, 1877-01-07
An Improved Feeling in New
York Business Circles.
4 Genuine Business Revival Predict
ed When Hayes Is Inau-
gurated.
The Hard Times Among the Poor,
and How They Live.
How Ireland Has Captured New
York and Rejoices in It.

From Our 0cn Correspondent.
NEW YORK, JAM 4.-Thcre is q marked differ
ence If opinion in various social circles as tt
whether Ncw-Fear's Day WAS celebrated more
or less than usual. Some ladies say they ncvcl
received SO many calls; some that they neye,
received SO few. The temperance folk are Ger:
tain there was never so little offered in the way
OF wines and liquors; the conyvialists reply
that there Was never SO much. To strike the
happy medium has been the fortune Of few
spectators, critics, or inquirers. Nor did the
city press lend any assistance Half the papers
said it WIS big day; half said it was extremely
dull On one point, happily. there was no dis
pute- The storm was a fact,-an apparent,
large, disagreeablc, defying fact The evening
calls were wet failure; and the saddcst young
men In the country were those who sat down
In the snow at divers times and in divers places
after the duties Of the day we're done
THE CALLS OF OTHER DAYS.
There Is well-founded claim that the custom
Df making Ncw-Tcar's calls, now SO general
throughout the United States originated among
the Dutch settlers OF New York, in the good old
days OF Diedrich kpickerbockcr. To the stran-
gcrin New Amsterdam 200 years ago, every door
~as thrown open once year. A high breach OF
Etiquette Was laid to the charge Of the caller
Rho omitted any acquaintance, and on New
Years the petty quarrcls OF the past might be
7ettled and new treaty Of friendship be ar
ranged. According to the historian, the parlor
door was, in those days, carpetcd with sand, in
which the portly matrons and their blooming
daughters drew fauciful figures and devices
which showed both taste and skill. but which
yielded long before crisp evening to the wear OF
many shoes. The chairs were high and straight
backed, ornanncntcd with brass nails; iu one
corner stood the oaken chest, filed with
household linen, the make and pride Of the Ia
dies; the great fireplace with its blazing logs
and brass-mountei aDdirons lent warmth and
light alike. and the round tea-tabe, with its
huge secd-cake, its substantial rounds Of beef,
its punch and wines, completed a picture OF vel
come.
wAsu1NGToS's CELEBRATION.
President Washington opened the year t79o
in New York with d reception Of the most in
teresting character. 1t was held in tile Franklin
House, at the head Of Cherry street, and was
Mrs Washington's first lcyee. That lady stood
by the Generals side receiving callers, and
friendly conversation followed. Tea, coffee,
plain and plum cake were handed round after
all were seated. When the clock struck g.
Mrs Washington said smilingly, '*Thc General
always retires at O. and l usually prccede
him. This, Of course closed the pleasant
evening. With resard to the day and its OBJ
eerrance, Ten. Washington remarked: ''The
high1y-favorcd situation Of New York will, in
the process OF years, attract numerous emil
grants. who will gradually change its ancient
customs aud manners: but, whatever changes
take place, 4eyer forget the cordial, cheerful
been forgotten. There have been hard times,
times OF panic, times Of war, times OF wild ex-
element: but in all times New-Year's Day mas
held its own we'll in this city, despite the efforts
Fbf a. ray and fnuf
AT CENTRAL PARE.
While the visits at private houses were proba-
ably lessnumerous than formerly, the visits to
Central Park we're vastly increased in number
The skating was excellent, and it is estimated
that $1,000 people were on skates during the
morning. Here and there was enacted scene
recalling Mr.. Wrinkles experience On the ice,
but grace and skill carried the day By large
majority. In addition to this sight, the park
WAS alive with the jingle Of bells. Every cut
ter and sleigh which con1d be gotten hold Of for
lore or money was in use The lycrymen put
their prices up to meet the occasion, and put
them SO high, os one of their victims remark
ed, that they haven't been able to get them
down since.
THE BEAUTIFUL SNOW.
The storm was well worth a paragraph. It
attracted more attention than any other fea-
ture Of the day. It made the streets well-nigh
impossible over night, and furnished employ
ment to thousands OF hungry men and boys
next morning. It kept several hundred people
away from home, rendered the horsc-cars sub
ject to the seycrest discipline for irregularities,
held many bclated carriage fast in some side
street, and caused many belatcd traveller the
extreme Of fatigue. There has been no equal to
Ibis storm in many years. The streets in the
upper section arc piled high with SHOW, which
will only too soon be converted into dreadful
mixture, ruinous to health and temper. Down.
town the work OF carting the snow to the river
has gone on rapidly and with good effect: but
the crossings invite one to wade auklc-deep
through sandy slusl,, and pcdestrianism is any
thing but comfort and delight The most at
trac1iye display Of goods just now is found to be
That OF arctics and rubber boots.
THE cAsTEILAx1 COLLECTION.
The Metropolitan Museum, not content with
having secured the complete Cesnola collection,
has fixed the eye Of desire on portions, at least
Of the admirable collection Of s,gnor Castellani
The entire collection is soon to be placed on ex-
hibition at the Museum, and 1t is expected by
This method to so arouse the autiqua1ians and
wealthy that little of the entire collection will
be allowed to leave the city. The admission
fees are to be set apart to bur the majolica por-
tion. The general interest in this exhibition is
not lessened By the fact that in London it
created one Of the two principal artistic sensa-
tions OF the year: while the other sensation was
the result Of the display OF the late1y-purchased
Cesnola antiquities. i.
AN AcToR's WISH FULFILLED.
Claude Burroughs, the actor, who played his
last role as victim in the Brooklyn fire, was pos
sessed OF some s., 600 worth Of personal prop
erty, besides d pleasant home in Westchestcr
County, in which he had placed his parents.
This fact reminds me OF a chapter ia his life
which has not been in print, and which explains
the stories set atoat regarding his engagement,
the b1okcn-beartcd fzncee, etc. Mr. Burroughs
was, some time previously, engaged to the
daughter Of a lady living on West
Tenth street. he at last came to theconclusfon
which many young men reach, that he could not
afford to marry. He frankly talked the matter /!
over with the young lady, to whom he was
warmly attached, and she agreed with him. Yet |
they remained the drmest friends, and he visited |
her as before, though the engagement was |
broken off. When the company to which hir. ]
Burroughs belonged Was obliged to 20 to Brook
Ign, he often expressed to the young lady his
aversion to s.going to Siberia" as the play
people called it. Tuesday, the day Of the
ire 50 fatal to him, he wrote her