The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-01-12
New Years. Day in New York.

The New: Year in New York is distinguished
by two characteristics. All the gentlemen are
in the streets, and all the ladies are in the
house. For lady to-bc seen out Of doors on
this day is serious violation of etiquette; and
for a gentleman to fail to visit, or to send his
card to his lady friends, is !ect which even
their angelic natures can never forgive. Every
gentleman is in duty bound 20 put on his best
behavior. with new pair of gloves. and
Prince Alfred cravat (if he wears nothing.
clse,) and present himself in the drawing-room
of his friends.
Whether the custom Of making calls on the
New Year came over in the ship with the gouty
old Dutch governor, ortwliether it was formally
introduced by the gallant English officers, who,
while they long ago held the city, held and
made co!irt to Tie fair young Americans, is not
known buttliis is certain, that the Yankees
did not bring it with them. No, in Boston,
the centre OF Ianl,ccdom, they do not make Of
this pleasure-day as do the New Workers.
There, { Few staid, sober visits are paid by both
gentlemen and ladies to the Governor and 9TH
or celebrities of the. town., and that is the
amount of their calling. Here tho day we
keep for the New Year is carnival--.
The maddcst, merre,t day of all the glad new year."
Business is forgotten, or at least is laid on the
shelf to wait the owners attention. The heads
which during the past twelve months have been
worrying over multiplication tables are to-day
wagging merrily over quite a; different sort OF
tables. Lawyers. have made brief OF their
suits; the doctor has no patients the ner-
chants clerk plays at legerdemain instead of
working on the ledger; steamship companies,
railroad compaiios, and insurance, companies,
the latter tie most arrurant Of all, dissolve in
to Jolly brotherhood of we'll wishers, and for
get in cutting up to-day how they cut up their
dividends. Everybody is glad to see every
body else, and nobody can be unhappy. Com
pliments are good natured and mean what they
say. .4. ~ 80,
A large number of gifts which were reserved
from, Christmas will be conspicuous to-day. A
remarkably beautiful New Years gift has been
presented to lady of this city. A young gen.
tleman had requested the privilege of present
ing Something" on the New Year, and was
told he could give candies or flowers, but moth
ing more valuable He was determined by a
ruse to present the something" he according
ly purchased an elegant aud costly glove box
of. onyx, which was inlaid with gold and set
with; nialachitcs, and lined with scented rose
satin. Having filled this expensive gem with
candies, the ardent gift-maker sent it to the
lsdy's address. and thus got round the ohjee-
tion.
The custom of making gifts upon the New
Year is of ancient date. Tacitus mentions the
giving of presents on this day. The inhabi-
tants of England, from time immemorial, have
kept the festival with great jollity, and espe-
cially with gift-lnaking. Dr. Johnson intro
duces in his "Nlasque of Christmas" New Years
Gift in the capacity of serving-man, who
appears in blue coat, with an orange and a
sprrig of rosemary on his head, his hat full of
brooches, his pockets stuffed with plums, and
collar of gingerbread; his torch h-bearer car
rcd a march-panc, or gigantic sweet-cakc, with
bottle of wine on either arm. Gloves in those
days were customary present, and if people
did not send the gift of gloves they sent money
to buy them, which was called govc-money.-
During the reign of the restored Bourbons the
New Year was signally observed in Paris as a
day Of gifts. Bonbons, dclicacics, jewelry,
paintings and costly furniture crowded the
packages and wagons of the carriers. At the
palace the day was complete jour de Jete.-
Everybody made the king present, and the
wonder is what he did with them. Often the
ladies of the court would be six months in pre-.
pairing the gifts for his majesty. 1t is Il good
custom and wishing all our lady readers q
gift to-day and long list of calls VIC also add
y Happy New Year.-M T. World, 2"d inst,