Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-12-28
NEW YEAR CUSTOMS.
CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE
IN THEIR OBSERVANCE.


IN THEIR OBSERVANCE.
Drinking No Longer Fashionable in New
York-Country Frolics Are Now Popu-
lara Sad Story.
There was time, and that was not
too many years ago to count upon the
fingers, when New Years day was. the
'smaddest, merriest day of all the glad
New Year." for every man put on his
holiday manner and his very best clothes,
and called on all the women he knew.
In towns and cities where this custom
prevailed each house wore festal air,
and each housekeeper spread her table
with such attractive viands as could be
partaken without ceremony, for there
was no time for sitting down to eating
and drinking with a list such as many
men had of several hundred calls to be
rushed through in that one day.
In New York the custom became at
last tax. There was no real sociability
made evident in hurried handshake
and greeting, followed Immediately by
an equally hurried farewell; and yet
there was time for nothing more, and
even with all this haste few men could
finish the calls written upon their lists,
and omissions were apt to give offense.
Pushing young men took advantage Of
the hurry and furry of the day to call at
houses where entry under other circum-
stances would not have been possible.
Even if they could only bow to the en-
crossed hostess they could pass on to
some of the young women receiving with
her, who would naturally suppose them
friends of the house. Their cards would
be left and possibly included among the
guests to be invited on other occasions,
which was the end they hoped to gain
by their assurance.
Another evil which right thinking
people took a grave view of was the
promotion of social drinking which the
custom fostered. Men who could not
stop for bite did manage to pause for
glass of wine or cordial, or even stiff
dose of brandy and water, "just to keep
the cold out, you know" The result of
so many tastes was apt to become disas-
trous before the day was out, and there
were incidents and scenes which were
sad to witness.
Worse than all was the fall Of some
who yielded against their better judg-
ment to the pleading of Circe as she
sparkled and beamed and threatened to
frown on the young man who refused
the glass she held to him in her white
gloved hand.
know a white haired mother whose
sad lips refuse to smile because her only
daughter is hopelessly insane. The girl
was engaged to man to whom liquor
was /. terrible temptation, hereditary
craving against which he had silently
fought good fight and triumphed. One
New Years day, the first of their en-
gagement, his fancee made point Of his
taking a glass of wine with her. He
refused, she insisted-not knowing his
weakness-and at last declared that if
he would not yield to her pleasure in
such small matter his affection could
not be what he pretended. He could not
resist beyond that, but that one glass
opened the gate to his enemy, and the
passion for drink conquered him and
was never overcome. Grief and remorse
deprived the gay, thoughtless girl Of
reason. That is only one story. There
are thousands as pitiful, and, feeling the
danger which attended the pretty GUS
tom of New Years calls, one can hardly
regret its disuse.
In New York and Philadelphia, and to
a limited degree in some other places,
it is fashionable to make up country
parties, leaving town on one of the last
days of the year and spending a week
in such a1nusements as the hostess can
invent. Ii she owns country house
she will open it for her guests, or lack
ing house she will hire of some farmer
all tie rooms he can spare, and turn her
entertainments into an institution of
some of the primitive frolics in which
our ancestors were supposed to delight.
Barn dances for the evenings and
straw rides for the daylight are among
the amusements offered on these occa-
sions, and for variety the Halloween tests
or ceremonies are introduced, and the
gay visitors toss apple skins, float ap-
Piles, name chestnuts and eat hard boiled
eggs with salt, filling the cavity made
by taking out the yolk, agreeably to the
old tradition that dream would follow
in which the thirsty ones lover would
bring drink.
For those who stay at home the fes-
tivities which belong to the day are not
overwhelming, being generally confined
to family dinner, and possibly the the
ater or reception in the evening. 1t
is not day for family gatherings, like
Christmas or Thanksgiving, and, as the
usual avocations are relinquished, time
seems unoccupied and the day is not al
together enjoyable.
But the New Year deserves form of
celebration as we'll as the other anniver-
saries, and those who mold and lead so
ciety should inaugurate some especial
entertainment or custom by which we
may enliven the day.-New York Re-
corder