The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-12-26

II
dam two centuries and half ago,
clear. bright winters morning; and the
little town on the Island of Manhattan
has turned out to celebrate the day in
true Dutch fashion; this is done POM
pously or joyously as to each citizen,
according to his nature and custom and
wish. The soberer citizens, sturdy
prosperous figures, warmly and richly
clothed. and slowly smoking, have
walked somewhat formally to the Fort
to pay New Years visits and render
New Years wishes to the officers in the
Garrison; and to White Hall, the Gov
ernor's house lat our present Whitehall
Street), to do Director and Governor
Stuyvesant full honor.
Ever since daybreak noisier element
of the community has reveled up and
down the little unpaved streets, and
narrow lanes, and on the banks Of the
bustling Canal (now Broad Street)
shouting greetings, beating drums, blow
ing horns, shaking "rumbling- pots" fir
ing muskets, drinking beer, till the en-
tire population is awake, and up and
dressed. and out Of doors; and all the
pigs and poultry that live in the streets
have been scared into the fields. A
group of young men, each with some
clumsy fire arm, snaphance or MUIR
therer, has gone from door to door Of
every corbel-roofed house firing blank
volleys. gathering recruits, drinking
more beer, till the noisy company has
repaired to Beekman's Swamp (still
known as the Swamp to fire at target
for the prize of a turkey.
| The sport known as riding the goose"
or "pulling the goose" consists of riding
| at full speed between the poles, and
catching and snatching away by the
head and bearing off the goose, or it's
head. AS the goose is thoroughly
CREASED, and is futtering excitedly and
| wildly at these wanton ebullitions Of
mans inhumanity when he tries to be
amused, this is no easy task.
All ranks and conditions of men took
eager part in this amusement, magis-
trates as we'll as farmers. One of the
most amusing and absurd episodes of
Director Stuyvesant's government arose
from his attempt to prohibit the sport.
His choleric dict against it was mildly
resented by the burgomasters and
schepens, and he Illuminated at them
most insulting answer, calling them
"the little bench of justices" He called
the sport unprofitable, unnecessary and
criminal, but it was never suggested to
be cruel. Care or thought for dumb
beasts and their sufferings is wholly a
modern humanitarian, or rather beati-
arian development. Nor were those
cruel sports peculiar to the Dutch.
Cock fighting and throwing, kim
dred sport to pulling the goose. were
permitted in English schools, even
in English school rooms; and Eng
lish schoolmasters took part. Roger
Ascham ruined himself by betting on
cock fights. At about this time cock
squoiling and cock-t throwing took place
in Boston streets, and with much dis
order. although with scant following or
approval by rigid Puritans..
should not wonder il at this very
day Stuyvesant came scolding across
the meadows, stumping along on his
wooden leg with its silver bands, with
an unwilling rattle watch or constable
to assist him to hale off few stupid
Dutch revelers and imprison them, to
be tried in order, as he said, ito prevent
more sins. debaucheries and calamities."
There was constant controversy be.
tween cross old Stuyvesant and the easy
going "little bench of justices" over the
celebration of New Years. The burgo-
masters and schepens would not hold
court or do any legal business at New
Years tide. Whereas" says one of
their records, "the winter festivities are
at hand, it is found good that between
this day and three weeks after Christ
mas the ordinary meetings shall be dis
pensed with" Then Stuyvesant sent
out this proclamation: "Whereas, exper-
ience has taught us that on New Years
Days and on May Days. from the firing
of guns. the planting of May Poles and
Drunken Drinking there have resulted
unnecessary waste of powder and much
intoxication. with the bad practices and
accidents that generally arise therefrom;
therefore we expressly forbid on New
Years and May Days any firing. or
planting of May-Poles or beating of the
drum; nor shall there be at those times
any wines, brandy or beers dealt out" In
truth Stuyvesant wished only formal
visit from all citizens to himself-which
he deemed honor and celebration
enough for any day. The exchange of
gifts was an English custom. and the
token usually consisted of bottle of
wine, a pair of gloves, ham. a bunch of
sausages, arolliche or good bit OF head
cheese. Nor were peck Of keskitomas
nuts despised gift. New Years cakes
were the invention of a race fond of eat
ing and skilled in cooking all kinds Of
koeckjes. For many years they we're
delivered by bakers and sold in the