New-York tribune., 1871-01-03
NEW YEARS DAY.
ITS PRESENT OBsERvAECE-CALLs AND CALLERS
THE ART OF CALLING, AND HOW 1T Is


| ITS PRESENT OBsERvANCE-CALLs AND CALLERS
| THE ART OF CALLING, AND HOW 1T Il
| PRACTICED.
The Good Citizens Day should be the name
of this the last Of the procession Of holidays The fell
citous arrangement OF festivals TO surpass
human design. At Thanksgiving, the good gathers
about him those of his kim from far and near. He
begins too to up the results OF the years work
The sofening influences Of the OF his own resde
| make him more than accessible 10 charitable i'm
pulses he thinks Of the poor who are overtaken by
dreary Winter As Christmas approaches he contributes
the benevoence which makes 1t for all classes
season of rejoicing. Holiday week begins with the pre-
eminent festival OF the Nativity. He who has patiently
labored throughout the year and provided abundance
for his family docs not perhaps become giver OF
presents though he pays graciousy enough for what is
given But at last when all those who are dependent
upon him have enjoyed many merry days. and have even
grown tired with their round Of gayety OF beneyoence
and OF the licensed oes OF the Holidays his day comes
the day Of all tho year peculiarly his 1t is the
First Of days-hs without Question-and he gives 1t
away For he begins the new year by greeting and
honoring the OF his acquaintance, reinqushng
for this all business all politics. and al exclusive occu
pations of men.
1t is the fashion to initiate the "sod' man In this
matter Fops and dlers either make, or for one day
chatter Of making, their Eew-Years calls but the
good old Knckerbocker custom holds out, and will con
tnue to the end spite OF abuses, and OF the ritual
lists, in fashion who would convert It into mere formal
ceremony. large proportion OF those calling yes
terday who have reached the meridian OF hie
if passed well beyond it, NewYears Day was more
for them, than the cheerful interchange Of compliments
with whom they had firted with in their youth
more the admring inspection OF the daugh
ter the house Many Of these men, as they were con-
yeyed along far out the avenues, glancing they
passed at the fine houses built within the year and
the everncreasng signs OF prosperity may have revert
ed In thought from NewYear's Day in 1861 to the New
Years OF 1871 Then the sky was dark with the gathering
clouds OF war; Secession and treason were rampant
the awful shadow OF the Great Rebellion cast gloom
over the minds Of thinking Within the houses
the pictures Of tho Of tho conflict that ragged
through nearly half the decade. 1t is all over uowonly
the scars reman-and the giant Republic and its metro
poan city begin 1871 under the happicst augures of
perpetual peace and unequaled prosperity.
NEw-YEAR's CALLS.
Callers had reason 70 congratulate themselves yestcr-
day upon that gradual change In the weather that
TO warrant hope that the first OF January may some
time IN the future be day Of sunshine and of dry feet
Yesterday peng driving rain as heretofore
laid the foundations of the New Year I'm discomfort and
possible lheah. The sidewalks clear, and 1t was
only when the streets to be crossed that Adons was
compelled elevate himself daintiy upon his toes, and
trip with his either rouser held high above the
communicating touch OF mud and snow. No doubt the
hackmen returned thanks II they are ever religious
for the forbddng condition OF the Streets which
PEELED callers TO surrender Internationally to their de-
mands.
There seems have been little dminution in the num-
Der OF calls made notwithstanding the predictions to
the growing dsue OF the custom The ladies' who the
scrbes OF the days history write 1t down that the gentle
men who stroke gray boards and vests very Large
around the waist are their faithful and devoted
callers that they boast with the air Of veterans OF TO-
co. calls, while many of the young men to whom
the fashionable world looks for life and support angudy
confess half calls and complain Of oyerexertiOn.
Perhaps the amusing and most fruitful study of the
day is that long suffering young man. who may be named
the professional caller" II is he who has engagements
with tailor his boot maker, and his laundress, all
conycr ging toward the evenfu day. lie is early TO
and late to bed All day long he goes the weary
round visiting house after house. street after street.
His only ambition 20 be TO roll up grand total
that shall excel any effort Of anybody else. Friendly
conversation is out OF the question. Even 10 nibbe
piece OF cake and to sip glass Of coldy cOnyal lemon
ade IL almost impossible. lie must be on the wing His
tour is not ended, T. late at night perhaps early IN
the morning. he sinks exhausted, almost too tired TO be
proud OF his figures that range up among the hundreds
Perhaps the most dsagreelbe OF all the social pests
that make themselves particularly obnoxious this day
are those young men who call in battalions, and WHO
inct upon every appToaehabe person the visit OF
acquaintance and nine strangers They organize them
selves generally into Social Clubs" Cabbage Assoca-
tions," and the like stage with six horses, tipsy
driver on the box, and demohn under the seat com
pete their happiness Most OF these callers cover their
cards with carcatures slang phrases aud questionable
wit.
n the Knickerbocker deacon who carried with him his
yeIyorn green baize bag in which every good house
wifc deposited cookie" could have seen the fruits OF
his exaction doubt his careful old hands would have
been held up horror In fact the danger at present
appears to the young need not fear 30 much
being carried down the torrent Of strong drink as being
wrecked on the shoals of frucake and picked oysters
Although the has long been for less
extravagance the setting Of New Years tables, every
return OF the day evinces the WIconqueiaDe dcse Vi
he feminine heart feed the lords OF creation TO re
pletion and bestow at the same time me sweetest
sies and rals for future pangs OF lndlResoi
Notwithstanding the annual declaration that we SET
recess where the wealth OF the conieetOners ART the
h yurant growth OF the tropics, and the Chilling nlta-
to of Arctic snow fields seem to have been aylsed IN
WE efu profusiOn Let social stastcans compute tbe
number of New Years lunches that will equal an ordinary
THANKSGIVING dinner ana they VIII te,e,S tno f b to
OF eating their into the good graces OF Then rehs
The earnest efforts Of many advocates of the temper
am cause TO Danish the decanter from the table
70 had most gratifying results In man houses
WI ere wine has been dOncstcated II now looked tor Ia
yain and mlder beverages have become the almost un-
Vers rule The influence OF women seems about 10 nc
Openly cas-, on the SIDE 6 81 fto tePeTe anu ' ~ c0i
10 those skl1; 81 :as T1:s, call becomes thing or
easy accomplishment on entering eow heSt m Ne
York; where friends have called ana where tney
called, the retailing Ol>tNo
wtcisns carefully prepared for general Use before te
shaylggass early in the m9rnins[ano Win YaareIa
ey. the door closes upon the caller who S0o,V pus
from his pocket his long tabuaton or lady rlendS,
and starts for the next To the novice however IN So
eisl lie New Years calls double ordeal Abashed
by the presence OF three OF those mysterious un
abproachabe beings in silk his only aim seems 10 DO 70
eet hack into the street without enangng his knees,
Song doubtless never again to get into such cruciOe
No doubt there is food for the sarst IN the oosery-
anees of this festival But there is with all Its Oddities
somethng SO genial the custom ITSELF that the haWs
may passed over In silence II Is iestnal oy
of which men can snatch brief period from business
duties and renew the old familiar associations Oh the
noSt while forming new ties that will bind them 20 the
Side of purity and virtue, when they again emege INTO
hnsy world OF temptation and ain, where tht drs Oi