The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-12-31
News Years Day.

As New Years Day, the first of January
bears a prominent place in the popular cal
cndar. 1t has ever been custom, among
northern nations especially, 10 see the old
year out and the new year in, with demon
STATIONS of merrment and convivlality. To
very few does it seem to occur that the day
is q memorandum of the subtraction of
another year from the little sum of life y
With the multitude the uppermost feeling is
desire to express good wishes for the next
twelve months experience of their friends,
and be the recipient of similar benevolence
on the part of others, and to sec this inter-
change of cordial feeling take place as far
as possible in festive circumstances.
Charles Lamb had strong appreciation of
the social character Of New Years Day. He
remarks that no one of whatever rank can re-
gard it with Indifference. "Of all sounds of
oil bells" says he, "most solemn and touching
is the peal which rings out the old year. l
never hear it without q gathering up of my
mind TO concentration of all the images
that have been diffused over the past twelve
month-all have done or neglected, in that
regretted time. begin to know lie worth
as when a person dies" One could wish
that he had added something in recommends
ton of resolutions of improvement of the
year TO come, for which New Years Day is
surely an appropriate time.
Another writer says, "Every first of Jauu-
airy that we arrive at, is an imaginary mile
stone on the turnpike track of human life,
at once a resting place for thought and mcdi-
tation, and starting point for fresh exertion
in the performance of our journey. The man
who docs not at least propose to himselfto
be better this year than he was last, must be
very good or very bad indeed. And only to
propose to be better is something if nothing
else it is an acknowledgment of our need to
be SO which is the first step towards amend
ment. But in fact, to propose to oneself to
do well, is in some sort to do WELL positively,
for there is no such thing as a stationary
point in human endeavors. He who is not
worse to-day than he was yesterday, is better;
and he who is not better is worse"
AS the period of the demise of the old and
the birth of the new year is not arbitrary, but
merely marks the completion of the earths
revolution around the sun, from any one
point in its orbit back to the same point, or
nearly so, the times of such so-called New
Years vary. Thus the Christian, the Jewish,
the Mohammcdan and the Chinese anniyer-
saries occur at different times We have in
the United States sufficient number of the
first two and of the last named, to have their
respective annual celebrations brought prom
inently under our notice, and, speaking gen.
orally, these all make it season of rejoicing
and social reunion.
The Jewish New Year is attended by more
strictly religious ceremonies, of longer dura-
ton than those Of other sects, and includes,
on some days, partial cessation from bust
ness, and total cessation on Others With
the devout lsraeite visits of congratuation
and compliment are secondary to the reli-
gious observance of the season.
The Chinese, now so numerous in some
portions of our country, especially in Cali
fornia, aud whose noisy demonstrations in
volve SO heavy an expenditure of gunpow-
der, are repu!ed to consider it absolutely OBJ
ligatory to pay all Indebtedness at this time,
and that those who are unable to discharge
their liabilities shall be set free from them
This is the theory, but it would appear that
association with outside barbarians has tend
ed greatly 10 modify it in practice when
abroad. In their own native land the rule
is carried out more rigidly, and such is the
disgrace attendant upon New Years insol-
vency that suicides among The impecunious
at that time are said to be frequent-a
species of hgh-mindedness that ill accords
with our generally received ideas of Chinese
ethics. Were such extreme sensitiveness on
the subject of Indebtedness to prevail
throughout the world, life insurance compan-
les would be compelled to revise their tables
of mortality, for the number of deaths an
nually would be far in excess of the present
rate.
The ringing out of the old year and the
ringing in of the new, has among some Chris
tians give place to singing in the new year,
by What is known as the watch Might
Service" The congregation having assem-
bled, and tie usual services having been per-
formed so as TO terminate shortly before
midnight, hymn is sung, after which per-
feet silence is maintained, each person being,
or supposed to be, engaged in silent prayer
until the hour Of twelve strikes, when all
unite in singing some appropriate hymu.-
This association ofreligious services with the
advent OF the new year-"improvlug the &C.
sion" asst were, appears to be gaining ground
30 would we seek TODD likewise, by urging
on all to reflect seriously upon the past and
form good resolutions for the future.
'He that good thinketh, good may do,
And God will help him thereunto;
For never yet was good work wrought
Without beginning of good thought"
Death of General Logan.