Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-25


out expectation Of reward that he runs 90 early
through the streets this New Year morning;
and now he in his turn smiles; bright shining
piece of silver has fallen into his hands swell
\ ing the number Of coins already received and
those yet to be added. In eager haste &c be
| the first to reach as many homes as possible
he hurries away. while the cook pastes the
+! wafer over the door of her kitchen Ibis will
| be to her q sort Of talisman. and she looks
at the waters Of preceding years, all in row be-
side II. over the same door, she will recall with
pleasure the much good luck" for which she
is already indebted to this custom, the efficacy
| Of which she has never doubted and never will
Let us leave her the harmless illusion.
| rHE IMPRISONED UNCLE.
! Had we been in Belgium Oh Saint Sylvester
\ day, that is New Years eve, we should have
found that the kitchen has not the monopoly of
amusing little customs. and. possibly, we
| might even have gone to the resue Of an
| ''oncle de sucre." slyly imprisoned by his
| nephews and nieces.
On SAINT Silvesters day in all well-to-do
Flemish families there lie laid a plot in which
all the boys and girls take a most active part
| By some means or other 10 must be eontrived
| to lock up in one of the rooms Of the house
| some member of the family. an uncle or aunt.
When thisis accomplisLed-and who can tell at
| what cost Of ambuscades and inventions the
desired result has at last beeL attalned--the
ransoming Of the prisoner becomes the absorb
| the moment bargaining thu ough the keyhole Of
the door with the uncle whom they have just
taken captive.
Yes. we are quite willing to release you.
but what will You give Us in exchange for your
liberty!
And here follows long discussion. Il want
| big merry Andrew says one. Il want some
big cakes, says another Il want doll"
says third and 30 it continues till excitement
| runs high and there il only a confused Babel
n lnrr Al sls s1ad dr. IA
in proportion TO the concessions made by the
prisoner.
In the end everything requested is granted
and solemnly promised. The door ia then
uncle comes out Of his prison. But he cannot
long be seriously angry with his dear little
tormentors. who. IN u winning. coaxiDg way,
call him "Bou oncle de sucre.'
Yes, bon oncle de sucre, fulfill your prom
ises and be happy i'll the happiness you give
to others.
From the children we pass to those OF ma
ture years, to men. among whom we shall find
that sometimes u certain coarseness and even
brutality takes the place of the pleasing insub-
ordination of the children.
THE HIGH HAT IN BERLIN.
In Germany, especially at Berlin, Sylvester
abend (evening Of Saint Silvester's day. Is
celebrated. to say the least, in q singular fash
ion.
ine uniottu man from Tue country OF
tne foreigner uhacqnaih'ea WIN bernn uSages
evsr;n" Msarro h;aS hat ,nIJon,v 80. ,,.'a
cry behind him of Hut abb Hut abr Of
with your hat OF with your hat. He turns
with astonishment, aud finds himself sur.
rounded on all SIDES by voclierous band OF
Peopic--suchs ana nsts are raised against MINI
nc attempts to protest but they DO not allow
nun ,ne opportunity' Nahes anu oioWs iaii
heaSny Oh nis oacA' anu esPeci%ht On h's
neau'ior ,he intention OF 'he cro"u Is 70 Trans
run MS nat in.e an accoruioh. Inc oencacy
u tne proceeding pecomes al once eNiuent
Loua rs the stamping ana NOISY the iaughter
"hen the ohhdeo. Dewiiuereu sIahRer uis has
SUNK low INTO ms NECK anu mls arms eatthueo
forward 1" ee"'oeiehse' c"iiS ue'Pef"'V luz
heip.
Not far on standsa policeman-every member
OF this dlgnlhec body OF men Is ON guard tins
evening You fancy, perhaps, that he Will
hasten to the relief OF the victim Not at all;
he remains an lmpassive spectator OF the scene
and disdainfully replies to the unfortunate man
Nu, wekshalb sehen sic denn aus! what
the devil did you come out for?
Rather "A rough joke, Is 1t not This striking
custom dates, it appears, from the year lS4S.
and Is perpetuated In remembrance OF the riots
OF which Berlin was the scene upon the evening
OF Saint Silvesters day, The lower class,
greatly excited against the bourSeolsie, took
pleasure in displaying its hostility by attacking
the bourgeois, distinguished AZ they passed by
the nigh hat they wore.
WITHIN RHESIsH PRovINcEs
Happily for GERMANY this usage does mt
extend over Nh. .ntira .orn.rv H. 90,
~ ioi
instance - ous'on VI 'ne hnehish provinces
which does not go beyond the limit OF
courteous pleasantry:
frosit Neu)ahr! Happy New Year Such
Is .ne PHRASE Tue pedestrian suddenly hears
he n,,st cnns;Ssr L;n,saiv nor,ht o., NV ha
allowed himself to he .urnrised NV a friend
who, with stealthy pace, has followed softly
behind him and succeeded in being the first to
anus Unexpectedly wish him happy New Year.
inefe remains nothing Tor MN TO do but, In
MS turn. 10 give greetings to his friend, now
become ms meister, master, and to ofer him a
good cigar. glass OF champagne anything, in
aword which Will punish him III pleasant
way and recall to him the fact that we mus
never allow ourselves TO be outdone IN polite
ness.
Before concluding our notice OF the local
peculiarities which Germany may still have to
offer us We Will make short excursion into
England and see what is called at London
seeing In the New Year"
Must certain capitals ever have the very I'M
enviable gift Of casting shade of coarseness
into the picture whenever it concerns the mat
ter Of the public rejoicings Of the peoplel 1t
would seem SO il we compare what we are
about to relate Of London with what We have