National Republican., 1878-12-31
NEW rEiR-IS:J.
Facts, Historical aud Otherwise, About To-
Moi rows Celebration.

NEW rEIR-IS;J.
Facts, Historical and Otherwise. About To-
oIrow's Celebration.
Between Cesar whipping up the flying hours
aud Gregory refining them back we moderns
have the satisfaction Of knowing that Old
Time makes his annual trip by correct
schedule. 1t is however, hardly fattering to
ancestral pride to recall that century and n
quarter agorate Britous were pursuing unpopu-
lar ministers through the streets of London, de-
manding to know who stole the eleven days.
Despite this Camor the calendar law of 1852
stood, and In this ammo domini 1879 we write
New Years Day in the proud consciousness
that we understand more than tho ancients.'
However mystifed the ancients were about
dates, they were sound on celebrations, In
which particular we have high authority for
affirming that our own New Years is but
repetition of festivities as old as Hcsiod.
1t Is surprising to note how many of the
amenities Of life are due to boys, whom we are
scarcely wont to count among tho conservative
forces. Latin students, tugging away at dry
roots have managed to extract therefrom many
social condiments, which society has coolly ap.
propriated toi its own savor-notably New Years
versifying which, from the days when the
Eton boys, under classic inspiration, sent cflu-
sions to the provost and masters, has come
down through an uubrOkcn line of acadcmi.
clans, poet laurcatcs, newspaper corners, and
lctter.carriers, until this present year. when
Uncle Sam has lifted against these latter
rhymsters the latelul shears.
New Years calling we are willing TO owe to the
RnickcrbOckcrs, who, wherever they derived
the custom were in the full exercise of lis de.
lights as long ago as when
The steel. clad knights Of Brabant
Drank the red wlnsthrO' their viSors barred
From gOblets filled by the hand of Jacque!ine."
Young America has OF course managed 10
usuIp the favors of the season, aud the youth
fu subjects Of tho stately Stuyvesant, who
betook u emsclves to a shvering game Of foot.
ball on the commons of New Amsterdam "
to avoid tho asgravating sight of the be.kiss-
ing of all Dutch maidcndom by the staid
burghers, would be astonished to know that
New Years has ceased to be Old Gcutleman's 5
Day.
The Traditional superstition that 1t Is un.
lucky to have your first New Years visitor a
female accounts for tho arrangement which
keeps the fair sex so generally at home on that
occasion, aud explains also the precaution
taken, as every Washingtonian knows, to pre-.
vent the few ladies who extend New Years
greetings with the President from having
precedence of the diplomats.
The etiquette of New Years is an important
part of fashionable education. 1t is taught as
an extra, and generally in private lessons.
The ladies are instructed how to suit dapery
tn 10 81,
how 10 manage Il iele ditir without offending Il
company; the gentlemen how TO time calls, to
manage entrees and exits, to diversity compli.
ments, to district cities and, above all, both
sexes arc advised how to avoid that ubiquitous
subject, the weather.
Van Der Lynn narrates this touching in.
cideut in Kuickcrbockcr sloa nearly u
hundred years since:
Leaning against mantcl was q friend
plunged in grief Though Van Der Lynn
had but three minutes for the necessary cere.
monies, he FASTENED to the dscunsolatc one
and whispered Tell me tell me! what at.
ilicts you! Are you i'll? Have you lost q
friend =
Not one, but ALL" was the melancholy re-
ply. Il have lost my visiting list"
l hV dll'icL-t piIllCnlNlIS ltlltIhhcE lnal
luck follows ii something is brought into a
house New Years before anything Is taken
out. The last day Of the old year is millennium
in the cUnlcctioner's quarter, who eau scarcely
supply bon bons enough for the gay cavalier
who would provide the NuspiciUus omen fol
their expectant friends.
II you cannot count upon friends bring
ing mething across the threshold for luck
Oh that day, you are advised to do /! yourself
to which the Irishman pcrtincntly rejolns
And how can You get 1t in, without first get.
ting 1t out p
Formerly an acceptable present was al
orange stuck thick with cloves, to be hung ia
the was5ail bowl, without touching the liquor
For some time after the invention of pins the,
formed the Gvolite offering, aud if a dame re
ccivcd coin instead the same was known a
"pin money"
January !, los the Albany Go:Hr wa
moved to the following uttcrauce, which in
| spires every knight and dame OF the quill l.
the present moment;
"O.d Time. with hi Jrns..,ut.mg teeth. shall con
. Tile worE, Of Il Homer n Nrwton, nmd Hume,
Aud who, when AL thing are consumed by o.
Tine.
Tan tell but we ,cribbcis were writer. sublime.
Till then, "A happy New Year"
. WON NTMENTS TO TRIiTORS
/ Some Very Pertinent Historical Comparison,
TO he Ediior orhe National RegHLiicap: