The New York herald., 1871-01-03
NEW YEARS DAY.
The Secular Festival and Its
Celebration.
Public and Private Receptions : Calls and
Callers-scenes and Incidents In tbs Thea
tres, Parlors and Etreets-A Bril-
liant Beginning for 1871.

circumstance to the labyrintnine path which each
sturdy Manhattante, whether 'to the manner born"
or from "beyant the say" felt duty yesterday to
journey in search Of his fair friends. This custom
OF making New Years calls Is about the only relic
left Of the days when Peter Stuyvesant ruled New
Amsterdam and fat little Dutchmen sat inside
their mansions near the Battery. pipe In hand
and schnapps within their capaclous food reposito-
ries. Then, when the New Year came around these
worthy representatives OF Manhattan exchanged
mutual congratulations and visits. Alas for this
good old stock of
COMMENTED PHILOSOPHERS.
All one see OF them now are those funny little
statues that stand on an occasional mantelpece,
with clock In the aforesaid food repository. The
custom, although. like everything else the subject
of abuse, is good one. II carried out In Its true
spirit II means
A REUNION OF FRIENDS,
some OF whom, perhaps, have no opportunity of
clasping hands and renewing the bonds OF friendship
on any other day OF the year. We are
A RESTLESS, BUsTIING NATION,
ana aggards In the great race of life are almost
known here. Festivals and holidays partaKe too
much OF the same spirit Of restless energy. ana we
might say toll. and too little time Is left social
enjoyment and the renewal OF bonds Of friendship.
NEW YEARS CALLS,
then is calculated to bring together friends ami
mated by proper spirit, and to soften down the
asperities or manner, II not OF heart aud selfish
ness that are likely to characterize the intercourse
OF fellow travellers on the crowded highway OF the
world. And there is no more powerful agent in
the fulflment OF this grand work than
THE SMILES or WOMAN
which light up the festive board this occasion.
Laete n.Jawed preachers and morose disciples OF
discomfort and unhappIness may declaim as they
n ttIt
those whose hearts are ever green will welcome it
with pleasure. Yet 1t has its dark as well as It's
bright side but what is there In this world that we
cannot say the same Off Tue dark side is simply
when the excrescences OF human nature take ad-
vantage OF the unexpected opportunity afforded
them to introduce their vie presence at The social
board.
THE DELIGHTFUL WEATHER YESTERDAY,
albeit the sun kept shady ana the streets were slop
py, brought out countless legion Of callers. As the
day waned and evening came on hilarious groups
wended their way from house to house and vehicles
OF every description thronged the streets
:. THE GENUS, NEW YORK CALLER,
Is divided INTO various species There Is Adolphus
and chatters fashionable nonsense with each par.
terre Of feminine suniiowers which is
inspection IN the front parior A.. Fitzsnob
generally affects propensity for weak
with al! the intellectual subjects that come within
the sphere OF the modcum OF brains which
nature has given hlm merely for the sustenance OF
he may be found would daunt any other man. The
fair nOstesses are drilled beforehand by an expe.
rienced dowager into sort of military discipline
by which every smile ana word OF congralulation
and welcome Is carefully graduated.
Next we have the caller who comes
TO SEE HIS GIRL.
This Is the greatest nuisance of all He insists
upon staying all day. and arrives at an unseasonaby
paralions for the occasion. This in0lyidual mOpes
IN corner, feeling miserable over the smiles be.
aiTections He is hustled about by every BODY and
sent in every direction on errands by the lady. He
I ary upsess tray & oi wine ne and nd cake on seeing
endeavors to conceal his anguish beneath ghastIy
smile when she introduces the daring caller. The
tortures this unhappy man suffers on this day are
Again, there fs Isl
THE CRACKER AND CHEESE CALLER,
who prowls around grocery stores from dawn Til
dusk, revclling in free lunches nnumerable, with
grim smile OF satisfaction his face that he has got
ON s Interest," ees 81 nes
no o,ea " asch Ssoer made tangible articles dis
caller disposes Of all edbes Within each. \. "nu y
Another class OF callers, fortunately very s...~,,,
60 around In hack
WITH THEIR FEET OUT or THE WINDOWS,
and demjohn Of wniskey under the cushions lest
they might not be able to lind the desirable
particularly noisy and lay down no programme for
the day except the general one OF disposing OF as
to Witness the tactics which they use In attempting
to get out OF the hack. But the most remarkable
caller " the politician OF the primaries who "a lis
- TnE BOSS OF THE DISTRICT,
at the elegant mansion OF the latter He orgets or
probably entirely unacquanted with, the use OF
hail and paror and he obivious Of the injury done
to velvet carpet by tobacco Juice. In connection
occurred at the house of well known
political digntary. In the evening. alter The
family family c Congratulated themselves 1 on the the close e
dozen Of f''n tSOse strange persons Ain nd,senous
Nav VOrLu rtvy Evn.v III
name 'Rounder"-a very useful although not
ornamental appendage In politics and one .posted"
lacqucy in waiting the leader merely observed:-
.'sa,ay, smoky, mo an my fri-ens here's come to
Aware Of the importance Of his visitors, despite
their unkempt condition. the "Boss'' met them with
smiles and invited them to drink. To his intense
astonishment the spokesman replied
"Well, now, you see, Boss, we've keg apiece
aboard already and guess we've got about enough.
We came to make cal on the New Years.
An invitation to indulge In
was met by the remark, Saddle Rocks why we've
At last the announcement of boned turkey brought
an affirmative smile In the face OF each visitor, aud
Holding up sav0ry morsel on the end OF O fork,
the chief 'l0under' Indignantly exclaimed,
''Wha-a:tl Now look here, Boss; We may we been
putting big load OF rum aboard. but We can't pass
any OF yer head cheese on us for bone turkey. Not
II we knows IT," WnereupOn the entire party 1led
semp Sy ihem WIN 'ns
When darkness came on unsteady groups Quilted
the sidewalks for the middle OF the street, In order
to have more room. Occasionally there was COLI
sion between parties advancing in opposite direc-
tons and gong on the same tack. After an extra
dose OF mud and liberal abuse matters were gene
rally compromised, and all started together to the
nearest tavern where "drinks all aroundn were to
be obralned.
These, however are features which enc would
wish banished from New Years festivities; but
throughour the great metropolis there were hun
dreds OF families who enjoyed the festival made
welcomed
whoe-souled hospitality. and in whose hearts the
celebration OF the birth Of the year ISL Will be
always green spot.
At the City Hall.
Contrary to the custom which had almost become
an established institution, the Mayor did not hold
public New Years reception yesterday at the City
iiall. In years gone by the Mayor was wont to
stand In the passage way, near the Office, on New
Years Day, after having been installed and would