The morning times., 1897-01-03
FEAST DAYS NOT MOVABLE
January Supplies Four, Including New Years Day-HOw
They Are Observed Swearing Off Feature
Custom of Receiving Loses Favor

art OF bell-making was discovered. Prior
10 that time the noise necessary TO proclaim
the birth OF a New Year was made vari-
ousiy-by hand-ciappings, vocal exercises
and by running the scanty gamut on the
rams horn
Bells were tolled at midnight in the
incipiency of the custom; now steam
whistles are exercised, and bells are brought
into requisition only for the noise that
can be produced as high tenori TO the
WHISTLES eontralto and multitudinous bass.
Watch Meetings Originate.
The earlier religious rites on the day
have their suggestion in the watch meet
ings' held by some latter day Christian
bodies. and the festaI features are pre-
served in the modern social circles whers
the sparks are not al prone TO fly
upward
Again, an ancient practice is recognized
in the singing of the Tie Deum' at the
close Of the old year in many Catholic
churches, when
There's new face at the door,
And a new foot on the floor,
A new foot on the floor
But we are in the midst Of some i'm
portant imnovable feasts. Epiphany falling
upon January 8. 1t is celebrated by many
Christians in commemOratiOn OF the adOra~
tion paid to the Saviour by the Wise Men
of the East, of the baptism HereCeived from
st. John, and the first OF His miracles per-
formed at Cana OF GaHlee--the ChanginL.
of water into wine. The word Epiphany.
from It's Specification, attesting two events,
the appearance Of Jesus To- the Magii, and
that OF the star which came as a symbol
above tile Bethlehem mangsr-
In the southern shires Of 1.-The old coun-
try tile farmer and all his male servants
visit the orchards On this evening, taking
with them a jug OF cider They stand
about a fruit tree and chant an absufd
rhyme, and soon after return TO the holSe
only to find the doors barred by the
women. They are not permitted 70 enter
the house until some one OF their number
| has guessed what is roasting on a spit
| before the fire. This is something relish
| able, and becomes the property OF the
| guesscr.
The penalty for a failure 70 observe this
custom is believed 70 be the decay Of the
| orchards.
Saint Distaff's Day is another Of theim-
| movable feas tdays dedicated by the Roman
| Catholic Church To St Isidor, but receiving
| the other title jocularIy in England and
Ireland. because it is the first day after
| January 6, ''OId Christmas when tho
| women are expected 70 dOff their holiday
! garb and resume the distaff. The obliga-
/ ton TO work on this day is not binding,
! nevertheless, and labor may or may nos
| be arduOus.
| Lapse Into Poetry
| Its practical features are practically do
| scrihed thus:
| Partly work and partly play,
| You must on St Distaff's Day;
/ From the pIow soon free your team,
| Then come home and fother them
/ If the maids a-spinning go,
! Burn the flax and fire the tow,
| Bring the pals OF water then,
/ Let the maids bewash the men;
Give st. Distafr all the right,
Then bid Christmas sport goodnight
And next morrow, every one,
To his own vo-ca-ti-on.''
In the British islands the first Monday
| in the year is called Hansel Monday, from
| custom OF prese ut-nlakiug by masters
to servants on that day. Every servant
looks for a hansel, or gift, from master
| OF lLiSIEeSS, tS q IldAlEE Oh
The poStman, the billman. the scavenger,
the waiter the boots all expect To be
remembered in a practical way by ths
well-to-do people for whom they are N
anywise the servitOrs-
| The more modern method OF averaging z
up is through the medium OF tips and
theIater innovation differs from the ancient
habit, in that HanseI Monday has now be-
ing IuultipLes into many touches an
there are opportunities.
Itis alleged by those who ought TO know
that New Years receptions are not as pop
ular as they were formerly Young ladies
are said To have abandoned the habit
because it came too popular So many
INDUCED themselves in the pleasure that
its popularity made it common" In
addition-and thereby hangs a tale the
published notices Of receiving parties were
too indIscriminately distributed up and
down the. social scale.
Why They Smiled.
An ancecdOte which some society girls
smiled over for many a day, and which
was the basic source OF a large variety
of itaIicised expressions from a quartet
OF society boys, will illustrate
The four young men, all washingtOnians,
had made the rounds OF their acquaintance
and had each become mildly inebriated.
, They didn't want to go home-'Jn morn
in'-and at an early hour in the morning
conceived the notion Of calling upon other
bellies not OF their visiting acquainta noes
A list was made up, and the carria q
started
Their first call finished the course, for
to their surprise and disgust, they found
themselves bowling, with CheSterfieIdiar
: grace, TO two dusky maidens whose an
| nOuncement of New Year lat home" had
been so misleading to society boys.
The joke got TO the ears of their own SET
and the society boys never succeeded in ex
planning the circumstances TO the salts
faction of their girl friendS-never-
And it is what aided in making the re
: ception feature an unpopular New Yea
, pastime.
L