Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-12-27

One more Christmas, fraught with its
varied memories and lessons, 10 num-
bered with the past, and even now, be-
fore the egg-nogs, the champagne
punches and the smack of excellent
turkey is wiped from our lips, we stand
upon the Threshold Of another holiday, Q
notch upon the stick Of time which dates
Thousands of years back farther than
Christmas. The birth of new year is
an event which cannot lightly be over
looked, and all classes unite in congratu-
lations that day. And we'll may
we be thankful that we live to ap-
proach Sc near this festsl occasion
when we look at the wrecks on either
side Of our pathway for only short year
past, while If we go back to youth and
childhood to inquire for our companions
and the neighbors Of our fathers and moth
ers, the array is perfectly astonishing, and
the reflective mind Involuntary in
quires: "Why was l selected 10 live
while 40 many more worthy were taken
away2 But it is not our purpose or
even province to write homilY on the
mutations of time ard The warnings
which are written in the history and ex-
perience Of each new day. We are only
speaking now of holiday which our
people delight to observe--a day which
Is becoming more important in a social
point Of view every year.
Ga Christmas we stay ct home and
have friend to dine with us, unless he
Invites us first. Ia that case we eat
celery and turkey at his table, bus 10
either event it is a private affair, which
generally il all the better. Ga New
Years day we go to see everybody, that
is the Lords OF creation do, and every
body goes to see everybody else, and 70
they ell go visiting and nobody stays
at home but the unfortunate ladies',
and they are usually tired ont
with the monotony of the stereoiypad
phrases that they have to hear as well as
repeat long befose night. Even nightfall
affords no relief until near midnight, for
troops of friends continue to pour in long
after the orthodox bedtime. Toe custom
is very happy one in some respects,
though liable to abuse. A mistaken idea
prevails that everybody ct lone"
must set out magnificent dinner, cost
ing from three hundred to thousand
dollars, when this is not necessary, and
is great waste for small return.
The attaches 0; the LEDGE rIther
liked Christmas, and will also observe
New Years day. Hence no paper on
shat day. We will have time to speak of
the day between now and Saturday. The
only objection to New Years is that ii
comes SO soon after Christmas. People
get started on Christmas, aud before they
know it fad themselves celebrating New
Years, whether they yant to or not. Bot
its wey New Years hos had as long as
we can recollect, to come right after
Christmas. The following suggestions
may be of value to some of our lady
readers:
A custom prevails in some Of the
Eastern cities which lady reader sug-
gests might 10 adopted here with con-
venience. II is simply thisi To tie
bit of red ribbon on New Years day on
the front gate of all houses the ladies' Of
which are receiving, 80 that those out on
round of visits can tell by glancing at
the gate whether the innates are reeeiV-
ing or not IF the red ribbon ia on the
gate, go in; if not, 20 on and don't stop
to ring and inquire. 1t is astonishing
how much unnecessary walking can be
saved by the universal observance Of
some signal by which fact may be
known. This thing Of ringing and ring.
ing ct a door, which is finally opened and
you ore told "the ladies are not receiv-
ing" is not as pleasant as finding out the
same information by merely seeing that
there is no red ribbon on the gate. Ten
der-hesrted Ladder, who pity the sor-
rows of poor young men whose tremb
litg limbs haye borne them to their
doors viii PM opt the red ribbon, if at
home, on New Years, and omit it if they
do not wish to receive the compliments
Of the season.