Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-26
PACKING UP HISDUDS
THAT WON'T INTERFERE WITH
THE WELCOME AWAITING 'os.
THE NEW YEARS" VERY AGED
One of the Most Ancient of Holidays,
Although 1t Has Been Celebrated
Mt Different Dates During Various
pertoda.
Periods.
written for the DIspatch.)


on the whole it is good thing that New
Years Day comes around with business
like regularity once year. Man being by
nature a weak and shambling sort OF
creature, prone to stumble over obstacles
that he ought to be able 10 step over
with ease. the coming OF day when he
can oil his rusty conscience and begin
life with a new lease full OF good resoiu-
ton clauses Is distinctly benefit to the
race. OF course. every one knows that the
new wear will be as full of falls as the
old. and the road to a certain inferno will
remain, now and forever, paved with
good intentions; but still, as was said at
the beginning of this, it is n good thing
on the whole to have New Years Day.
II is a day in which everybody finds some
particular charm. To the Oldest inhabi-
tant Il Is the banner day OF the year, for
"reminiscences are not only permitted but
welcomed and acknowledged to be singu-
larly appropriate to the season. TO the
man who begins 10 realize that he Is
only mortal after all, and that even
constitution of granite will not stand
continual alcoholic ravages, it Is day OF
stern resolve, which, If nineteenth century
customs could be changed. might stand a
better chance OF being adhered 10. TO the
young man, and incidentally TO the young
woman, 1t is, in spite of the efforts OF
some to obliterate ancient landmarks,
day to be looked forward TO with much
painstaking regard for personal appear
ances. The custom of making New
Years calls may be dying out, as some
assert, but II IL is it dies hard, and mas
a surprising amount OF vitality still.
The custom OF making a day of celebra-
ton of the first day of the year is as
old as civilization. There have been
differences of opinion regarding the man
ner in which the day should be cele-
brated. as we'll as varied opinions regard
ing the date on which the year properly
begins but there seems TO have been an
unanimous understanding among the an
cient nations that New Years Day was
the day of all days when business should
be suspended while the world made merry
The ancient Romans chose to begin their
wear I'm March. Christianity, famous
from its birth for overturning the estab-
lished usages OF time, retained the idea OF
making a distinct break between the OLD
and the new year, to be signalized by
solemn services, but so widely separated
were the leaders of the new religion, ana
SO difficult was ii in those days to get
together TO arrangs the religious almanac
that there continued TO be great oi-
versity of ideas regarding the exact date
when the New Years Inauguration should
begin 1t is a fact that New Years Day
has been solemnized on Christmas Dad,
while so mixed were the leaders or the
ancient Christian Church regarding the
proper time TO begin the year, that II was
celebrated yariously on Easter Day ana on
March lst 1t was not until the sixteenth
century that by universal consent New
Years Day was fixed for January LIST.
New Years Day has always been high
holiday. in spite of the Efforts OF certain
stern old fathers of the Church. notably
Chrysostom Ambrose, Augustine, refer
Chrysologus, and others, to make IL
day on which fasting or prayer should
take the place Of hilarity. compro-
mise was effected, by which part of the
day was gwen up to feasting ana part
10 prayer. and this has prevailed TO the
present day.
The reason why all efforts have faileo
to make the day one devoted exclusively
IN religious exercises Is that the gene
raj character of the occasion, the ending
OF an old year and the beginning OF
new. lends itself SO readily to celeora-
lions Of the high links" order sociaiIy,
the DAYS observance seems to nave
taken about the same form all through
mast ages. Feasting and the giving ana
taking of presents have always been
the chief employments OF New year ;
Day. This In shown by the references OF
Suetonius and Tacitus TO the exchanging
of New-Year's presents. The custom
thus begun in ancient days was contin-
ued when the map changed and the
great Western Empire was split INTO
sections. and has been pushed along as
| a good thing ever since.
The Church has done Its duty by the
F.. dav so far as lies In Its power, by IN
stitnting the custom of ringing In the
new wear with the merry pealing OF
bells and watch-night services tnat
bring TO prayer many wayward
wanderer. to whom the interior or the
{ church Is as familiar as the altar OF
a Central Africa god during s64 days OF
year. In many countries the night OF
New Years eve--"St. Sylverters eve
MAS celebrated with great festivity'
witch was prolonged till after IL o'clock
I vvben the new year was ushered IN Win
| Concentrations, complimentary visits
and mutual wishes for happy new
| year. This Is an ancient Scotusn
custom. which also prevails In many