The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-31

held by the cabinet families By 4 O'Clock
in the afternoon every house In Washing
ton making any pretensions to refinement
and hospitality is open for the reception OF
New Years guests
A gentleman who has spent several win
tiers in Richmond says that New Years re-
ceiving went entirely out of vogue five or
six years ago. There was a time he
said, "when Richmond society was wild
over New Years. Sumptuous collations
were spread and every debutante of the
season was ranged in line at a coffee table
or at a punch powl. The New Years Gus
tom was suddenly discontinued by the so
ciety people of Richmond. 1t was a very
charming custom, I thought, but society
got tired of it. Perhaps" he continued, 1T
was because so many of the younger set of
men drank too much and made disgusting
examples of themselves"
''Fasihion has virtually abolished New
Years Day, in so far as society is con-
cerned'' said a man familiar with social
affairs at home and abroad. 1.-THE dear old
day df the open house is past, and the
last hours of the old year now have merely
q sentimental or religious significance
There was time, not so long ago, as young
years count the years when New Years
was marked red upon the calendar. All
society women received their friends who
were amongst men. The custom was that
numbers of women would receive with
some woman friend, so that 1t might be
pleasant for themselves and easier for the
men to go the rounds. Between the younger
folk there was generally an arrangement
for lowed fair ones to receive at some par
ticular house, and the lovers went there
to end the evenings joy. 1t was great
fun When the stream of callers had
ceased its merry, ripping flow, L and My
Daisy would seek some quiet corner and
there go over the sweetly nonsensical notes
of loves old sweet song. Love was fiercely
fierce, to be sure.
lone time a maiden In pale blue, with
some fluffy stuff about her marvellous
shoulders, sat under a New-Year canopy.
At her feet man reclined. The others
were away. There are others always, but
sometimes they hide themselves. file was
desperate, gone mad in the ecstacy of the
moment and the woman and the wine.
He vowed every lover's-vow known to
lovers. She listened, and looked away.
They are coming, she said suddenly, ir-
relevantly. Let them come! he answered.
She quivered like che shade by the light
quivering aspen made. Yes, she said
sibilantlyi The new year begins brightly
the others said. Yet she welded the other
man.
"In Scotland the new year is 1still Obj
served in the old way Men and women
gather together to see The old year out at
midnight, and ito see the new year come
in. curious custom of the celebration
in Scotland is the first footin. In this,
men go from house to house after midnight.
Upon the stroke elf the hour which ends
one year and begins another, the men
hurry away to make visits. The first men
to enter the door of clearinghouse is the
'first-footer,' and he is gladly welcomed
and given the best to eat and drink in the
house. He keeps the round of visits
to his friends. and is at every house well
coined, whether he he first. The laddies
and the lassies make the most of New
Years, and a great time they have. Very
little attention is paid to Christmas, that
day being held to be popisCl by the de-
scendants of the Covenanters. Manufac-
turers in a certain Scotch town virtually
demanded of the American consul that
the consulate be kept open on Christmas
Day, in order that they might get their
invoices of goods shipped to America GER