Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-31
THE MATTER OF NEW YEARS CALLING

The San Francisco Bulletin remarks
that the custom of calling on New Years
Day is readiusting itself, and returning to
its original simplicity and appropriate
ness. That is to say, indiseriminate call
ing is going out of fashion, and the prac-
tice hereafter is to be confined to calls by
old friends 1t is certainly true that the
open house" business has had its dav,
and is about to he numbered with the
things of the past Originally, the Gus
tom was for relatives and intimate friends
to make New Years Day the occasion for
cementing friendships that in the scurry
and trial of the year past might have gone
somewhat TO rust, or by the pressure of
bui.ne IS, the accidents of life, or absence,
have been somewhat neglected. Out of
this usage grew the custom of receiving
others than intimates and relatives, and
finally the altogether and now decaying
practice of throwing open the house to all
zeemcrs on New Years Day took possession
of society. While it testified to great
breadth of hospitality, it invited gross
abuses. As, for instance, under the shelter
of the hospitable open door" there came
into the household those who, other
wise, could gain no admittanee there.
The sincerity of the friendly visit
degenerated into mere form, and the
compliment of the call was negatived bv
the well-known fact that the callers, in
most cases, were striving to outdo each
other in scoring the largest number of
calls possible to be made within the al
lotted time. Added to these abuses were
the evils consequent upon the imbibing of
wines and liquors, resulting often in scenes
altogether discreditable. Society some years
ago began a reform by the very general
abolition from the New Years table of in
toxicants. This was the first step. indeed.
toward a return TO the original purity of
the New Years calling custom. 1t is a
custom at once wise and pleasurable. and
having high value to society, but it is to
be confined strictly to calls by admitted
friends upon friends; those who visit each
other frequently within the year; those
between whom there are relations of \
sterling eharsSter, and afriendship stronger
than that which is the outgrowth of but
occasional meeting. So it follows that the
announcements of those who will receive
may properly enough be made, as hereto
fore, for it is conducive to the comfort of
ones friend, and relieves him from possible
embarrassment, to know that his friend
will on that day especially he glad to re-
ceive intimates, or of those for whom there
is more of sympathy and kindliness felt
than grow out of casual acquaintance.
The indiscriminate calling, then. is
10 be abandoned. 1t will he, AT best. re-
tanned but this year; for the DEGREES of
fashionable society, once made, are enforced
with unsparing rigor. If there are to be
notices of intention to receive" hereafter.
they will probably be accompanied, in each
case, by the statement that the invitation
Is only to personal friends. Indeed. the de-
cree Of society seems to be that it will he
the proper and right thing to do. to give
notice of such intention. since otherwise
there may be very untinelv and en-
barrasslng calls. In some comnun;-
ties we understand the plan will be
adopted for those who will receive intimate
friends, to send cards day in advance to
those whom they would gladly welcome on
the occasion. In such cases, if one cannot
return the kindly offer by call, response
by return of personal card is considered
the proper thing, and though it appears
too formal, yet this Offering upon the altar
of friendship may be a precious me-
mento. The regeneration of the custom
viii have another effect also, and good
one; it will remove the formalityy of