Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-01-01
oss nrxDRED YEARS Ace.

oSE nGXDRED YEARS Ace.
We hear," said the Royal Ga-sfts, of
New York, January 4. 17c3, that, &C
cording to the ancient practice of this
city, the clergy and the chief citizens
will attend. with the congratulations Of
the season, after church this morning,
upon the General. Admiral and Gov
ernor." The day vas kept in the
midst of var and siege, privation and
disaster, with something OF its old
hilarisy. The British officers had Dor
rowed the New York custom the CON-
pliments of the season were exchanged,
the streets rang with reyelry. end the
precarious rule of the English garri-
son did not prevent the celebration Of
the New Years feast of st. Nicholas.
The custom outlivod the war. II re-
ceived the sanction of Washington him.
self. Seven years later, January l,
1880, the citizens of New York again
paid the New Years compliments to q
chief magistrate and a commander.
But it was no longer a British General
and Admiral, but the first President Of
the United States, to whom they gave
their warmest greeting.
Washington in l79O lived at the
Franklin House, at the oerner Of Pearl
and Cherry streets. Here, with Mrs.
Washington, he received his guests.
The day was soft and mild-one of
those bright illusions that sometimes
break in our wintrJ climes. At twelve
o'clock all the citizens made their calls.
In the evening the ladies came to Mrs.
Washington's reception. The moon was
full and bright tho air 50 soft that the
bellies and matrons Of New York came
In their summer dresses. Tea and oOf-
fee, plain and plum cake we're the only
refreshments. 1t was here that Wash
inRtOn made his famous remarks upon
the New York custom. He asked its Or
igin, and was told that it was the an
nual practice of our Dutch forefathers.
The chief paused awhile, and then, in
his stateliest manner, said The high
ly favorable position of New York will,
in process of time, attract emiRrants
who will gradually change its customs
and manners. But, let whatever changes
take place, never forget the cordial,
cheerful observance of New Years
Day."
But between 1888 and 1890 there was
a great gulf to be passed, radical
change, to decide for all ages the des-
tiny of New York. Its New Years Day
was still celebrated in 1883 under a roy
al flag, and the bitterness of warfare
still divided the New World. A writer
in the Royal Ga.ette asserts that MOTH
but q continuation of coereive measures
will bring the stubborn people to prop
er sense of the duty that they owe their
mother country" The royalists had
not yet lost all hope. France, they said.
would abandon the Americans it had
learned to distrost them. "Why." said
one writer, does not the ministry con-
6de In the loyal people put arns into
country" The British, it seems, had
never been perfectly sure Of the Amer
loan Ioyalists and had refused 70 arm
them. Meantime the great victories of
the British arms in Europe and the East
and West Indies filled every royalist
with exultation. Gov. James Robertson
on Thursday. January I'D. The citi-
zens, weary Of VAR full Of tho impulse
Of freedom, were called upon 70 give
thanks for the royal victories. With re-
luotant steps, NO doubt, they made their
way to the loval churches. For the last
time they gave thanks for the triumph
Of The royal flag.
One reads with singular interest the
EoyGl Gazette OF 100 years ago. lts col
umns and advertisements lead % back
to clear conception Of our national
progress and Of the littlenees Of the
past. Its mighty notions are small
communities of . few millions, it,
grand armies Aumber 5000 or 1900
men; ito ships that sweep the seas were
Of 200 to 1000 tons. The finest packets
that left New York for London were
only $50 tons. Mr.. Washington threat-
eaed New York with 1000 or lI,0O0
men, and Carleton or kcbertson had
nearly as many. Beyond the Hudson
stretched wilderness filed with saw
ages. The largest city of the coast,
Philadelphia, had a population OF about
10000. The newspaper is full of inter-
esting suggestions. Here a young man
advsrtisss for ~ place as clerk; perhaps
lie vas successful. became nel chant
prince and died 30 long ago. A dne
house ia to be let ia Wall street; it is
lost today in th, stately modern edi-
fees. A dentist sdvertises for row of
front teeth. Mrs. Lotus offers for sale
her seat, LOTUS Hall, at Hallett's Cove,
and much other property. A proclama-
ti0n orders all ships to be removed,
when unladen, to Newton creek. Tavern
keepers are to take out licenses for the
sale Of liquors q. the Treasury on Pearl
sfrt ct. kivington has list of new nov
els ''now first arr we'd in America" Ce-
celia, by Miss Barney, in i've volumes,
bound in three. at $3, leads the gay
literary feet, and il almost the only one
that has escaped the wave Of Lathe.
Then follow Mount Kenneth, two vol
umes; The Masquerade, two volumes;
the Masked Wedding, one volume;
Anna, q novel, one volume; Fashionable
Follies, two volumes; Ths Sylph. vast
~ admired" We are told, and Julia de
Roubillac. Oar forefathsrs we're evil
deLtly fond 0f fiction, and lived in ro-
mAnti0 dreams.
Yet the dreadful realities Of tho time
were more startling than any romance.
The patriot might we'll tremble as he
read the Thanksgiving proclamation If
the Royalist Governor. Never had EE-
gland bean more terrible by eco and land
than in tho year 1852. Rodney in A. .ril
had, amid seas Of blood, defeated the
deet Of De 0easse, which had given
liberty TO America. Parker had filled
In 1851 the German Ocean with the
slaughter of the Dutch. In India the
English triumphed over French and
Hind0o. The horrible picture had Just
been completed BY the fearful scenes of
Gibraltar. Here (6epteEbes l3th) tho
"a and land had been covered With
suoh Q dreadful massacre Of the Spanish
- had never BEEN known before, The
blue Mediterranean foated host Of the
dead, and the fatefuI rock streame4.
Nth Mood. L vas Tor shsss ffiehsfuI
scenes that the Governor called upon
the people Of New York 70 give thanks.
But, happily. they were the Lass VIC
tories Of she var. The preliminaSies Of
peaae hAd besu siGned H0vembse 30sh;
they wsse ~ 70 b ratified, Wills New