Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1900-01-02
NEH YEARS DAY.
SOCIAL AND BUSINESS.
Feature That Mark It-How 1t Was
Spent In Annapolis.

Although light snow fell in the early
hours of the new born year, covering
mother earth with a warm white mantle.
and bidding humanity make its life and
character in 1900 as pure as the beauti-
full snow fakes. yet the day dawned crisp
and clear, and beautiful sky, and well
come sunshine seemed to wish all A
Happy New Year. Certainly if the first
day OF 1900 is symbolic OF its followers,
il will indeed be bright year.
The custom of visiting on New Years
Day is much broken and decayed. There
are shll some people who cling to it.
however, although it is more in vogue in
clubs than in private houses. The Pc
culiarly ugly habit that followed il that
OF hanging 4 basket on the front door TO
receive cards of callers has almost died
out. But few baskets were seen yester-
day. This custom was probably the
most inhospitable thing that Annapoli-
tans as class ever did. A man with
any sense of refinement would hardly
deposit his card in basket OF this sort.
1t seems to say;
Eyes, we are at home. but the custom
of receiving callars on New Years Day
has been luckily declared out of fashion
and we are thus excused from the annoy.
ance, the expense and the trouble of en-
tertaining you. Ii you. in the tullness of
your heart or the emptiness OF your
stomach. purposed calling on US yester-
day TO offer the usual stale greeting which
you would not mean and would do us no
possible good, you drop your card in this
basket, which cost less than Tooth what
it would have cost 10 get ready TO en-
terrain you. and we will give your name
to the newspapers as among those
present.
1t is regulation Joke about bills COM
ing in on the first OF the year and the
long face of paterfamilas as he learns
for the first time what his wife and his
| daughters have spent at the milliners, the
dressmakers and the ladies' haberdasher.
but in point OF tact this too serious a sub
ject to joke about. As Mr.. Micawber
would say. il is "demnition truth.
Every man on earth who does a credit
business sends his bill in on January /.
That date is looked upon as the one
| date when no one can take the ofttnse
at receiving gentle reminder OF an &C
count due or overdue.
People sometimes have 10 be very
wary about sending bills. No matter
how badly shopkeeper needs his money
and no matter how much money the
| creditor may have or how ready he may
be to pay it if his attention is called to it
| there is a class of creditors who take
mortal offense if they are apprised Of the
| fact that they owe money at any other
than a certain time which custom has set
and arranged.
Annapolis yesterday was as quiet as
| Sunday. The stores and business houses
were closed. and the intense cold and
| piercing North winds kept people off
the streets. The young people went
skating on the coves and on ponds; the
little folks enjoyed the snow with their
sleds. Many of the business men spent
the day with their books, balancing the
years profits, and preparing to start GU,
fresh for 1900. The carrier boys deliver
ed their calendars. and made their New
Years calls.
Altogether the first day of the New
Year was bright, pleasant and suspicious.