The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1875-01-02
NEW YEARS.
How Our GrandfatherS and Grand
mothers Observed the Festival
Hundred Years Ago.

some forty years ago an tlOtu was
made bv some Of the new Puritan stock
10 abolish the good old custom of OBJ
serving New Years Day, which had
hlru derived from the Datch founders
NJ New York. and had existed on the
island Of Manhattan from time imme-
mortal. The ancient Knickerbockers
became indignant at the proposition, and
Mn John Pintard, notable citizen IN
those days, published in the New York
Mirror Of 1882, the following defense OF
rba Oh custom, which our readers will
ind interesting:
Ill the early days Of the original set
tiers Of Nieuw Amsterdam (when the ex
tent III the city was comprised within
VERY narrow bounds, proceeding from
thc battery along the shore of the East
nycl on the south, through William
street on the east, Wall street on the
north. and the bank of the Hudson on
thr vest. New Years Day was celebrat
ia with boisterous mirth, that literally
made the wei1in ring" with happy
New Year. Every family within the
above precincts was visited and kindly
greeted The customary New Years
beverage, and sugar and honey-cookies
were laylshly distributed. After tie
conquest OF the Nieuw Netherlands by
the English, Dutch customs and man
aers, meIlowed by time and foreign
Htermizturc, still predominated and
retained their influence until the
Vac IF Independence. On New
Years Day the churches OF every
denomination were opened, rs at
present, for divine worship; and
t.e congregations attended to render
thanks to God for the mercies of the
rt,t, and to supplicate His blessing for
Tire future Afterwards visits were paid
to their dOmiaicS, relations, friends
aad acquaintances, and kindly greetings
reprocally interchmged. The New
Years drink and cookies loaded the Ia
Mes (sidebnards were then unknown,
aad none went empty away 1t Is re-
lated Of Dominic DE Roude that he re
turned home a half dozen times, at
least, to disburden his pockets Of their
contents, and which were of no mean
capacity, although Of not equal ampli-
tude with those of Governor Wouter
Van EwiIIer's a{dcy Hercrt CrOtc (most
beloved wife), as described by the i'm
mortal knickerbocker in his delectable
history: the weight Of which was conn
tefp8ised by Il huge hook of ponderous
KEYS, such as our ancestors did use,
which gave circumference to the nat
Ura. rotuudity Of this august parsonage
THAT might vie with the dimensions of
the inflated balloon bellies of the pre-
sent timd.
New Years day is always a day of
cheerful hilarity and kind-hearted greet
ines among all classes of citizens.
Many an animositv was extingJnshed,
ma many a friendship renewed on this
aaspicious anniversary. 1t was custom
ary to SEND under the care of their
nurses, the Younger branches TO be in
tya0Uced to their kinsfolk, and thereby
t become acquainted, and maintain
aud unite the links of family relations.
The siyerlings. the cookies, and the
blessings were literally bestowed to
eladden the hearts of the youngsters.
Snail sacrilegious hands, then, at
Tempt to PROSTATE this ancient land
Narh of our simple ancestors without Il
solitary effort to preserve it? Descend
lr- ot the Dutch emulate the exam
.a III the bold British Barons, who, re
sssting the encroachmentso Of their pusil-
sa.muus King John, unsheathing their
formidable weapons. and striking their
Haa basket hits on the massive oaken
council table, which made the Hail re-
aud, exclaimed NofaB1US lcges
10 .lG ut2ari' eve viii not suffer
t..a laws III England to he changed y.
lA IKE manner do YOU Indignantly aver.
ta.aHfiS 8OreS ButdrOrulii H3lttdri'
We viii not permit the customs of
holland to be obliterated y. In
oa.se the natural propensity for
STORYTELLING, Of one "fallen into
tas ire and yellow leaf, to conclude
These remarks with an anecdote, for the
authenticity Of which he pledges his
ysncty, General Washington, in the
alst Year Of his presidency under the
-gE Constitution. 1873, resided in the
i.AEln House, Mt the head of Cherry
street. On New Years Dav. 1870, he
Me- waited upon by the principal gen
-e.leA Of the city The day was nm
commonly mild and pleasant After
g.A- sayeraly introduced, and paying
usual compliments Of the season.
.-1 citizens mutually iuterchanged their
'.aa greetings and withdrew. highly
1.aslaeJ by the friendly notice of the
dent, r most OF whom he was per
~ stranger. In the evening Mrs.
'a-ton held her itrec. 1t was about
- moon, and the air 50 bland
.' serene, that the Indies uttenued IN
... ll~at summer shades. introduced
cue ads and the gentlemen-in-w wait
alter beng seated, tea, coffee,
1 a.d plum cake were handed round.
l..'.f ald friendly conversation en-
q. aad kind inquiries. on the part OF
aSmngton, after the families OF
with whom she had been ac.
H. t.t.aa during the Revolutionary
., AMI Who always received marked
~.. ay.1a from General Washington.
.-.ll.g ut the side OF the President
,n. + Mrs Washington. she remarked
ai the incidents of the dav. none
.'saSed tue General. by which title
rs. 4"aFs designated him, s the
1.E greetings OF the gentlemenwh,
mum at noon. To the inauir,
- ..1 PRESIDENT. whether if was rasua
-..sSonary, he was answered that i
~. ~ annual custom, derived from ON
ioIeiathers. which had aIvay,