The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-12-30
NEw YEAR THOUGHTS.
What the Day has Been and is Now.

New Years Day, though not Jan. |
always, has been celebrated religiously
or socially from time immemorial. The
ancient Romans consecrated it to JAN
US, who, it was thought, controlled all
beginnings and made sacrifices to him.
They exchanged gracious greetings
and wishes and gave presents to friends
and kindred. The church condemned
its social observations and turned it in
TO a religious festival. The Hebrews,
the Chinese and other peoples, pagans
and nonpagans, regard it superstitious-
ly, attaching the utmost importance to
its celebration.
We Americans in the last quarter Of
the nineteenth century are supposed to
be wholly free from superstition. But
are we? Not few Of Us still imagine
that there is something auspicious in
/ New Years day that rs We begin the
year We may so close il. We are solicit
Gus, before, to resolve TO relinquish bad
habits then, under the impression that
we shall relinquish them altogether.
/ Ia other words, we determine on that
| day 10 turn over a new leaf, as we have
probably determined for many previ-
Gus years, and there our determination
and reformation end. This is exactly
the way the old Romans acted more
than % centuries since, which proves
that we have not advanced much in
reasOnableness, despite our assumptions
to the contrary. 1t is a problem whether
men who continue in mature life TO
yield to their weaknesses or fail TO rec
tify their faults ere capable Of correct
ing themselves. Whether capable or
incapable, they rarely do 50. Their
good resolutions seldom bear fruit.
They terminate, for the most part, in
words, in promises to themselves, in
mOckeries of performance What a
man is at 70 he is apt to remain. No
amount OF New Years resolves will
help him who is not fall of virtuous
endeavor. Jan. l dawns brightly to
the mind, but the succeeding days con-
ciude dismalIy as TO achievement.
Nevertheless its recurrence must ever
b. pleasant. Ifit does not bring ae-
complishment, it at least brings hope,
aud hope nerves US to bear our burdens,
TO discharge our duties. Then welcome
New Years We dearly love to think
that the cares and troubles of the Old
year, which so largely spring from our
temperament, will not invade the new
one.
Originally New Years was intended
not for universal, miscellaneous call
ing day, without motive or propriety,
into which it ultimately degenerated.
1t was intended for day when men
who had been prevented during the
year by business or any condition OF
eli hcumstances from keeping up their
friendship or acquaintance with women
they liked or esteemed should make So
cial atonement for apparent neglect
and renew their pleasant relations.
The idea was excellent and commend
able, ~ was The custom, and before
this city grew to be such Babylon the
calls were agreeable, often delightful,
20 makers and receivers. But the city |
became too biz, aai the community that /!
assumed 10 represent society in some
manner, more or less remote, became |
too heterogeneous. The custom was
grossly abused. Many men and wo-
men thought oaly OF the number Of |
calls, ignoring quality for quantity, and |
sometimes the scenes indoors and out
doors waxed disreputa5le from overir-
dulgence.
The better sort of people, repelled by |
the license prevalent, refused to ''re-
ceive" any longer. The smart set who /
had long believed calling too ''cOm-
mon"-they declared, with their pre-
tense of superiority, that it had grown
vulgar-set themselves and their influ- |
ence firmly against it. They refused TO
see visitors on that day and soon after
shut up their houses and hed to the /
country, thus setting the seal of fash
ion on their last decision, which speed |
lily met with social approval. The fact /
was that respectable folk had got tired
OF the extreme TO which calling had |
been carried, and the coarse, objection
able class could not sustain it alone.
SO the whole thing fell to pieces here,
and there is no probability of its re-
in the immediate future.
The custom extended long ago to
other cities and is still followed. Eut
rs the metropolis makes the mode its
duration is doubtful. New Years is
yet a holiday-holiday are always
whOles0me-and business OF all kinds is
suspended. Sons, husbands, fathers,
now stay at home, instead Of racing
about town, firing and boring them
selves to little purpose, and they are
gamers, along with their families, by
the change. New Years in its old
guise has passed away. But New
Years with its quiet, domestic accom-
paniments has come to remain. The
world moves. And New Years is
still New Years, with its sense of
freshness, repose and recovered hope.
CHARLES APPLEEEE.
New York.