The New York herald., 1879-12-30
NEW YEARS CALLS.

WHAT MANY LADY READERS WANT TO KNOW AMI
WHAT REPORTER TRIED TO FIND OUT.
To call or not to call at home not ut home
these are the pressing questions OF the hour i'll Now
York society. Paruell may come or Parnell may go
Boston may burn or railway trains dive into the
sea-but this New Years business must be attended
to- 1t is the delightful privilege OF the HERALD to
have voice in the settlement OF the preiiminaries.
Yesterday 1t discussed the subjects dress coats
and wine-weighted sideboards. and to-day has been
invited to address of the ladies' of the city
upon the adyisablty Of keeping open house and the
probable disposition that the lords of creation
will make Of their New Years opportuai.
ties. In communication signed 'Many
Lady Readers" this journal is asked what
will be the fashion to New Years calls. Many Of
them mado extensive preparations last january.
they say only to hnd that their gentlemen friends
had gone of excursions. They generously re.
Trained from aludng to the character of those ex
cursions, but rushed to the conclusion that ths
coming Thursday they might send out their cards
with several ladies' thereon, is done else
where, and thus insure pleasant day for all. This
smacks OF wicked and Interior purpose the part
of "Many Lady Readers" which is partly tempered
only by the final sentence Of their letter:"we think
the old custom too pleasant to give up" II they
mean to intimate that second series OF excursions
strong probability OF their being mistaken. Nothing
inspires tho manly bosom. "on an excursion"
with happiness than the thought that the bet.
ter half of his existence Is spending the hours in
quiet meditation by the family rug. Tho jolliest Of
excursions would be rendered miserable by the
thought that ones wife, sister sweetheart could
be happy in our absence. Men might even accept in
such crisis the desperate alternative Of remaining
at homo themselves You may try it. ladies. IL you
must; but remember that there will be 365 days in
1880 after the first Like most feminine threats. the
in question is followed by an insinuating plea,
and they frankly declare that they think tho old
tom is too pleasant to give up. This simple express
sion of preference ought forever to settle the pro-
grammes Of their gallant admirers and most obedient
servants; but men exceedingly selfish. and like
to begin q new year in the way OF the old. Such
issue cannot bo decided on mere moral grounds.
Fashion is as tickle as Fortune. and men are more
tickle than either or both. ~.
IN TIE ABSTRACT.
The question before the house is not what people
humiliating that MANY Lady Readers should begin
their letter with. 'Won't you find out? ?? as II the
lady ever I'M makes wound except for the purpose of
healing afterward so they added In brackets, We
are sure you can Besides the question Is too ALL
important to admit of petty distempsrs on the score
of etiquette or dignity. As goes New York so goes
the Union" is truism in politics. and may very
is it true Of New Years fashions. In
which New York has invariably set the
lead. Here began the custom of calling.
with or without provocation. on everybody you
know do not know, while the ladies put them-
serves on exhibition exchange wine and cake for
compliments. For few years back the custom has
been waning The weather has perhaps been bad
and coupes are expensive. or else the weather has
been fair and many card baskets graced the door
bells along tho route. 1t is chilling thing. no
matter how fashionable politely intended to find
in receiver as you would post letter. and go
away without even so much as smile from .
servant. No surer means could be adopted Of kill
ing the custom. and although some callers rejoice
at the sight OF the wicker such persons would
rejoice still more New Years calling were entirely
cuous calling is irksomc to people of sense and has
fallen into tho hands of the modern PhstiDes. who
are shorter OF stature but more prodigal OF dress
and boastful of speech than the nation OF old. Just
as David with his shepherds sling disarmed whole
army OF them in days gone by, 80 Miss David now
with different kind Of sling and "stick" In lieu OF
q stone disarm and "dsleg the Phistines OF to-
day before the sun goes down on New Years field.
Your society adventurer fnds~ubjec. for contempa-
ton III the cut of his New Years siit and undying
glory in the recollection Of Il hundred calls. His
grand object in life to meet people, and New Years
affords him unequalled opportunities for making
acquaintances. But with all It's abuses New Years
to circle of ones friends, and the ladies' of New
York can easily fix this limit if they will.
IN PARTICULAR.
"Will gentlemen make calls on the day after to.
morrow" That is what q HERALD reporter was told
to determine, ana would NATURALLY i1, include an an.
With his head full OF the vexed subject the reporter
wandered into the Office OF fashionable Wall street
broker and put the question:
"Will you make any calls on New Years DayY
81 can't see that that is any business Of yours"
"Of course not, but for the sake of information
suppose that it was. am doing this thing to oblge
MANY Lady Readers"
.'Oh. that alters tho case." said the broker, ap-
peased. "Of course shall mako calls"
"Lots OF emp"
"Now. you want to Hnd out how many friends !
have, don't your
"No, 1 DON'T but Many Lady-'"
eyes. yes; anything to oblige them. I shall call
on every lady that think will be glad to mo-"
''Is the intention prevalent"
81 think There off markets in society %
there in business. Now, last year did not make
any calls"
''were you an excursonY
"None of your business"
81 know that but Many"
"who are those Lady ReadorsT" " demanded the.
broker.
III don't know"
"Then don't know where was last Now Years."
This was not encouraging to man who wanted to
lathom great social problem. Tho reporter turned
his back Wall street and went up the City Hall.
where one Is sure OF courtesy although everything
else is pretty uncertain Meeting an Alderman on
the stone steps DER which great men ssccnd 70
power, the reporter asked abstractedly:-
"Will you calY'
"That depends upon tho sizo of tho pot"
"WhatY'
"Depends upon who Is In and what kind OF hand
rye got."
The reporter fled. Let 1t be said. however for tho
benefit OF "Many Lady Readers" that with q hna
lay they can probably count many callers a.