National Republican., 1876-01-01

years ayant cour;ers. he sbells, BELLS BELLS witt
sound of hope more than vegret, and nj the solemn
and the Isle Of Man the soA1gs Of the Hogmdnna,
and similar ones make genel al greeting with tne
generous drafts Of ale and ihe I pint and usque
baugh.
Various customs and superstitiocs actuate both
countries. They drink at daybreak OF water
brought from "a dead and living tore, IN
pitcher which has not touched the ground tney
gather in great quantities juniper branches which
they burn, whcrewith to purify the houses and
stables for go0d luck and they e o,1 ssd naS
nick peron. Washington Irving most graphic Of
chroniclers, tells us how much real Hollands and
cherry brandy were drank and how nEzch saluta-
tory OSCILLATION was indulged in by the Enieker-
booker forefathers of New York.
Among the superstitions which the SONS and
daughters Of many old races have brought to this
wide country few may be cited.
Let your first visitor Of the dayb be
NO LIGHT-HAIRED FEMALE,
but q dark haired man, for good luck's sake. On
New Years Day sweep not towards the door, but
Wear some new garment on New Years Day that
you may have more during the year.
light taken out Of the house during the day
foreshadowsa death therein during the year.
Throw nothing away on New Years Day, how
much as possible should be brought into the
house. In the Isle Of Man on New Years Eve o
housewife carefully spreads ashes over the floor,
Finding one pointed to the door she ac-
cepts 1t as a token Of death in the household.
On the contrary, one pointing In indicates q
The Scotch attach omens to the shape Of passing
clouds at midnight, and to the winds that blow;
south and west winds are fayorable, east and
north the opposite In augury. They also estimate
dusky, red clouds seen in the morning as
PROPHETIC OF STRIPES AND DIsAGREENESTs
among great ones of earth, and Of robberies and
trouble, and certain dates are regarded as surely
unluehy The first day Oft Of the sn month also the
The old English charm books preserve many
old practices. Inter olid, is q charm with green
self or others one or many leaves Of Ivy in dish
of clean water and so keep i till the 9Th Of Jan
uary. When taken out, II the leaves should ap-
they Should exhibit black spots on the upper part
near the stalk they signify disease in the head or
neck. fin the middle disease Of the stomach or
essa in ths feet ns black or emu ali
death is vaticinated for those who Seek the tide.
An old distich says:
The days lengthen cocks stride"
, Another; a; -. ,,or :, 1,,,r..,
It grows worse for all the year"
Sorfis Vfrgiiiane are resorted to opening the
Bible for chance prophecy on New Years. 1t is
the New Year in or passing the hours at a ball
were considered by the suPerstitious as inviting
iii-luck through the year.
THE CUSTOMS OF OUR OWN COUNTRY,
Heterogeneous as they are, domestically, seem to
admit no eucn DARK pasSaBe Wnlle the young anu
CAV everywhere seek to render the old years final
hours happy by social merriment, and leave not
out Of the company Of the muses. they cultivate
the .white- footed" Terpsichore, while New Years
calls make o ceremony SO universal and so pleas
ant that all the ladies of our cities stay at home
and offer hospitality to their gentlemen friends
glasses and decanters, the steaming punch bowl,
and the ne plus ultra egg-nog are not now the es
sentials of the New Years feasts. Clear-eyed
temperance takes the place of the laughing Bac-
chante and presides with such multiform attrac-
tions Of fragrant coffee, of chocolate unapproach-
able by nectar and of inspiriting and delighting
teas that the grapes Of Silenus become satisfac-
tory in their own beautiful pristine form, and to
fauns and satyr with their reckless crews, may be
left the enjoyment of their juice, pressed out fer
mented end inform ed with the spirits of mischief
forever on the happy New Years day.