New-York tribune., 1869-01-01
TIE NEW YEAR l, ENGLAND.


THE NEW YEAR II ENGLAND
The principal toy shop Of country town in En-
gland is certainly curious sg,t on New-iears Eve
long file of richly caparisond horses and carriages
literally block up the road. and crowd OF selfim
portant looking. powdered fodmen occupy the path
way Immediately in front of /. A large gas illumi'
nation, or colored transparency. informs the public
that the proprietor has just imported five million toys
from the Continent, for thcr especial benefit
mob of countrymen are admring the illumination
from the other side of the way. and WILL in all prob
ability continue to do so til the shop closes ut 10
o'clock The Germans beat all the world in the
cheapness grotesqueness and variety of their toys
Their carved animals which sell at retail for two or
three pence apiece are really admirable. They are
carved by hand out of soft poplar, wood very
abundant in Germany, with skill and rapdity
quite amazing. The interior Of the shop IL one mass
of toys. elegantly dressed ladies, flags. banners.
eager little children. and Christmas trees. all mixed
I'D together in delightful confusion The whole in
fantile world is purchasing its New-Year's gifts.
Little friends meet and diatter together and,
strange 10 say though they se toys packed up Mt
their elbow. which they knowwill reach them Oil the
following morning, they are already too well cdn-
Gated in the ways of society 10 take any oihes than
a mental notice of anothers purchases; and they
assumed surprise, for 40 kindly thinking OF them
And so the carriages roll hone. laden with baby
treasures. and these children scarcely get wink of
sleep all night for thinking Of the infinite pleasure
of giving and receiving presents on the morrow
But the carriages are rich IN other things beside
TOYS Crown-up people have also their New Years
gifts 10 make. The shops IN every part ~ the Town
are ransacked for elaborate fancy articles. orna-
ments handsomely-bound GIFT books, and jeweiiy
Many young girl has, % her. the delighted haPpl.
ness of seeing diamond or ruby ring sparkle aud
gisten on her inger for The irrt TIME on New-fcaI
Day Many q school-boy AZ last coDsulis his own
watch on that happy OCCASION and suddenly dis
covers that he takes constant and aabsorblng IN
terest in the time Of day. Bnt 1T IL necessary To
hurry home for the school children and their parents
are Ia have feast in the Parish school rocEi. ard
every one has promised TO he there 10 Ionr out The
tea and coffee. and wait On them. The long. narrow
tables are beaped with bread aud butter, cake buns
apples and oranges. and n small package of sweets
for each child 10 take home Oh. how they do ENJOY
il. The tables are soon empty. anu You wohuyI
been put away in short space OF time Ana then
there are dissoving views cobjurors musicians. and
singers. How those little pumpkins do stare ana
0nickly turn into country far or that narveiotsly
clever gentleman. of whom hey are Just htile
afraid bring basket OF eggs TWO i've chickens anu
q rabbit out of AN ordinary black hat And then
there il Blind Mans Bun. Hunt the Slipper 1eneiai
Post and every imaginable game till AL are done up
with eating. drinking, and playing 80 much ana 20
Later III the evening partiesof friends assemble at
anothers houses, and at midnight. ms the ociI'
ring out merry peal from the parish church tower,
rbe guests first pledge one aBoher aud then, Mio-
gether drink the Old Year out and the New Year III,
IN tumbers Of punch, with much formality. -,
At an early hour on the following morning the NJ
Tie ones of the family all astir Oh. win what
eagerness they count the minutes winch must eiapso
before the postnan arrives. or the dchyoIy cart carr
comes round from town. Some Will even 30 lar LOT
yet themselves as rush dOwl stairs when they 40
come and opening the house door, VIII receive WIN
courty pollteness anything 'hat may hsr disan.
pointment when they hear liat there rs nothing
at all ...~ ~,
Years Day for on that occasion their make
a point of calling at the houses Of all their friends,
aud distributing whole packages OF visiting CARDS OF
coDgTatulation on the commencement ni announcer
wear In the evening there Is regular old dIaslIioed
English dinner followed by private tbcatrlcais,
cbarades, singing. music. daicng, ana diHcIcnt
games. ~ the long picture gallery where hiee1,os nr
grmly on courtlv ladies' III the costume of The Eli~-
abethan and Stuart periods SMILE bandly from the
Tln ana AM even ihat Door w'1 , ,st .har"e
at Naseby fight seems, on this occasion to look not
quite 40 sad IL is surprising how the cold Englis!
character warns up under these GENIAL influences.
The colder the weather outside the warmer do
people become Indoors The fact is, an English
man is az warIn-hearted as any other being; he Is
only not so ontwardly dcmoIstfatyc. And when
the fun and ,frolic Of the pcture- gallery
is used up the ball set rolling the servants hall
Young heirs 10 uutt1OIDr. csintcsees III their own
right, and IeigDnR beihes from London, find them
selves dancing with their servants, and joining
heartily in their games II Is perfectly surprising
how fully alive young waiting maids arc the life
OF the odl0pe or the eicgancies Of the rdlse dlu
temps And then there s hush Ofexpcc!ation and
a paIty pnayed ia all sorts OF proiesuue cosiIncs
enter. for the family butler and coachinan who are
too old and stsid Ia dance. have got up "a mask tor
the anus. Dent Of their young ladies and gentlemen.
They are followed by a mob consisting Of every
stable boy aud cOager OH fhe estate who have been
waiting in tho kitchens Tor two houIs past anxiously
looking forward to the inummiDg. But they have
by no means been idle all this time for thanks 10
the cook and housekceper each one has had as much
cold beef and plum pudding he could possibly eat
washed down by az much Of the squires best old
brown ale as he could possibly drink. These masks
and muyurpng are often very amusing. The servants
viii take of In harmless and 1nOffensive manner,
some little pecnliarity Of their master Or MISTRESS
the affected Qraces OF their young lord and no
will applaud most and laugh more heartily at this
harmless wit, than those who may happen 10 be
chosen az tho bntts forit
But il il time for the heavy business of the ser
wants hall 10 begin. The cooks and Kitchen maids
have been very bnsy oil day, and in the principal
Kitchen there Is laid out supper that makes hun.
ewes sparkie with delight. When all are seated the
s1nirs tells them how happy be Is 10 them all so
merry together: that they have his permission to
make night of IT, II they viii, and not to hurry up
in the morning. and, wishing them all happy New
Year and good night 10 about 70 leave them to them
selves Bnt the white haired old family butler rises
from bis seat and asks him 70 remain another min
ute while he proposes the health OF the Squire my
Lady and my young Lord. With the tears stream