The New York herald., 1869-01-01
NEW YEARS DAY.

Tho Dying Of the Old Ycar-Busy Prepara.
lions for tho New Ycar-Scenes Lasc
Evening In tho City-Progranme for ToN
Day.
1t was busy day yesteriay-busy as the closing
day Of the old year, busy in the preparations for
the new year, streets and stores and city cars and
carriages were filed with busy people. There were
the last holiday purchases to be made, and in conse
quence day OF busy shopping for the ladies among
all the varieties OF dry goods, iewery, toys, books
and flowers. There was great deal to be attended
to in the way OF preparations for the new year re-
ceptions-the confectoneres to VISIT further orders
to be left at the bakers, something more
snowy In the way Of cake and fruit baskets,
and crockery and cutlery to be obtained,
and an addition to be made to the stores OF
wines and other liquors, the supply OF which
previously laid In it was feared would not equal the
demand. All this was also ladies' work. There
were new clothes to be got-a glossy chapeau as
bran new as the year; white gloves possessing tho
virginia. freshness; boots with toes OF the gon
doia PROV pattern-suits, In fact OF special smart
ness for todays calls. This was the work OF young
men. Stad business men, whose souls are moro
absorbed In speculaons In real estate fancy stocks
est Of feminine smiles, were busy Strengthening out
their years accounts. There was unw0nted excite
ment, or rather the excitement Indigenous to the
closing OF the year. everywhere-in the streets and
out OF them. in store in shop, In counting
and formations Of new ones; closing Of old business
engagements and commencement OF new ones. The
day In, fact, was generally given up 10 winding up
OF the new year. with many, as the clock on old
Trinity struck the midnight hour, the dying Of the
time OF solemn resolves for the future OF high pur-
pose OF the laying aside OF vicious habits OF earnest
time than the end OF the year or such resolutionsi
The time suggests seriousness OF thought, but un-
happily In the end the resolves thus made mostly
turn out as that OF the devils resolving on certain
occasion portrayed with the result In the follow
ing familiar quotation:-
When the devl was sick the devil q monk would be;
But the devil got well and devil a monk WAS he.
We have spoken OF II being q busy day. II was, II
anything. a more busy evening; but the business
our city barrooms Notwithstanding the Bohemian
assaults the character OF the liquors vended at
these places were ps,ronlzea wn unusual r,nn I,Der
succession, In memorium OF the expiring year and
equally congratulatory drinks TO the new year. An
other circumstance induced to this frequent imbiba-
ton-the fact that by imperous edict of Superin-
tendent Kennedy, that great model conservator OF
public morals barrooms interdicted to-day from
dispensing their usual dnrnal quota OF liquid light
ming. As the result Of the free drinking last even
ing. or rather taking time In tins . manner by tho
tion, and the more lively ~ midnight approached,
In the streets and elsewhere The streets, In fact
dies, a., for instance:-
Blythe lake where droops the willow.
Row, brothers row;
And jump Jim Crow.
or in the following melody, equally curious:-
on IN the ssiy night
Make way for liberty, he cried;
with Peggy BY my side
As an onset 20 this were the solemn services in the
Methodist churches, or watching the old year out
and new wear IN, as they are called.
TO indulge N prophecy as 70 the weather to-day Is
Ssrcmetsr s e;ssly comnsss hay Be- bee clsss sss
1t may freeze and Il may paw. But Whatever the the
Wound % Be happy Ss Ne. NEAR"
ladies doing their best and smiling their prettes as
entertaining hostesses, and Of our young and middle
aged and old gentlemen Of doing themselves the
OF their hosptaties and sweetest looks. Mcsropoli-
tan juveniledom--if the weather Is propitious and
the Ice In good condtion-will make themselves
happy their skates and with their seds. The the
aires, circus and Ethiopian minstrel concerts-at
nearly all OF which there win be mttinee PERFORM
tutoDs there will be entertainments given TO the In
mates and many hearts thereby made happy. To
all we wish "happy New Year"
Watch Mcetings-Isciigisus Exercises In tse
Methodist Churchcs-A solemn pIIslpIshe
Hour.
From time immemorial, even before the memory OF
the traditional "oldest inhabltant, came into pay
the Methodist Church has celebrated the departure
OF each old year and the advent OF every new one
by religious services at their various places OF public
worship. From the fact that these assembIages
break up soon after the midnight hour has been
passed. and that the time Is spent In anticipation OF
the birth OF new yearly epoch Of time, they
have been appropriately termed 'watch Meetings."
Last night presented no exception to the general
rule with the Methodist societies but both IN thus
city and In Brooklyn all the churches were wei al
tended, and al an hour unusual for worshppcrs tho
streets in the vicinity OF the leading Methodist Fps.
copal churches were thronged with detout men anf
women who were proceeding to spend IN prayer and
praise the last moments OF the year Of our Lord
1868 and the first OF lis newybo successor 1es9
The services IN all the different churches stint
lar IN character, the only difference noticeable being
due to the peculiar tastes OF the minister
layman who presided. Passages OF Scrip
ture aIiordins consoiation 70 tne believer or
read. some OF the more appropriate hymns OF John
Wesley, which spoke OF the flight Of time and ihe
necessity for preparation for eternity, were sung;
and Christian brethren offered prayers Tor the lDr-
giveness OF the sins which marred record OF the
past year and for strength 10 live better the new
one Addresses were delivered the speakers dwell
ing upon the uncertainty OF life, the great good
ness Of God and the unworthiness OF the sons of
men, exh0rting all present To come 10 q
determination that the year 1869 should sec q
greater devotion In His service and greater zeal
for his glory The most solemn part In the services
was, however. the spending OF the time which
ushered IN the new wear In profound silence, tho
Whole woa @ Domea o~eas nsaqs Jon,ns ~
could not fail 10 feel the solemnity OF this silent
time. The slowly ticking clock spoke OF the rapid
fight OF time the associations OF the house of
prayer suggested religious thoughts, aud the
whole building seemed TO be filed with power
which, though unseen, was nevertheless present.
When at last the birth Of the opening year was
nounced the congregations sang songs Of praises TO
the God OF Ages and after prayer dispersed 10 their
homes with hearts full Of devotion ana gratitude
and with minds strengthened BY the exercises OF
the solemn hour
New Years Eve Is celebrated in various ways
but IL may well be doubted n any persons spend
II In better manner than those who constitute the
congregations ut these watch meetings.
Amusements This Day and evening.
There will be q few exceptions to-day, some man.
ayers being determined to force mainees upon their