Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-31
THE WEEK AFTER.
THE MORNING OF SURPRISES AND
WHEAT TT BROUGHT.
SOME POINTS ON THE WISH-BONE.
The New YeRr-A Custom I'm All
Iand.--s Chinese Legend-House~
hold Gatherings-Church Enter
tninments-Persona Notes.

or another CHRISTMAS Is Yet upOn eho
world, and a million stockings have been
lifted from their moorings by the fire.
side. Hereabouts tho morning OF sur
prscs dawned clear and fair. and the
small boy and girl, and grown-up folks
as well. are rejoicing in possessions lately
acquired, and a sweet sens OF being
lovingly remembered. variety OF
git lor young America, rom silver
plated tools to stuffed poodle-dogs. has
received tie appreciation Of that symbol
Of juvenile precoclty, and his elders like
wise are happy. Tho pretty debutante
blushinsiy acknowledges her delight OF
dozens of bonbon boxes and big bouquets
tied with ribbons TO match in tint. or
flowers. or the rose, rose red OF her
rounded cheeks.
The young college chap rearranges on
/ his gargOyled rack a new collection OF
pipes. broodmg over the clearnoss OF their
| amber tips and lazily stretches his long
| lilDs above his newest acquisition in
/ tho line Of slippers. Everywhere youth
aud pleasure have held sway. while knoel-
! ing. revorent crowds thanked God in the
| churches for a merry Christmas.
The holidays this year are much gayer
| than for many years past. Iradesmen
! are more than satisfied at the rush OF
! business IN comparison with other sea-
sons, aud workingmen cOntented at tho
! plentitude of work IN the railroad towns
west Of Alton. and the consequent amount
/ OIL money with which TO provide their
families with all the necessities and many
| OF the luXuries OK life. Friday before
! Christmas was payday" From tho
factories and mines along tho Chesa-
/ peake and Ohio railway the returning
men crowded the platform az the depot
/ Saturday, laden with packages for home.
IL has been an era OF peace and plenty.
! with numerous church. Sunday school.
and social entertainments 20 signahze tho
I past fortnight. The old-time crisp frosts.
dear TO the heart al Christmas-time add
| cd eXh!larati0n 10 the usual glow OF fes-
! tiyitles, and eliminated Wednesday In q
/ steady, falling snow, pOwderlng woods
/ and helus, crOwning fences and gables,
and lending strange charm 10 the ,reen
OF vines ana hOlies about the wide house
! lawns. An tho country there is a rollick-
ing week or TWO vi fun while Christmas
is lin the bones AS the good old darkies
used To- say-and it is far from being thu
! conventional one day OF receptions, high
hDcheons, and fashionable dinners 50
| often known VI in town.
THE WISH-BONE.
Talking Of bones. reminds me that other
"bones" DO service for this whole
holiday week On these may give you
a country pointer. The wish-bone or 4
turkey during Christmas week Is held
sacred, and altogether infallible. The
sentimental girl has a chance all this
week 10 find out for a certainty whether
she or her bosom friend Will be married
first. The method IS for tho two friends
% pull the wish-bOne. the one getting
tho larger piece-with the fiat end--be.
Ing tho fortunate one.
4 young woman. who has been most
successful in getting tho larger end. says
you cannot fail II you simply hold your
end and lot the other pull. I regret 20
have 10 add that nothing but bones
has 50 far materalizod for this young
lady, but that need not affect tho oracle.
once having secured your larger piece
have q friend write the names OF i've
gentlemen you know on separate pieces
Of paper and fold the papers up. On
two other slips write, respectively.
| stranger" and "old maid" Then have
your friend place the w.sh-bone and the
seven slips OF paper in an envelope and
shake them up. Put IL under your pillow
for seven successive nights, each morn
ing drawing out one slip The paper
drawn on the seventh morning contains
your fate. II IL bears the name OF the
particular he" you may be sure It Will
come true" III r.. alasl bears the words
"Old maid" you have the one consolation
OF knowing that be your marriage never.
your rival friend must date hers the week
after.
THE NEW YEAR.
These are the merry times fastening
quickly away the good moment ceases
TO be good when we attempt 10 prolong
70 to tie hour. with the issue OK this
journal we count the hours ~ New Years.
Tomorrow we hail another year Of
our Lord, and with IL the Old year.
with IT'S opportunities and experiences,
passes over TO the majority. Going go
ing. gone.
Among all nations It's chief feature OF
= New Year has been an exchange or
tokens mobiles and courtiers on this day
give superb presents 10 their soVerelsns.
Last year one idea evolved In gitt-giYins
IN a nearby city, which may become
popular A family Of fiye-accustomcd IN
former years To spend much brain mat
| ter and money I'm the search for gifts
reduced things to "A science. Each men,
, Der gave 20 the other four > Dill, with
q card bearing these words Buy some
thing with this 10 remember me by.
Happy New Ycarl" Each did his duty
by the rest OF tho family, and afforded
beside q pleasant illustration In free
trade, protection, and afectlonate reel
procity.
: A foreign New-Year's custom In onS OF
our newly acquired possessions Is 80
J nendishly atrOcious as 90 call for special
. legi8latlOn. During twelve months the
natives treasure up every bit OF gcandal
concerning their neighbors and at this
season "get eyen"-as the children say
70 By weaving these choice morsels into
songs, chanting them 70 weird tunes AZ
e they march through the streets.
Than New-YeaTs, no other day Is rich
er in folk lore. charms, superstidons,
and ghOsty legends. The occasion, In
1 this respect, differs very greatly from
Christmas. Then Il is a popular BELIEF
that eyil-minded FAIRIES. ghosts, and hob
4 COLLINS are not only powerless, but are
I even afraid. 70 venture abroad.
r The Scotch and Welsh are peculiarly
d afiiuent IA New-Year superstiuons.
, "On New-Year's eve the path along
o | The mllkmald shortcns with song
] Her solitary way;
| She sees the fairies with their queen.
n | Trip hand-in-hand the circled green.
, And hears them raise. az times unseen.
d The ear enchanting lay"
e II YOU will take the trouble TO visit the
> nearest Chinese laundry az the time
e early IN February-when the Chinese
. New Year is celebrated, the almond-cyed
e Celestial. who wrestes with Mclean
r. mans belongings, viii tell you the le-
eend OF two Chinese Rip Van Wrinkles.
= who, while wandering among the ravinss
Il of their native mountains one New
q Years eve, fell in with two fairy maid
9 ems They were entlced across fairy
g bridge into fairy land. where they spent