The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-31
187O---1871.
The Old Year Gcing tut and the New Coming
ll-Whai Tie Festival Means.

"When next the brazen tongue OF eamorous
Tmen proclaims the midnight hour, the 20 1870
with all ITS varied experiences. all hrs memorable
events, It's historic memories, It's Joys and SORROWS
its losses and gains, will drift into the trackiess re-
gon OF the Past. and amid wine and song, peal OF
BELLS and beyond the seas. OF cannon mutual con-
gratulatlons OF reunited friends, the latest born OF
Time-ls11-w make his first bow on the busting
stage OF this world But while the OLD year totters
to his grave may we not drop the tribute Of tear
to his memory, and cast swift glance back at the
stirring scenes OF his brief but eventful lie. We
speak not OF those which are chronicled on histo-
ry's page, but rather OF the page III the life history
Of each and every one. Before
TURNING OVER THE LEAF
one may find ample food for reflection. There is
many bright spot and many a dark one on that
page; lives that are lighted up by ray OF the hearts
sunshine, and others that are blurred by tears and
are conded by the hearts shadow. Hands that
were casped IN friendship when the now Ola Year
was O smiling baDe, are cold and dead; eyes that
sparkled and threw a sunny glow over the home
circle closed forever; hearts that beat high with
Joy and gladness are still, and the vacant chair
stands q stern rem.n0cr at many nreside of the
instability or human hopes and projects. Again,
even among those whom the Destroyer's scythe has
spared, what changes in condition and position
have occurred. Some, whose last New Year was a
could give are NOW. II L. hoAeless ana houseless,
helpless victims In
THE PARALYslNa GRASP OF POVERTY,
and have, perhaps, exchanged places with those for
whom they had u plying word. helping hand
poverty, year alter year, claims It's own, this Is
the most propitions time loi their claims on SYM
meet around the we II provided family table not for.
get the bleak, bare garrett where hungry father
and mother gather their snivcrlng children TO their
sides: let those who make merry music with The
jingle OF sleigh bells as they dash along, with their
luxurious robes wrapped ped around them nor pass by
tured forth 10 beg sustenance. perhaps for sick
mother or ;, helpless infant, Az no mo-, other
more welcome visitor IN the houses OF tine poor and
those who drop tear in tne vacant chair should re-
the Babe OF Bethlehem--the poor-ialls The
graves OF tn lamentc ones as the dew Of Heaven.
But with fond, lingering farewell 10 the Old year,
one must pay ms respects 10
TIE LATEST BORN OF FATHER TIME,
the young and risky 1871. The first day OF the
OF the world as social and religious festival. the
Romans offered sacrifices to Janus, walked down
THE ANTIQUE BROADWAY
In festive garments gree.ed each other with uncOn-
mon Kindness, and exchanged New Years gnls
which 1hey caed s e no These were generally
coins, having on one side The double headed janus
anu on the other ship. The latter emblem was
probably because undue indulgence in Faiernian
NOBLE ROMANS HALF SEAS OVER.
The Emperors, down To Claudius kept up the
good old custom. The Saturnalia, sort Of classi-
| cal free and easy also occurred about this Tune
| The early Christians fought bitterly against the
| heathensh celebration OF New Years, and one OF
their scribcs thus holds forth on the subject"Tiie
| whole Catlolicke Church appointed solemn pup
like taste upon this New ieare's day tobewai those
heathenish enterludes sports, ana lewd, idOatrous
practices, which had been used on 1T prohibiting
| all Christians under pain OF excommunication, from
| observing The calends OH lrst OF January (Which
| wee now call New leare's day., as holy, and from
| sending abroad New Yeare's gifts. 1t being a
mere reltque OF PaganisInc, derived from the
| heathene Romans feast OF twofacsd Janus,
and practice so execrble unto Christians that not
/ only the whole Catholicke Churche but even fne
| oGr famonse councils, have positively prohibited
the soielnnizaton OF New Yeare's Day. Now, thank
| Heaven, there are no heathens but 1.-THE heather
| Chlnee,n and no douulcfaceG Jan1ses, except ST.
Sabine and MS class, ana New Years giftSn are
| entirely IN order. The Jews had multitude OF
| ceremonies to welcome M the New Year, and the
Druids distributed branches VI
| THE SACRED MIsTLEToE AMONG THE PEOPLE.
In England in the days OF the Tudors, 1t was the
and females who ruled that tight little Is ana, In.
Guiding .sg9odr Queen Bcss, replenshed their ward
r0pcsand purses from the involuntary contributions
| OF their subjects. Among sNi
ThE NAMES OF lHE CONTRIBUTORS
may be fRpd the l0r.s spiritual ana temporal, the
Officers OF state. the scrsEnfs or Inc royal household
down 20 the chief COOK and bottle washer, sergeant
Of tue pastry, superintendent OF pnidings, master
dustman and guardian Of the royal kitchen. The
Germans exchange Rhine Wine and head cheese,
tue French bonbOnH, the Miesans wllskey and
shialahs, the Puritaps nasal prayers and rye ma
lives or New Jersyen apple cider. SO IL goes. In
our quaint Old Dutch town our forefather knicker-
schnapps In nand. We do the same, substituting
cigar FOR pipe, and champagne and =. .. p. Tor
schnapps. Tue only trouble this year Is In the
double celebration, Sunday and Monday. Some may
OF their friends today, and we shudder at the pros
pect for them on Monday One can imagine the
number OF virtuous resolutions and accessiens very
temporary, howeVsr) made to the 7. A. 3. ranks on
Tuesday.