New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-01-08
cgatts and egGintioNs.

Stats and cGifttioils.
An EcoNoNIcAL New YEARS. C1rr--It las
been custom FROM time immemoria sanctiliei
by tie prccedents of ascending generations, to
make presents on New Years Day. 1t is a time
honored custom the origin of which is lost in the
mist of ages, and like all old established things such
as marriages. eating, drinking, dancing and flirting
| it has its good side. Nothing renoyates u waning
| friendship like an opportune present; nothing
| helps so much in affairs Of the heart an appro-
| pirate gift. The writer himself is not afraid of
publishing that one Of the best ways Of securing
his friendship, would be delicate attention in
the way of something useful OF ornamental.
This custom, however, is made to serve other
/ purposes tran mere interchanges of friendship.
1t is often made the channel by which true or fc-
titous love makes itself known to the adored one,
by bashful and timid lovers. An incandescent
note is so easily placed in box of giIdsd paste
board, in company with other sweets of minor i'm
portance; souls are so easily opened with the
opening year. and the heart is SO very near the
stomach that petition to it, accompanied by an
appetzing store of ''bonbons,' y has every human
chance of success. The plan is very good one,
and we recommend it to all those who are too
bashful to speak out boldly the wishes Of their
heart to the object OF their dreams but it has its
snares and ambushes, and we will relate ease in
point, which brought some parties in this appa-
rently prosac city upon the very verge of despair
and small swords.
The fashion of New Orleans is in the habit Of
receiving its friends at stated evenings during the
week; say, Mrs ones every Monday, Mrs. Smith
on Tuesdays, Mrs. Brown on Wednesdays, and SO
on all the week around. These evenings are styled
reception evenings" and very pleasant, 'yea,
they are lovely !" There is dancing, ice cream,
cakes and punch. There is grace, beauty and
entertainments. The same circle of acquaintances
. me
great many end by being fast friends. Some even
go further and get so fast that Alexander's sword
would have been inadequate to the task OF cutting
them asunder
This institution is very commendable for its So
ciabity, but it has one perniclous side; ard many
bachelor, who prided himself upon his freedom
and invunerable heart, has fallen victim to these
social meetings A young gentleman Of this city,
one of the F. f. LIS, having lpet certain young
lady at these reception evenings for month or
, two previous to New Years day, became enamorel
that he would wed her or be miserable for the
balance of his life. But he was hashn-he ap-
preached her upon several occasions bent upon
telling his love, yet never could muster up sufi
cent courage to risk the fatal aVowal, when he ar
rived at what's vulgarly denoninated the pinch.
, He pined in thought and with green and yel
q low melancholy smiled at grief, till New Years
day came, with its egg-nogs which ill the soul
with daring aspirations and luminous ideas, and
9 its presents which can be used as a channel fol
. the PRONUNCIATION of the same. He resolved upor
/
paper, and sending the whole i'll a fancy box o
, bonbons to the idol of his heart; by this means
. he avoided the oral declaration which awed HI:
j. soul to such an alarming extent.
: Having, therefore, made selection of one o
the finest boxes which. he could procure Of thu
most fashionable conlectioner in the city, he sa
7 himself down and indted the fatal epistle, upoI
which he took good care to write no address, ant
= bright and early New Years day sent th
present, big with eNpectant fate, to the address
|. his inamorita.
e This young lady, it seems, was not at the tim
in love with the young gentleman; so that, afte
having paid the necessary tribute of admiration t.
the box, and carelessly looked at the tempting
l. superstratum of g 'bonbonsn which neither gaz
=, on opening it, (not imagining for moment tn
:, burning thoughts which its placid exterior con
u cealed,) she closed it abruptly and pondered.
g The result of her reflections was that she had
a friend, married lady, to whom she wished t.
Il make nice present. without paying high pric
- for the same, and that box was the very thing
y g If it were done 'twere well that it were don
h quickly,' she said quoting our old friend Shaks
IS peare, and she forthwith sent the present to he
=, friend.
The unsuspecting lady reeaived it with man
thanks, and thought good deal more of her trien
Y for such beautiful New Years gift She ate
few of the bonbons and left the box on the table
!. Her husband on that evening happening to fee
= like munching at something, opened the casket G
q gilded paste5oard, and tumbled about the swee
things in search of his choice piece. Before fine
e ing that, however, the note most suspciously pei
q fumed, attracted his notice. His wife was in a
- adjoining room attending to household affairs N
address was upon it. He could not resist the temp
Is tati0n he opened and read it. Horror Of hol
7 rors! il was a written declaration of love to th
- wife of his bosom pressing declaration. II
l0 was of jealous and fiery disposition; such
Is thing was enough to- drive any husband to frenzy
He crumpGd up the note, put it in his pocket an
ot vowed vengeance against the rash suitor.
y, That night he slept not; jealous heart is a
III enemy to sweet slnmbers. As soon as he prOperl
nc could, on the second of January, he sought fc
ar the unfortunate writer of the love message. Il
" privately. The young gentleman acquiesccd, an
III they adjourned to the street. The Jealous hu
he band pulled out the note from his pocket, al
nj showing it to She astOnsh9d lover, his hand hem
fs ling with indignation:
rs did yom write tlis?'~ said he.
d. "I did" answered the lover, "but do n
an understand how you"
C. i" How I came by 1t? exclaimed the enragt
1 husband; ''you did not depend upon that, "
IN imagined that your villany would be hidden fro
TO- my eyes forever but base pr0iiigatc, you W
iii pay dearly for your insOlenee. must have il
ris mediate satisfaction"
H. Our friend attempted to remor strate and e
IL plain, but it was all in vain the husband was c
ragged and would hear nothing, but went aw
to threatening.
er, In the course of that day, two gentlemen, !
,os longing to that class of friends who make it
do point to see.that you are properly killed. accol
es- ing to the rules Of the code of honor, present
ing themselves at the unfortunate lovers office, "
, al polite invitation to deadly meeting ar>t
"Oaks.h
az Politeness sometimes assumes fearful aspects
OF course, mans dignity being dearer to b
than life, the young gentleman simply referred
two polite emssaries to two equally unfiinchi
ess and unccmpromising friends OF his own, who to