The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-01
Ring Out the Old-Ring In
the New.
THE GREAT AMERICAN CALLER.
A Pen Picture Of Characteristic Instltu-
ton Of Our Country.
"SECOND ONLY TO THE AMERICAN EAGLE"

Years Day do on Christmas morning, and for
reasons 1rst that there stockings hung by the
chimney to tempt us, and second. because up
SO late the night believe There very few people SO
dead to all sentiment that they do not wait up
the old year and tho year On the strike of
twelve VIC take our stand, glass in hand. and with
sigh for tho past and smile Tor the future drink
the health OF tho year--that is, some OF do,
while others again are found their knees in church
or in their closets asking the Divine blessing the
new year Perhaps the more universal custom is TO
see the old year out with merry making We do not
stop to think that another year has passed and that
our span OF life Is just that much shorter do We
part with our old friend very sadly lie roi est mort
uice e roi Is the toast OF the Tho old year goes
out mid tho ringing Of bells and tho year Is ushered
IN with the booming OF guns The wassa bowl flows
freely on New Years Eve. Why drinking should form
important part of New Years festivities wo do not
know, except that 1t is u custom Of long standing and
dates back in England to the old Saxon days Let US
hope that the New Years drinking viii be more OF
form than ceremony. We should improve upon The
customs Of our ancestors The old English way was to
al the wassa bowl, trim 1t with ribbons and pass it
around among the guests, while song and laughter
awoke the echoes of the baronia halls and all fcuds
were settled and good feeling prevailed In Scotland
the day is one OF the The sober visaged Scot
iorgets himself for the night and enters heart and soul
into the festivities. Special cakes made for New
Years eating and special drinks are brewed for New
YEARS. drinking
The custom Of making Now YEARS. presents is not so
common in this country in France and other coun
tries In the days OF Elizabeth gloves and pins were
tho prevailing New Years gifts and they wero con
sdercd very fno for gloves and pms not as con-
mon then they now. In Paris confectionery Is
the great New YEARS. present. and no man makes
cail empty handed 1t cannot be that calls
frequent there as in New York or gentle
man would have TO carry small shop around with
him. Calls in other countries than generally
made between relatives II Is an old English custom
TO unbar and throw open all the doors the
the stroke Of twelve on New Years Eve, that the
old year can get out and the new year como in.
THK AMERICAN COLONIES.
In no country In The world is tho custom OF making
New Years calls followe to the extent that IL Is n
the Uned States, and particularly in this city 1t
atme.honored custom, and comes to US through our
Dutch ancestors Lady Washington's New Years
Day receptions were among tho most delightful gath
crinPs OF the time, and that amiabe lady did great
deal toward perpetuuting a pleasant custom IL Is
very charming sentiment this celebrating New Years
Day with making calls We, as nation, do little
enough in the way OF sentiment, ana that We should
devote one day IN the year TO our friends moro
than right. All over the world wherever there rs an
American colony, be It on the banks OF the Thames or
tho banks OF the Nile, this custom is honored. In
Paris, where there are so many Americans. 1t makes
quite littlc stir on New Years Day But in New
York the observance Of tho day matter OF
business as we'll as pleasure. Politicians well
are gay from nine O'Clock in the morning
until twelve NJ night with neatly dressed
ing carriages lady on tho streets OF New York on
New Year Day is rdra aris, and II Is unior-
tunatc as to be caught out she hurries along tho
shadow oil the houses, hoping thereby TO escape OBJ
scrvation. There Is great deal OF rivalry among
ladies' about the number. OF calls they receive IL Is
the ambition of each swell her list and the butcher
the baker and the candicsck max er are often mum.
bcred though not named, among the swes Drink
ing TO excess is seldom known now on New YEARS.
4 nVar mi lar pd pAcns Irtn
glass OF VINE at each OF your 200 calls II you simply
raise the glass to your lips or toy with the that
Is enough. Fewer people sct tables than used to-
Some five or six years ago every who could afford
H. and many who could not, set regular table, and
every gentleman was expected to eat NJ least the
wing OF bird by the time he had reached his
Tooth wing no felt less like dying than he ever did
before There are certain ladies' who are known by
their gentlemen friends 10 spread luxurious repast
and there the well regulated caller wends his way
about dinner time Wine Is nowadays the average
New Years Day Offering though VIC have whs-
key, but only IN Bohemia. Full dress is not
bent upon the ladies, but If It Is worn the blinds
should DO closed ana the candles lighted. Gentle
men usually wear full dress the
compliment OF the ladies, though walking dress
would b. much more appropriate. We do
not know what those poor follows are going 10 do who
have no carriages to take them their rounds. Tor
gooshcs are not admirable with pntai' coats. The
poor wretch cannot get through the streets In this
weather without them, and he cannot wear them in
the presence OF the belle, who honors HIM by evening
dress; he is only supposed to be in the house nvc
minutes, so he cannot leave them the hall The only
thing Tor HIM to do IL to hire small boy to follow him
about and guard the golosncs on tho front steps Tho
fashionable limit OF New Years call IL I'VE minutes,
but friends Of the family often pass hour
more with charming hostess and help to crlciso
each departure. The substance OF the conversation
during New Years call is not Emcrsonian. II re-
solves itself 10 about this -
Happy now year. Mss Brown"
'Thanks. Mr.. Jones; happy new year to you"
"Ah very kind. Had many calls ?"
''ies, quite number. Made many calls2"
Eyes, about lfty; pleasant day for calls.
'Quiie So
IL must bid you good day, Miss Brown
"Good day, Mr.. Jones. (ExIt Joncs)
How many OF US start out with good resolutions on
New Years Day, and how many OF them do we keep
But II Is better 10 acknowledge our errors and
make ut least the attempt TO right them than not to
givo tho matter thought Let us all pay Tor better
times and that tho new year may be prouder one in
our history than the past has been That the chimes
last night rang out tho fass ana "rrng in tho true
is the sincere wish OF the HERALD that tn readers
OF this paper may have . very happy New Year