The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-01-05
The New and the Old.


and acts of twelve more lAonths of
your life are entered in the great
book of life; the accountant has foot
ed up the long columns OF entries, the
red lines have been drawn, and now,
are you afraid to ask Tor a statement
of your account for fear the balance
is against YOU, or do YOU feel satisfied
that YOU have good round number
Of unselfish. chYistian-likc acts stand
ing to your credit?
AS the new year is Just dawnlnS
upon us it il well enough for all to
rather take up Il general review of
the acts OF the past and see where
improvements can he made The
very best of us can find work along
this line: in fact, the whole of the
coming year could very we'll be put in
by most Of us in repairing the dam
ages done during the year just past.
The Christmas and New Year holt
days have been passed pleasantly by
the people of Big Stone Gap; some
have cnioyed visits to old homes and
friends from whom they had been
separated for months, while others
engaged in merry round Of dining.
dancing and pleasant entertainments.
No bar-room brawls or street fights
have occurred and it has been one
short season of pleasure and enjoy
ment to ALL The little people of the
different Sunday schools were made
glad by the kindly remembrance by
their superintendent and teachers in
the way of handsome Christmas trees
and entertainments, SO now we all
start sailing down the placid bosom
of 1893 with flying colors and a calm
and gentle surface: so let us resolve
to not allow our little barks to run
against or across the pathway of our
ncighbors; to steer quietly on, with
the determination to have less repair
work to do twelve months hence than
we now find on our hands.
Perhaps, in connection with this
article it would not be amiss TO give
a sketch of the manners and customs
of observing and celebrating the first
day of the year in different parts of
the world and at different ages. OF
New Years Chambers Encyclopedias
says:
s'rhe custom of celebrating by some re-
ligious observance, generally accompan-
led by festive rejoicing, the first day Of
the year, appears to have prevailed among
most of the ancient nations. The Jews,
che Egyptians, the Chinese, the Romans
and the Mohamcdans, although differing
as to the time from which they rcckoned
the commencement Of the year, all regard
cd il MS Il day of special interest. In
Rome, the year ancicntly began in March;
aud when Numa. according to the ancient
legend, transferred it to the lst of Janua-
~, that dav was held sacred to Janus
BifronS. who was thus supposed to turn
at once back upon the old year and for
ward into the new On the establishment
of Christianity, the usage OF e solem inau-
DURATION Of the New Year was retained;
hut considerable variety prevailed, both
ss to the time and as 70 the manner OF its
celebration. Christmas Day, the Annun-
citation (25th March), Easter Day, and
LIST March, have all, Mt different times or
places, shared with the lst of January the
honor of opening the New Year; nor was
il till late in the 10th ccntary that the LIST
of January was universally accepted asshe
FIRST ,lay of the Ncw Year. The early fn-
ihers-Chrysostom. Ambrose, Augustine,
Peter Chrysologus, and cthers-in repro
ration of the Immortal and superstitious
observances Of fhe pagan festivai,prohibif-
ed in Christian nse all festive celebration;
and, OH the contrary, directed that the
Christian year should be opened with
day of prayer, fasting, and Humiliation.
The mandate, however, was but partially
observed; The festal character OF the
day generally speaking, was perslnacioas-
~ preserved, but the day was also observ-
ed as day of PRAYER; and this character
vns the more readily attached to il when
thc year began With the list of January,
40 that day, being the eighth after the ma
tiyity Of our Lord, WAS held 10 be the com.
memoration Of circumcissoi Luke Ia J.
s.The social obseryanccs of the first day
OF The New Year appcr to have been in
substance tl,e same in allages. From the
earliest recorded celebration, NC ind no
lIce Of fessiing AID the Interchange of
presents rs nsages Of the day. snetonins8
alludcs to the bringing Of presents 70 the
on nitnl !. as,l Iarit,s makes IA similar refs
ersnee TO the practiec Of giving and re-
0cc;yipg New. Ycaf's gifts. This custom