The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06

from the Daily Statesman Of January |. 1881

The New Year.
from the Daily Statesman Of January /, IssI.l
IIi- face t. growing. sharp and thin.
AlMck our lrisud j. gone
Close up hi- eyes; Il. up his chin;
Step from the corpse and let him IN
That stiidetiI there alone,
And tsaitcth al the door
There a neW foot on the floor, nv fricnd
And new face at the door, my friend
! new face at the door.
iTcnnysou's Death OF the Old Year.
He has gone to return no more forever.
The demands OF Old Father Time are
memorable, aud all have to pay him
homage and obey his summons. A. the
clock peaIed out the hour of twelve last
night. the Old Year with his pleasures,
his delightful memories, his hallowed As
sociatiOns and hi. chronicle of wrong. of
sorrow and ofcrimc, passed away and will
bc remembered no more, Save when some
one turns and looking back through the
whirling mists of time, drags up some of
his pleasures, his tales of good and bad,
and his record OF important events. He
has gone. aud III his place We have the
New, with his bright hopes and brilliant
expectations. To many In this blessed
city and Stste and county, the dead year
has been a true and faithful friend, and
such, no doubt, have witnessed his de-
parture with sorrow. 1t gave US an
abundant harvest, prosperous business
and beautiful record. and left behind
well fOuI..-lhOpes that his successor will
prove rs pleasant and profitable 4 COM
paniOn. There are many, however. who
will be inclined to censure and reproach
the old fellow, who last night as the bleak
wintery winds mOurned dismally, shiy
cred, and drawing his mantle closely
around his venerable body, took his
place in the great procession OF departed
years. Such as let his golden oppOrtuni-
ties pass, dId no good for themselves, for
society and for the world. The
NEW YEAR
has been ushered in, and this morning
will De welcomed with any number of
new and good resolutions and words of
hope for the propriety and happi-
ness, of all. The custom OF making
New Year calls on to day is said
TO have originated with the re
nowned Peter stuyyesant, the first gov
ernor Of the colony of New Amsterdam,
now New York, for which, and by which
hismemory will be forever kept fresh in
the minds of the young people at least.
History says that the first day OF the
New Year was duly celebrated, and that
on that genial day the fountains OF hospl-
tality were broken up and the whole
community was deiuged with cherry
brandy, true Hollands and mulled cider;
every house was temple of the jolly
god, and many prOvident vagabond
got drunk out of pure economy, taking in
liquor enough gratis to serve him half a
year afterward. The great assemblage,
however, was at the governors honse,
whittier repaired all the burghers of New
Amsterdam, with their wives and da Ugh
tiers, pranked out in their best attire. On
this occasion the good Peter was deyOutly
observant of the pious dutch rite of kiss
ing the women-kind for a happy New
\ ear; and it is traditional that Anthony,
the trumpeter, who acted as gentleman
usher, took toll of all who were young
and handsome, as they passed through the
ante-chamber. This venerable custom,
thus happily introduced, was followed
with such zeal by high and low that, on
new year day, during the reign Of Peter
Stuyvesant, New Amsterdam was the
most thoroughly bekissed community in
all christendom.
The custom of watching the old year
out and the new year In, seems peculiarly
practice of Christians, and is most spe-
cially observed by the Methodist, and is
generally growing more and more in
disuse.
According to Shepherds Kalendar of
100, ''if new years day in the morning
opens with dusky red clouds, it de-
notes strifes and debates among
great ones, and many robberies to hap
pen that year" Never" it Is said, ''al-
low any one to take light out of your
house on new years day; y death in the
household before the expiration of the
year is sure to occur IL 1t be allowed"
Another amusing superstition 10 cautious
against throwing ashes or dirty water, or
any article, however worthless, out of
your house on this day; 1t betokens ILL
luck but you may bring In as many hon
estly-gOtten goods as you can procure"
This morning. here In the city, many
will be out obeying the custom of paying
visits to friends and acquaintances, and
the STATESMAN wishes them each and all
any amount of pleasure, and Happy
New Year.