The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-01-01
NEW YEARS DAY.

generally sanguine of the future, and hope
throws SO fair light over all that is yet
to come, that we are apt to be worshipers
OF JaIus, the presiding deity of "begin-
nings." 1t is true that he had two faces,
one looking backward, as we'll as that
looking forward; but, if his peculiar care
was augury for the future, his backward
glances would seem to have been only
necessary preparation for the right or
dering of that which was to come. There
is great beauty in this as in so many an
clent myths, and a great truth, shrouded
10 the heart Of the poetic fancy, has kept
that fancy green to all generations, and
to-day, though we build no temple to
Janus, the classic story lives in our mem
ories, and teaches its eternal lesson.
Upon the beginnings of things how
much the ending must depend is recogniz-
ed in the proverb "Well begun is half
doue, and no word in our language is so
pregnant with suggestion, as the word ''be-
ginning" we may add, none so filled with
exalted hope. Men have agreed in all
ages, Notwithstanding the bitterness of
life, to rejoice in its advent, and there
could not, perhaps, be better evidence of
the real estimate of the value of the gifted
being, than the general fact, that, no mat
ter how abject the circumstances may be
into which the new life may come, there is
always some heartbeat of joy to welcome
its beginning. Hope irradiates the morn
ing OF the new year with brightness, and
has caused it to be ushered in with signs of
universal joy, and so it should be. Life is
an inestimable gift, the grandest, the most
precious, for it enfolds all possibilities, and
we may we'll be grateful for its possession,
and look forward with hopeful gladness-
the young to its unfolding promise, the
old to its peaceful close.
The rites which were observed in the
opening of the year by the pagan nations
were strikingand often significant. The sac
rifces to Janus, were of the fruits of the
completed year, offered upon twelve atars,
an offering for each month The early
church devoted the closing hours of the
dying year to religious services, and the
'Ggap@" or love feasts of primitive Chris
tains The church at first abstained from
all festive observances, in condemnation of
the usages of her pagan neighbors, but the
time was afterward observed as the ami.
versary of the circumcision of Christ. In
modern times, some churches perpetuate
the custom of the primitive church, in the
"watch meeting" in which the half hour
before midnight is spent in solemn silence
and reflection and the stroke of the hour,
which seems, with some solemn cadence,
to divide between the present and the past,
is followed by burst of praise 1t is GER
tainly most picturesque custom, and has
more appropriate fitness than that of
spending the same time in the gayety of the
dance. The gifts of the New Year, very
different from those of Christmas, are gen
orally those of ceremony-from interiors
to their superiors-and the same rule OBJ
tains with visits which are not paid to la
dies. At the metropolis the day is one of
unrivalled brilliancy as it is that set apart
for official receptions, Those of the Pres.
ident present most interesting assem-
blage, and the executive mansion is illum-
mated by rays of the reflected splendor of
foreign courts. Many persons of wealth
and distinction, open their houses to all
corners, and dispense a lavish hospitality.
In England the time has never been as
much observed as upon the continent. At
one time, however, rich gifts were then
presented to the sovereign, which ultimate
ly came to be regarded as an enormous tax
Druidical superstition regarded the day as
sacred, and branches of the mistletoe cut,
with great pomp of ceremony with a knife
of gold, were distributed by the priests
The mistletoe is still the only plant
which is associated with its celebration.
The Saxons required something more
substantial than poetical superstitions for
their enjoyment, and made the festival one
of extravagant feasting; but their Baccha-
nal banquets were too course to be other
than repulsive, even at this distance of
time. Oriental nations generally mark the
day by ceremonies similar in spirit, if not
in detail, to those of Christendom. The
Celestials devote three whole days charac-
teristically to the celebration, and the fes-
tival is one of the most important of the
year, and made uproarious with fireworks,
gongs, etc.
The Jews Feast of Trumpets was kept
at the beginning of the civil year, and is
still observed in the service of the syna-
gogue by the blowing of horns and reli-
gious service, but it occurs not in January,
but September.
The pleasantest rites of the day, as we'll
as our prettiest Christmas customs, have
originated in Germany and Holland, and
are now so generally adopted among us, as
to have become thoroughly American.
Nothing could be more graceful than the
tribute paid to woman-hood by the uni
versal homage offered to her upon this day,
by the nation at large; and if she suffers
this homage to be paid to her hospitality
rather than to herself, it will be because
she is careless in using the gifts with which
she is endowed, and thoughtless of the re-
gal scepter, which the highest civilization
has placed within her grasp. If, indeed,
in any country upon the globe, the open
ing morn of the year 1881 should be ush-
cred in with hopefulness and joy, it is in
our own favored land Looking back upon
the unprecedented growth of the past CEN
tury, looking forward through the long,
luminous vista, which opens with the glo-
rious promise of achievements yet to come,
the splendid story of the mother of king
doms pales before the glorious vision of
national grandeur, built upon the broad
basis of truth and freedom; its bulwarks,
the patriotism of her people; its mission,
the defense of the oppressed of all peoples,
and the establishment of those principles
of free government which shall dispel the
darkness of ignorance, break down time
honored wrongs, and make highway for
industry and skill to honor and prosperity,
in the sunshine of security and peace.
Very few churches in America have a
seating capacity of over 1900. The fol-
lowing shows the size ofsome of the largest
obnrobac IN Enrora Sc potor'o 6buroh