Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-01-11
The Custom Of Making New Years
Calls Now Numbered With the
Obsolete Fashions.
some Reasons Why This Important
Social Observance Has Fallen
Into Disuse.
Professional wine Bibbers-Lieut. Grecly's
work on Arctic Exploration To 30
Issued in February.
s0cel,l correapondencc Of tho Gazette.

tom that compelled New York men to pay
calls on Now Years day, has for some
years past been on the decline. -Four or
1--WE years ago II was already suspected OF
being In the throes OF death; and on the
first day Of this January It may be sald 10
have persisted utterly and to have been
deposited In the limbo Of obsolete
fashions. No one knows exactly when II
began, but IL had It's origin in the life OF
the Dutch settlers and was cOuntenanced
by Washington during his first term as
president, when he held New Year re-
ception In this city. Probably TO that TACT
Is due the Importance given 70 the ami
versary at the White House at present.
The custom in New York had its useful
side. Few men cared TO take the time
needed for paying calls beyond the limits
OF a small circle at any other season, ana
the rest were glad to finish up all their
obligations IN this line on a single day Of
the 365, when they were sure Of finding
ladies' at home. Besides, II gave TO the
ladies' an agreeable variation from the
usual round Of visits exchanged with
other ladies'. The practice, therefore,
found great favor. J remember the time
when, ON New Years day, not woman
yGnturod on the streets in any quarter OF
the town occupied by the "sOciety." La
dies arrayed themselves in their best
toilets NJ home Frequently the shutters
were closed, gas was lighted In the draw
lng-rooms and the fair women who were
there to "receiye" wore evening co tunes
from morning until night. The tradition
Of KnickerDockcr hospitality required
that table should be spread In the dim
ing-room with luxurious viands and u va
riety Of wines; aud nearly every one who
came was invited to refresh himself at the
board. Gentlemen, on their part, donncd
dress coats and sailed forth at 10 or II In
the morning TO make frantic series Of
calls that In some cases lasted until 10
In the evening. On Fifth avenue
the only moving objects visible
were the carriages containing these visit
ors, and the long procession OF pedes-
TRANS in swallowtails who plodded from
house to house along the snowy walks
(tor there was snow In those days,)
Pretty little baskets bound with gay rio
hons hung from the bell knobs. mere and
there, at houses where ladies were not
receiving; and In these baskets little
snowy tributes OF pasteboard were
dropped. Men with moderate visiting
acquaintance iuadc from ilfty TO sixty
calls The young butterflies of fashion
sometimes lowered around the flowers nj
100 or zoo places, and were very apt to
sip a little nectar Mt each refrcshment
table always carefully choosing soma
one iriende house TO stop long enough
for solid lunch. They seOrned to pause
Tor dinner, and occasionally Joined in n
dance which followed the visiting iestiv-
lty, late in the evening.
All this was very pleasant and cordial,
and many Nrw Workers. regretted the
fatal Ngus OF decline Ia the custom
But there arc several good reasons why
II has fallen into tlsuse. II was Il great
tax on the strength Of the ladies who had
to sit or stand in attendance upon their
callers for twelve hours or so. 10 nlso
came 20 bo a terrible ordeal for the men,
who rushed about saying, GLOW do you
doY' and "Ilappy New Year" for some
number OF hours. Further, the system OF
light lunches aud numerous glasses OF
wine led TO unpleasant results, aud q
movement IN favor of banishing strong
beverages from New Years tables Adj
vantage was taken OF the occasion, also
% force acquaintance. Pushing men called
ut houses where they would mot have at
tempted 10 penetrate at any other time
aud some OF the youngsters "hunted In
couples each youth introducing the
other 10 families with which only one or
two OF them had an acquaintance. Then,
the calls were extremely unsatisfactory
They lasted from half Q minute To i've
minutes, and gave no chance for anything
more than IA few interrupted sentences.
Finally, the city went ON rowing nt such
a rate that the task OF covering the i'm.
nlcnse territory and seeding all the people
who would expect TO bc remembered, be-
came impossible Little 10y little women
ot society began 10 close their doors on
the lst OF January; society men adopted
the plan OF sending cards Instead OF
making calls, aud the do0r-bell baskets
were gradually withdrawn, until this year
scarcely one was 20 be seen IN those re-
gions that set the fashion IN such matters.
Thus II happens that an important social
observance has been swept away, and the
metropolis does not seem 10 be az all dis.
turbed by the result, The only New Year
lunches now set out for all comcrs are in
the bavrooms OF the principal hotels,
where the most gaudy displays OF deloota,
ble dishes, flowers and fancy pieces are
made a show to attractorowds Of loungers
and drinkers Az one of these places the
bill OF fare This year Included twenty-five
different cold meats and game, together
with hot consomme aud Il dozen cakes,
swectmeats and Ices,
-
Balls, dinners and dances come with
January, in great proiuslon; and, since
we are on tbs subject OF ieStal frlyolities
in eating aud ddbkiug, 1t may be worth
while To speak Of o peculiar type of bust
ness man who is brought into notice by
these things Tho lieroest sort Of COM
petition RACES between tho various wine
merchants aud agents Of imported brands
IN putting forward their rival cham
pagnes, and every Important firm cm-
ploys at least one man Wioso Chief duly
II Is to frequent hotels, Tie suppef-iooms
Mt puzzle balls and al ether public places
whore blhulous persons are Likely TO as.
somble aud into which he can make his
way, for the purpose OF popunrlilng The
kind OF wine which his employees sel.
The most successful OF these pro-
icssional wlne-drlnkers are remarkable
chiefly by an lnordlnate capacity for
consuming champagne and by a habit OF
listening with pleased, even joyous at.
tention 10 the chatter OF those whom they
invite 70 assist 10 llsposing OF sparkling
iuid. Being good listeners, their powers