as q funeral dirge chaunted in the
Catacombs. This ended, they arise, and al
make their obeisance to the personifed New
Year.
From the time of the advent of the new
| year until morning the streets contained tbs
"fast young bloods" and the "roughs," vel
| filled with intoxicating beverages As they
staggered slong, arm in arm, the indis
pensable
1--WE won't go home till morning."
was hiccuped out, frequently disiointed witt
| drunken shouts and blasphemous osths
| They made good their rasseVerations, and thei
hideous bowls of "Happy New Year" were
not silenced until the hour announcing tht
approach of the first tints of gray morn wa
sounded forth on the morning air.
| Yesterday-New-Ye Years Day-was gene
rally observed as holiday in all parts of th
city. 1t was a day of rest and enjoyment
and its temperature reminded one of simi
larity to the close approach of spring.
Dinners we're served up at the hotels il
excellent styles, and were disposed of by th
possessors of hungry sppeti,es with litt
reverence but many thanks. Buggies, hack
and other "turnouts" paraded the street
from morn till night, containing 'cRllerS,
who had been got up for the occasion will
care and the aid of fashion, with design t.
favorably impress those on whom they thrus
their presence. We suppose they did; W
hope they did. We know of a young lad
in this city who this morning figured u
Just tWo hundred and nineteen calls.
The day passed off without accidents o
casualties, and was, in truth, just such a
ovation as might have been given to an
New Year with satisfaction to both partic
pants snd the occasion.