, 1876-01-02

Never before has Chicago known such a
charming New Years Day as yesterday. THO
fog and drizxle Of the enrly morning vanished
before noon, and in their places came the
sun, and summer-like sky ncckcd with clouds.
The air Was as mild and bGlmy as on June
morning, the lake as calm and unrut1led as in
an August afternoon. The streets were
GROVE ded with people, nearly all in pursuit OF
pleasure. The callers were as numerous as
the leaves in Val1ambrosa, and the number
Of ladies' who received" was quite as nu-
merous as ever. Some young gentlemen
were stirred" at night, but the number WAS
few, md the temperance ngitators will have
little fault to find with the ladies' The most
ardent and noisy patriot must have been sat-
isfeu with the demonstrations in the early
morning. Bells were tolled, pealed, and
rung, and even the rusty and tune
less chimes Of the Michigan Ave-
nue. Baptist Church wero pressed
into service BY some 'unskiued individual,
who, unable to play melodies, rang the dis
cord8nt octave up and down for IN hour or
moro. Our German citizens did credit to
their New Years reputation for gun and pis~
tol-fring. Horns and whistles were blown,
and the valiant Calathumpians paraded near
ly every neighborhood. During the day
flags were flying from every aynilable spot.
The lovely weather had its influence upon
people. The good wishes Of the year were
never heartier. The streets were filled with
eager, bustGng crowds, and there seemed to
be universal feeling of faith, hope, and
courage. Every one was commencing the
New Yeur with courage, and looking forward
with hopefulness to successful and busy
year, notwithstanding the great fires and
financial discouragements of the retro
spect, and Secretary BR1sTow's thunder
bolts Of the present, which are strik-
ing in unexpected quarters. The So
cial aspects also were encouraging. The
ladies' entertained their friend right royalty.
There were balls, parties, and festivities all
over the city. There were numerous family
reunions. There vera few SO poor that they
were not enjoying themselves, and even the
poorest were thankful for the genial weather
which is saving them so much in fuel and
making their homes SO comfortable To-
morrow night Chicago will 60 to the opera
and listen to the singing birds as enthusiastic
ally as it used to in the old days of the Crosby
Opern~House when times were easy and
every one Was flush.
AL this speaks we'll for the city, and be-
tokens E happy, prosperous year: AL this
shows We have weathercd the worst Of the
storm. Business is righting itself. We
are finding our way out Of political
troubles. Tho churches are waking up to
n realizing sense Of their duties. The
poor never were SO well provided
for before. Our schools are pros
porous. The Inter -Ote1n has crawled clear
out Of its attack upon Secretary BR1srow.
Some Of our citizens are restricted temporn-
rily Of their liberty, but We hope and expect
they will clear their skirts. There is but one
sorrow in the midst Of all this rejoicing,-the
personal taxes; aud those who are assessed
mouth as those without comfort. Chicago
sets out upon the New Year with its loins
girded up for the race, and as hopeful, cour-
ageous. and 1esolute as ever.