The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-01-01
A Happy New Year.

era, dating from the birth of Chrlst-the five
thousand eight hundred and seventh-fourth
anniversary of the Masonic era, dating from
the building of Solomon's Temple, and the
six thousand eight hundred and seventy
fourth anniversary of the Jewish era, dating
from the creation of the world according to
the Jewish version Within the recollection
of all the first Of January, in this. country
has been day Of festival-seldom or never
day of religious observance exclusively,
though all of the churches have at times, or
according to locality, celebrated it religiously
at some time within the twentyfour hours
hy which it is encompassed. By all 1t IS
acknowledged to be holiday, and as such 1T
has ever been recognized in the wishes OF
happy New Year, . earnest and heartfelt
both by old and young.
And why not? The day begins one of the
great divisions Of lfc-the anniversary Of
the beginning of timc-and it is well to have
data from which to take fresh start in
the voyage of life-a stopping point at
which the journey through life can be re-
viewed, credit taken for the good done, and
new departure" for the unknown future
inaugurated.
Every year experience but gives us proof
of the wisdom of this idea All Of us have
seen the folly of some bad deed Of the twelve
month just completed Ill Of us the wisdom
Of some good deed. 4 review of these tend
to lead us Alright. and, if we give honest
thought for the future lead us in VISIONS
ways which are ways of pleasantness and
into VISIONS paths which are paths of peace.
Tn the world there are many we trust who
can look upon the past without conjunction.
There are also many to whom the past is
matter of reproach There are many again
who sat at their boards to-day with perfect
content, and there are many 10 whom the
present is season Of mourning. Death has
been at work, and friends have taken their
departure to that bourn from whence no
traveller returns Riches have taken TO
themselves wings, and to-day poverty stares
at Us where twelve months ago plenty reigned
supreme and risu gersu We cannot ignore
the vacant seat nor can we laugh when grim
want stares US in the face, but, trusting in
the aalwise God, we can, with the hope of his
aid, resolve that for US the day shall - the
starting point of new life, entered upon for
the securing of a more perfect life for the
days that remain to us here, aud most per-
feet life after the things of time shall be
made to succomb to the realities of eternity.
Oar idea is not to moralizc, but the season
and its sequences press upon US. The pass
ing away principle which arbitrarily marks
every thing temporal leads every living thing
involantarily to give thought to things
eternal, and it is well so to shape ourselves
that the happy new year" of to-day may
lie the gracious precursor Of 4 glorious state
OF things in the twelve months to come.
But of the day We prefer to look upon it
as festival, and in recalling It's antecedents
treat it as such.
1t is natural for man. in view of the
insinuations Of tradition, to distinguish this
day with peculiar usage We find this to
have been the case with most civilized
nations, though divers days were fixed upon
by divers nations to make festival cores
ponding with the 1st of January, or New
Year The New Year of the Jews began
with the month T.slri which corresponds with
our month September. 1t was considered
as the day on which God holds judgment,
thence JON Haddia, or Judgment day, and
it is probable that it is from this view Of the
Jews that the Germans, particularly, make
this the day of annual business settlement.
1t was also observed by ''the favored people
Of God as the anniversary Of the day on
which Adam was created The Romans Of
fcred sacrifices on New Years Day to
Janus, and generally white steer was the
victim. In the whole city of Rome. a vast
amount of incense was burned and the new
ly elected magistrates went in procession to
the capital. where they sacrificed to Jupiter,
and the success Of any affair on that day was
considered good omen for the whole year
People greeted each other with 'Annun,
aorua faustam teljcemq1te tin. I" Presents
given were termed reno5, and those returned
opophoreta, streaae. These consisted chiefly
Of gilt dates, dried and gilt plums and figs,
honey, rare coins, spoons, and lamps orna-
mented with the head OF Janus
The Emperors made these presents heavy
tax, and Caligula received them during the
whole day, from his officers Claudus
abolished this crushing tax, and it remained
an extortion Of the past, until Henry the LII
seems to have restored it, and it grew in
favor until the 5000 cambric gowns of the
good Queen Bess, received as New Year, $
presents, and found at her death, showed the
extent to which royal exactions could 90.
These presents, however, were doubtless
given on the old principle of ''you tickle me
and I'll tickle you, and hence were but the
purchase and sale of questionable compli-
mentS.
The Druids of Ancient Britain were ac-
customed, on certain days, to cut the sacred