The New York herald., 1872-12-31
ObServances Of the Anniversary at
Home and Abroad.
Old and Curious Customs OF New YOrk's
Great Day Of Conviviality.
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"TIME'S TIDE A-TURNING ISL
Trinity's Traditional Chimes" GoOdby,
Old Year." and Welcome to the New.

The end OF the old year has arrived and with
the chimes Of old Trinity at midnight we shall be
launched into the unexplored future OF 1873.
II is the fashion this particular day to indulge
In good deal OF determination and RETROSPECT
tion-tO cast look back over the pages In the
ledger OF life and turn over clean leaf to begin
the entries for the time ahead. This is great day
for making holy and praiseworthy vows, especially
among young men between the ages OF twenty and
thirty, ana, 1t might be added, young women
between the ages OF sweet sixteen and adolescent
twenty-five. All the follies and scrapes the lost
opportunities, the Jhoughtless mistakes are con-
jured up by the wand OF memory, and 1--WE won't
do 1t again" is about the way the general resolu.
ti0n to amend Is expressed. II is also great day
with
THE ARMY OF OLD BUMMERs
who 60 on SHINING from one calendar year to an
other, but are always prepared to cry 'halt" on
this m0mentous occasion. Launching into another
year has something In 1t suggestive OF jumping the
life to come, and people pause to think II the time
be not opportune for switching of from old habits
and starting on fresh and improved track for the
future. Convvalists, with mental reservation that
New Years Day is to be excepted, take their nnal
drinks tonight and VOW to patronize cold water
for the rest Of their lives. Seveneighths Of these
VOWS may withstand the cold OF the winter, but as
rule they yield to the seductive allurements OF
the thirsty Summer months. With the world OF
young ladydom New Years Rve I'm New York par
ticuarly) Is one Of uncommon excitement, for on
the morrow they must perforce show themselves
in their best bib and tucker to mutitudes Of mar
riageable young men, Doubtless there s little
sleep for the ladies this blessed night. Tomorrow
uor them) rolls in no petty pace, for 1t Is
THE GRAND LOTTERY DAY
whereon many prizes for life may be drawn, and
just as inevitably many, very many, blanks. That
chn ha .yiottr ota1
by some observance or ceremony appears but
natural, and we accordingly md various customs
preval-some sportive, others serious, aud others
In which both the mirthful and pensiye moods are
intermingled. One Of the best known and most
general of these customs Is that Of sitting up till
twelve O'Clock on this night and then, when the
eventful hour has struck, proceeding to the front
door aud unbarrng 1t with great formalty to '1et
out the Old and let In the New Year." The even
Ing Is favorite occasion for social gatherings in
Scotland and the north Of England, the assembled
friends thus welcoming together the birth Of
another OF Father Times everincreasing though
short-lived progeny
IN THE ISLAND OF GUERNSEY
IL used to be the practice OF children to dress up
figure In the shape OF a man, and after paradng it
through the parish to bury 1t on the sea shore
In some retired spot. This ceremony was styled
''EnteTer le pieuI bout de pdn.n In Philadelphia
the old year Is fired out and the new year fired In
by discharge OF every description OF firearm-
musket, fowling piece and revolver.
custom prevails, more especially among Lpo
iish Dssenters, OF having midnight service in the
various places OF worship the last night NJ tho
year, the occasion being deemed necu,arv
adapted both for pous meditation and thankful
ness, and also for the receSt,on and retention or
religious Impressions And to the community at
large sne passing sway OF the Old Year and the
@ saval o. Ms successor Ia heraded by the peais Of
oe"s, .s.i, after twelve O'Clock has struck, burst
forth from every steeple, warning us that another
year has commenced.
THE TENNYsONIAN JINGLE.
TennysOn has been ringing out the old and ring
Ing in the new for many years, and we purpose TO
give Q couple Of bis verses with the old ring In
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Ring out, wild bells to the wild sky
The lying cloud. the frosty light;
The year Is dying in the night
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die
Ring out the old, ring In the new;
- Ring. happy besi across the snow
The year Is going-let him
Ring out the false, ring in the truel
The
DEATH OF THE OLD YEAR
is marked with appropriate religious services
among many OF the churches. The MethOdists
have their watch-nght services, which are ccse-
brated with Onsiderable JUNCTION. The congrega-
tions assemble an hour or 80 before midnight and
with fervent prayer, addresses and hymns OF
thanksgiving for past mercies Ill up the Meeting
moments Of the dying hour OF the year. Every
effort ID made to convince the unrepentant OF sin,
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