The National tribune., 1897-12-23
TOPIC FOR THE WEEK.
New Years Customs Change tho Years
Change.

In our country popular interest is con cen
trating upon Christmas and its festivities,
and is setting aside the New Years customs
so prevalent in many foreign countries.
New Years now takes on "a business aspect
and relinquishes the social festivities that
once attended it.
The custom of keeping open house on
New Years Day, when ON every table was
found the steaming punch bowl, was once
generally observed in all our large cities
nd towns. Now it is chiefly coupled with
the ponp and ceremony OF official circles
at Washington and in some State capitals.
Some years ago it was the custom for
ladies to remain indoors ON New Year s
Day, while he blinds were closed, and they,
in brilliant toilets, under artificial lights,
received the gentlemen, and passed the
wine and fragrant punch.
Then 1T was no uncommon thing to see
hilarious carriage-loads OF men, going from
house to house, in a condition bordering ON
imbecillty, il not intoxicatlon.
Now all this has changed. Ii the tenn
peTance sentiment OF the country has not
lessencd the sale of Intoxicating drinks 10
the extent that its best advocates have
hoped, yet il has set the seal OF shame
upon the man who would participate in a
social function and fail TO have all his wits
about him.
There is no dou BIT that the temperance war
has had much to do with the setting aside of
New Years calls, as it Is only women who
VIII, III state Of SJbricty, consent to spend
e.r time driving from place to place, deal
ing out bits OF engraved pasteeoard. The
usual system OF fashionable calls is worse
than waste Of time, and man, with his
common sense, has taken note Of it,
Among heather nations New Years
Day inaugurated the great festival of the
year. The Romans dedicated the first day
of January and the whole succeeding month
tn Janus, the god for whom it is named,
Offering sacrifices to him on II affairs, one
for each month. and SO guarding their words
ard acts at each altar visited to insure
an auglry of 81 successful month.
Among the Romans originated the custom
OF exchanging New Years gifts and greet
ings. The Roman rulers took advantage
Of this to exact unlimited gifts from their
subjects, until ClaudiuS Cesar limited the
custom by an imperial decree.
The first Christian EmperOrs Joined in the
idolatrous rites. The Church, however,
condemned the custom, and prohibited
t vitics; but finally ended by making
Church festival Of it in memory of the cir
cGmcision of Christ.
The English SOvereigns Of an earlier day
initiated the Romans in the extortion OF
New Years gifts from the people. Henry
the Third was a noted gift-grahber, and
good Queen Bess owed many of her thou
sands OF extravagant gowns and sumptuoIs
jewels to this custom. The Queen made
some gifts, but took good care that the
balance was kept in her favor.
In England the New Year is still ushered
in by the ringing of the church bells, a
beautiful custom, of which Tennyson
writes:
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty night,
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring in the valiant, man to be,
Il e larger heart, the kindiier mind;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring IN the Christ that is to be-.
Editor Loyal Home Workers.