The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-01-06
NEW Y0RK Ian. 3. 1880.

Whatever may be said in disparagement of
New Workers, it cannot be disp1ted that they
always begin the year well. The custom OF
making calls on the 1st Of January is one of
the most agreeable and salutary that ever OBJ
tanned in any community. 1t promotes neigh
borly feeling strengthens the ties Of friendship,
encourages sociability, revives associations
which may have been interrupted by the con-
slant activities Of life heals up differences, cor
rects misunderstanding and leads by natural
and easy processes to more general and hearty.
recognition of the obligations of fraternity, and
the desirableness of maintaining and perpetu-
ating spirit of good feeling among the people
of a great city.
The Knickerbockers are entitled to the credit
of having founded and preserved this festive
holiday. The idea originated with them. 1t
has been adopted by the inhabitants of numer-
GUS other towns and cities, but the practice
prevails more widely on this Island than any
where else with the ossible exception OF the
National Capital, and it is morally certain
that no rival will ever surpass the metropolis
in the genuine cordaity with which it is kept
up. Pretty much all classes join it; the rich
and the poor, the lofty and the lowly find equal
enjoyment in it. The institution is essentially
a democratic one; the humblest acquaintance
as rule is as graclously received as the proud
est and all are sure of a genern-.' 80
- s.,.,a ~ Il expansion of the city lnter-
the rounds N thes fGl GSalier. There is
so large space to be covered that it is a
difficult matter to get over the whole ground
within the prescribed limits of the ten hours
between II m. and 10 p. IN. Some men man.
age to do it, by driving fast and staying but
moment in a place. That however is very
unsatisfactory way of accomplishing the object.
1t involves the utter sacrifice of pleasure to the
exigencies of business. The better plan is-and
am guided to the conclusion by the light of
long experience--to prepare list, arranging
the names geographically, and to select there
from as many as it is possible to visit with any
sort of comfort, sending cards-by messenger if
possible if not by post-to all the others. This
method will doubtless compel the excision of
the names of some whom it is q real privation
to miss seeing personally, but that is one of the
inevitable consequences Of having friends re-
siding at such extreme distances from each
other that there is no chance of reaching
them all within the allotted time. The right
to call any day or evening after the 1st till the
end of the week, whenever that may occur, is
one OF the regulations of the system, but one
doesn't care to witness performance after the
scenery has been taken down and the lights
lowered
The hour of starting has become fixed by
habit, and at noon every available vehicle is
put in requisition for the service. The ladies
are expected to be in readiness for guests at
that precise moment, and if any of them
happen to be tardy in reaching the drawing
room, the earlier visitors leave cards and
move on. In all well regulated houses pre-
cautions are taken to prevent delay. A male
servant faultessly attired- usually an African
whose white necktie and gloves contrasted
with his ebony face present an artistic blend
ing of colors. stands ready to open the door as
soon as footstep in the vestibule catches his
listening ear. Sometimes the formality is
observed of sending in card, but in that case
the owner of it follows it Immediately so that
no time is lost. The lady Of the house re-
ceives and responds to his salutations, and then
if she has companions who are assisting her in
the ceremonies she introduces him to them.
After that he is at liberty to make himself
comfortable in any way he pleases. He can
sit down or stand up, stay a good while or
leave in hurry but the temptations to re-
main are so strong, the fair entertainers are SO
hospitable the whole scene is SO attractive,
that he must be a marvel of stoicism if he isn't
beguiled into conversation that will keep
him till new comers arrive, and he is admOn-
ished of the duty of giving place to them.
Before he departs he will be invited to take
refreshments, if there are any to be offered.
About three-fourths of those who receive pro-
vide some sort of entertainment; ha If of them
set tables bountifully supplied with every
variety of regalement, staple and delicate,
solid and fluid; the other half furnish cake
and wine, or if they are supporters of the
principle of total abstinence, they substitute
lemonade and coffee for the wine. OF course
not tenth part Of the callers tarry to avail
themselves of the privileges of the table, but
every hostess meets during some part OF the
day or evening enough hungry and thirsty
guests to prove to her that she did not prepare
her feast in vain. Whoever ab.tains is not
pressed, but any one who shows an inclination
to taste of the daintes at hand is served with
an alacrity which adds to the flavor of the
gestive of refined courtesy and generous cheer
that every person present is at once made to
feel perfectly at ease, and there is an absolute
freedom from conventional restraints without
the slightest deviation from the recognized
rules of social Gecorum.
The only drawback to the enjoyment of
series of festivities of this kind is that it is so
soon over. Time flies very swiftly when it is
spent pleasantly, and night always sets in too
soon upon New Years day in New York to
suit the great multitude who unite in the ac-
customed celebration of it. Still, these occa-
sions are replete with incidents that never
fade out of the memory. They tend to soften
the prosaic realities of existence by infusing |
into them touch of sentiment, and there can
never be the remotest danger that so matter |
of-fact people as ours will run to excess in |
that direction. There is but one day in the |
365 when they literally give themselves up to |
this species Of conviviality, and it is natural |
they should make the most Of so rare treat |