The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-01-03
NEW YEARS DAY In ny ATf1IC.
Translated for The Post nom the French Of
Emile Souvestre, by MiA e. L. q.

1kAhh0 SSoNOosAOS ~ <@A- - 80 ~
January 1st.-This date has chung
persistently to my thoughts ever slime
! awoke. One year more has broken
from the chain OF centuries and fallen
into the abyss Of the Past! The crowd
presses forward to greet her young sis
ter, but whilst all eyes seem to gaze into
the future. mine are looking backward.
They smile upon the new queen. and I
in spite Of myself think Of her whom
time has just wrapped in her winding
sheet. At least I know something OF
that one, what she was and gave me,
while this presents herself, attended BY
all the menacing uncertainties OF the
unknown. What does she bring con.
cealed in the clouds which envelop
her? Is it storm or sunshine?
At the present moment it drizzles dis
mally, and I feel my spirits as foggy
as the atmosphere without. I have .
holiday but what to do with a whole
rainy day. Isurvey my garnet sulkily,
and decide to make fire. Unhappily,
the matches burn badly, the chin.
ueyt smokes, the wood goes out. l
throw down the bellows in vexstion,
and sink into my old armchair.
After all, why should ! especially re-
ioice to see the birth of q new Year,
Do all the people who are already
on the streets with a holiday aspect and
smiles on their lips-do they under
stand why they are joyous Do they
know what this fete signifies, and how
the custom OF strenness (New Years
gifts) originated Here my mind stops
its train Of thought to prove TO itself its
superiority over the common mind. l
introduce parenthesis into 10y ill-hu-
NOR, and there write the proofs OF my
superior knowledge.
(The ancient Romans divided the
year into ten months only it was Numa
PompiIius who added January and
February. The first took It's name
from Janus, to whom it was sacred. As
it opened the new year its entrance was
attended with happy presages. and
from thence arose the custom OF visits
among neighbors. mutual wishes OF
prosperity and gifts The presents used
among the Romans were symbolical.
Dried figs were offered, dates and hon.
ey combs as emblems OF "the sweetness
OF the auspices under which the year
should begin it's course |" also, small
coin called slips, which was an augury
of riches). Here l close my parenthe-
sis to resume my cross-grained medita-
tons. The little speech which l have
Just addressed to myself has made me
better satisfied with myself and rather
more contemp.uous of others. Knight
breakfast well to relax my mind, but
the FORTRESS has forgotten my morning 9
milk, and the chocolate pot is empty
Another would be provoked II a.
feet the most superb indifference. There
is left iu my cupboard only a hardened
loaf, that l break by strength OF hand,
and which l proceed to crunch nom
chalant.y like q man quite above the
vanities of the world,-and soft rolls
However, know not why my thong ht,
gradually grow sombre under the in
fuence OF difficult masticstion. Tread
once upon . time a story Of an English
man, who hung himself because q cup
of tea had been served him without any
sugar in it. There are hours in life
when the most trifling contradiction
assumes the proportions of q catastro'
phy. Our humor resembles an opera.
glass which shows objects diminished
or enlarged, according to the end ".
happen to look through. As q genera
thing, the prospective which is spread
before my window delights me. 1t is
congIomeration of roofs whose tops in
terlace, cross, rest upon each other in
intricate fashion, and through which
the tall chimneys boldly thrust them
selves. Only yesterday l found on then
imaginary mountains, and was waiting
for the first snow to see there miniature
glaciers; to-day l. preceive nothing
more than tiles and stove pipes. Th'
pigeons who yesterday helped on my
rustic illusion, seen now nothing more
than miserable flying things who have
taken the roofs for poultry yard thu
smoke which rises in curling wreaths
Instead OF making me think OF the era
ter OF Vesuvius, reminds me OF culinary
pre- parations, and the stesm therefrom
finally, the telegraph pole that per
ceive on the distant old tower Of Mont
msrtre, strikes me as resembling {
shameful gibbet whose arms stretch
themselves far above the city. Thu
rounded by everything they encounter
nv eyes turn their regard to the hote
which faces nv rnansarde. The iniu
epce of New Years Day is there visi
bly felt. The servants have an air o
importance, proportional to the valu
of The gifts received or to come. se
the proprietor crossing the court Will
the ill-concealed moroseness which
com pulsory generosity gives. The Wis
| itors increase, followed by commission
aeris who carry flowers, boxes and toys
All at once the porte.oocbere 10 throw
omen, a new carriage drawn b
Thoroughbred horses, stop at the Zoo
of the steps: These are, without douo
the presents given by the husband Z
the mistress OF the mansion, for 81
comes herself to examine the new equi
page. She shortly after gets into i
With a little girl decked out in lace
velvet and plumes, and laden with gift
which she is going to distribute .
str,nnes. The door is closed, the glai
raised and the carriage rolls away.
Thus all the world make to-day .
Interchange Of good wishes and present.
I alone, I seem to have nothing 70 CIV
or to receive. Poor solitary, J. kno'
not one chosen being to whom coui