The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1864-12-31
LOCAL NEWS.
HEw YORK AND TUE VICINITY


lScc-NEw frAR's CALLs-FAamoS AELE DIsNrA-
noS' hio.-To-night tie sythe u memorable Tmc
strikes The year l6i from existence, 10 make roora
Tor young and blooming 1865 what an eventfui
experience does the old year carry with ~ aud
"hsa prominent niche II will occupy In The his
tory Of the world From the pcriod Of It's birth.
what joys and sorrows. whs, hopes aud fc.rs hs.
bched The great world. with ns thouAand
million inhabitants, has passed through another
cycle each OF the countless throng experiencing tho
JOYS snd sorrows OF life bearing up under the Ms,
OF sinking beneath tho burdens imposed. Although
the time scems abort since the yclhful 1884 step
ped upon the Stase NJ tme, how varied hrs been It's
experience Evory~hcrc /, vas grcotci with good
rcsolu,iona with promises of a moro cxempl.rv
We with pledges that to be carried out in prsc
tco while the ycsr lasted. Yc, vhcre .ro ,hsv To-
day Like tho soed sown by the husband
man. IN tho parable, they sprung up and Gear-
hned Tor brief season; but the worldly tares
ehoked them, and they pssscd into oblivion. 9th
erS pcrchancc, arc a. tho secd which brought forth
shunsirod fold. and to-day will he remembered bv
the suthors of such resolves Az the closing of welt
spent year. But 1854 has looked upon scenes far
different hum thcec IL has sonn the soldier 90,
forth from his peaceful homo to Int tho battles Of
bis country; she tosrful lea,e-tsking; tho bright
hopcs Of reunion; the last embrace. And on tho
battlefield 1t has looked down on that form 80
dear to loved ones At home, sleeping ''thai sleep
that knows no waking" The old year has looked,
Zoo, upon he cheerful side Of life, and {. has seen
tho brigh, rays Of happiness ilh,mine the dark
cloud While desolaung War has stalkod abroad
like demon of destruction, the year has also
yielded Its full measure Of Joy and good fellowship.
Peaceful svooations have bccn uninterrupted IN
our own country, prosperiiy has attended our pso-
pie and now, a" tho old yoar takas it leave pass
ing from tho Present TO the Pssi. We may vel.
come the now year with ~ much Of retoic-
ing @ we bestowed upon is predecessor.
In tho ancient hmcr tho exit Of the old year and
the advent Of the new WAS an interesting occasion
In all the countries Of ChristeDdom. Modern nno-
vasonH have for the most part done away with many
customs Of ''yo oldcn time" but there are soms
still observed In this country. The ceremony oe
''~stehing tho old year out and the year inc
is still generally obseryed by Msthodist denomins-
tons. On New Years Eve tho members of this
Church assamblc In thoir usual places Of worship.
at sbout ten O'Clock, and commence . course Of re-
lls1hs sorviccs, Consisting Of singing, prayer and
exhort.tion. This is continued until midnight,
and when the clock strikes twelve the whoe con-
grogation commence singing hymn, tho FIRST verso
u which Is as follows;
"Come Lot ua anew
Our journey pursue
Roll round with the year,
And never stand still 'til tho Master appear"
When this is concluded, prayer and the Bonodic-
ton follow, aftor which tho members bcstov good
wishes upon each other for thoir temporal and re-
ligious happiness during tho yosr, and return v,
their homer. Tho oolored Christians also make
"Watch Night" An important occasion, performing
their religious ceremonies with more than ordinary
enthusiasrn.
According 10 IN, usual custom, the chimes n
Trinity Church will ring q number Of appropriate
airs Ut midnight.
Tho secular Observance Of New Years eve Ia
more general than the roli,io,r and there ia dis.
position among all c'asv- W celebrate the exit Of
the old year with fun, frolic and hilsrity. Tho
Social Gibbs usually make = night Of it," by
feAstng upon tho choicest viands of the season, i'm
bibng tho oldest WINS, and indulging in thoss
conivialitios which 'mske the hours quickly p..s''
away. In tho family circle, tho evening is ususlly
spent joytully. Tie little ones have their parlor
games "children Of larger growth"-even papa
and mamms-arc for once in the year induced to
throw OF their dignity for game Of blind.man's-
buf-and merry-making reigns In the house In
many families IA second edition Of Santa Claus an.
IosrA with NewYea presents for the grown folks,
and the liI1e ones ar~usally supplied with another
ins:sllment Of holiday gifts which arc considered
pre-paymon, for being "sood " Throughout. tho
coming y,sr Dut amid all the gatniIy rc,oicin,