The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-12-31
,r,,,-sspAY. DECEMBER 81, 1874,
our wy,7aEs To-DAy.-Fro'n our y =
Tgv WEATHER YESTERDAY was clear during
.br dsv but cloudy and threatening, With
northerly winds, at night.
~, .-,, ,,n efer of fbe DisDntch Office
Ifor the DiSpatch.l
New.Year's Day.

New. ears nay.
We would like to present TO our readers
ssw reflections which may assist every
rounc gentleman in determining how many
classes Of wine he may drink IN the course
of his New-Iear'S calls. Perhaps, asSo, .ne;
l,d;rs NAV be assisted in setting Tue ques-
tion whether chocolate and coffee may not
f,rnsh more elegant hospitality, iof one
day at least. than punch and wine.
JntemDerGnce is generally regarded as q
vice, or. indeed. as crime; and yet it is the
5;rec, result Of what would seem to be a
harmless custom. Unfortunately, however,
that custom has grown into q fashion, the
arbitrary demands of which very few young
men have the courage to resist. ~ .Fs*'
Eosh,oa is so powerful that the highest
and the lowest, and all the 5lntermediate
GRADES of the community, are, IN many cases,
finder the same tyrannical sway. !" The
drinking usageS Of society" as they have been
termed. constitute fashion whose rule is
arbitrary in the highest degree.
We do not say one word against the pro-
ner use Of any stimulant fOz heath, or even
Tor necessary refre>hment; though, as things
now stand. when such use comes to be re-
carded as the unvarying requirement. OF
courtesy, then surely the custom Is = more
lonored liz the breach than IN the oDserS-
ance.'' &-.
Ii or appetites were always in proper sub
lection we can readily imagine that the So
cial glass" might promote "the feast of'rea-
son and the flow Of soul.', But at present
We are speaking only of the absurd delusion,
the stupendous folly of The notion, that we
r,ust always show our reSpect fcf man anu
our admiration for woman by process OF
deq!u.ih0n!
while the ancients,, it is true, held their
Bacchanalian orgies, yet their t6ohonS,
specially designed to show honor to their he
roe, and dviuities, were poured upon the
nyo,o,6, We. On the other hand, take care
that every such exhibition Of respect to
others shall be made to minister to our oacn
seitsb qualification. If, by means. of some
form like this, we must show our respect for
= trieud--present or absent, living or dead
why not ADOPT the ancient method! my
not. at all events, after the first tribute, pour
fortb our Iibations upon the earth?
This process might seem to be too costly,
hut. in reality, it would be cheaper in the
end, II would also be more dislnterested
and while more respectful to the object 0,
our yeneration it would be far safer for our
selves.
lies. whv should he be expected to dranh
with every one? Or, if he drink with ten,
how can he refuse TO drink with fifty or WITH
fourseore. And hen-good-night to Mar
mion.
Has reason fed to british beasts that men
are ashamed or afraid to assert their manii'
ness and break loose from custom so dan
oero,ls and so absurd? They say it is the
fashion, and that to comply with tits thought
proper for all who move IN good society'
Yes, and for all who move in 6ad society,
too, down TO the very lowest stratum OF hu,
manity. Should the custom continue and
prevail universally there would soon be no
:. GOOD society" to move in. All men and
ali women would be reduced to dead
leye;-like the great African desert-Wlth no
elevated SPOT 10 break the sad uniformity, un-
less here and there pyramid, KIND OF
mausoleum, filed with decaylng bones, q
gloomy memorial of departed grandeur!
Unfortunately this fashion presents itself
under the sanction of genuine hospitality,
and sometimes as one OF It's most agreeable
impersonations. We look at some fair form
arrayed almost like an angel OF light. Her
brow IS wreathed with flowers; her smile
bewitching; her voice melody itself! The
ruby wine seems to blush with deeper red
in contrast with her alabaster arm. But
while, in graceful attitude. she holds it forth,
she does not hold forth the mdnacfes pre-
pared for those who, ha1ing first become ner
yOtaries, at length becon1 5er u1ctims. by
and by they viii be cast into ou, er darkness,
"fast bound in misery and iron ~ Y
Alas. what arithmetic can compute the
sum total of wretchedness thu entailed by
fashion upon the human race! Or who can
tell how many spirits, once nc Die and lofty
in their purposes of life, ha' e through the
influence of this custom ha0.a dragged down
to irretrievable ruin ? -
St. Paul says: s'All things are lawful
unto me, but all things are not expedient ;
all things are lawful for me. but I 1oiH not be
brought under the po1rer Of any" And this
ought to be our aim-looking to God for
assistance to assert our manhood; and thus,
without rudeness, cut ourselves loose from
any and every fashion which leads to in1u'
rious results. This, indeed, is the liberty fol
which every man should struggle unto
death. that the intellectual may predominant
over the animal nature, and the moral sense
over both. With this. end always In view,
we may thankfully share the epjoyments OF
this festive season without being at all unit.
Ted for the sober duties and stern realities OF
daily life. r.