New-York tribune., 1901-12-29
NEW YEARS IN OLD DAYS.
cr1ERRATIONS IN NEW-AMSTERDAM
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY
YEARS AGO.

sewau He has been called an American Pepys
but unfortunately he not of so social nature
as Pepys, and he had in Boston much more
monotonous life than the gay Londoner But
even that monotony had some items of variety to
him and interest to us, and such entry is this
on January 2. 1701:
Just about break-a-day Jacob Amsdsn and three
on the Common near Mr.. Alfred s.; Then went
to the Green ssd and little before
breaks day, which printed and gave gave them' Inc
Trumpeters cost me five pieces OF eight
But in New-England in Colonial days New
Years was never much of a holiday. The Pilgrims
made no of their first New Years Day In their
new home in the New World. save by TINS most
commonplace record I'VE went to work betlmes'
There was some exchange OF gifts, Following out
an English custom universal. from the hlns ana
Queen down 10 the humblcst citizen But ola
Triah Oakes the stern Puritan minister. with
the chilling ingenuity OF all of his sect in his day
in finding something either heathenish or Popish
in every form of amusement. asserted his belef
that the observance of New Years tides In any
way savored strongly of superstitious reverence
for the heather god Janus. So the celebration OF
New Years sadly dropped and died in New-Eng-
land as did that of Christmas. Easter, Shrove
Tuesday Whit Sunday. and all the holidays and
holy days OF the Church of England.
New Years Day in New-York was a very differ
ent thing: 1t was a climax Of good cheer. of noisy
fun, of rude hospitality. Let us glance at the
town of New-Amsterdam two centuries and half
ago. The sober older citizens. sturdy figures, rich
ly and warmly clothed. walk slowly, smoking. to
the fort render New Years wishes to the Off
GERS OF the garrison. and then TO the White Hall
by the Battery to do the Governor the same honor
Ever since daybreak a nosier element has revelled
up and down the narrow lanes and by the banks
of the canal now Broad-st) shouting greetings,
beating drums. firing muskets. blowing horns,
shaking "rumbling pots" and drinking rivers OF
beer till all the human population is up and
dressed and out OF doors. while all the pigs and
poultry that other days serenely roam the
streets. scared into the fields A group OF
young burghers. with some clumsy frearm snap
hance a murtherer. have gone from door to door
Of each corbel rooted house firing blank volleys
gathering recruits. drinking more beer. till all re-
pair to Beekman's Swamp (known to this day In
New-York The swamp TO fire at target.
Neer the blacksmiths shop is a still larger group
with farm carts and clumsily sadded horses they
chiefly younkers. farm servants and young
women from the neighboring farms. The Dutch
vrouws waddle along n gay coored petticoats
furred coats purple aprons high cornet caps or
love hoods with silver chains and clasps.
And here goes on a characteristic Dutch sport
for New Years Day, sport frowned on by Gov
ernor Stuyvesant and made the cause or one or the
most absurd episodes in his ccmic career-it Is
called riding for the goose" Blacksmith Joris
has set up in front Of his shop two stout poles ten
feet apart connected with strong crossbar
twenty feet from the ground. From this bar hangs
a living goose tied firmly by the legs Just over
the head Of a mounted rider. The sport consists
snatchrs the head OF the goose to bear away
the head from the body. or to tear the whole bird
away AS the goose has been thoroughly creased
and autters wildly at this exhibition OF mans In
humanity when being amused. this proves easy
task.
And see! Here is a Dutch tar. pirate. perhaps
clustering with schnapps from Cruger's tavern
bawling out that he catch aloft better than
any landlubber. And with his fapping trousers.
crimson SASH cutlass. earrings and pistails, he
mounts a shaggy Dutch pony and rides Gathering
at the poles End the futtering goose. But the Ill
broken carthorse promptly throws him 10 the
frozen ground he rises swaying in his stirrups
catch the slippery goose and shouts OF laughter
greet him as he rises. scownR and threatening.
And by this time and this clamor Stuyvesant
comes stumpng alons on his silver banded wooden
leg and tries to force unwilling rattle watch
TO spoil the sport by arrestng the nosiest and
drunkest men and prevent sins. debau"heries
and calamities." Here is part of one of his
proclamatons
Whereas Experience has taught us that on New
Years Day and May Day from the Firing OF Guns
there has resulted unnecessary waste OF powder
a WV Ne ts sea o6d
firing of guns or beating OF drums. etc
And so on and so to try TO kill out the
| celebration OF New Years Day But It took
| power far greater than Stuyvesant to do this.
| New Years Day annhilated speedily by the
| cold blast of modern indifference One can
| well understand the prudent Governors irritation
intolerance,
| winter at these holiday times were so given over
to holiday observances that the courts did not
| sit public offices were closed and no important
| business could be transacted.
| The, exchange of gifts universal in New-York
| on New Years Day for centuries; gifts of gloves.
cakes. fruit. "Kiskatomas nuts" and New Years
| visiting also General Washington found New
| Years visiting from house to house new thing
when his official residence was in New-York. but
| he adopted the custom with approval.
| 4 lpfv Of New Year wa
| rers New Years Address. This often in
| rhyme If the carrier any of his friends could
string the jlngling lines together. or find an old
| were popular:
| This day devoted to mrth.
| TO open house and social hearth;
| New friendship mounts on airy wings
| While plenty spreads festive board
| In idleness and laughter gay
| To spend for hours this happy day.
M must the paee m the s0owy rect
Since he alone this comfort needs.
| Let him not find closed door. Etc, etc.
These great broadsides brought to the carrier
| many a dime and quarter and dollar from all 10
| whom he delivered his new sheet. He was usually
/ the news carrier, also mail carrier the penny
| post"
| The newspapers Of January 2. and showed an
aftermath of the day in the long list of arrests for
| intoxication though each year the editor always
| wrote the perfunctory falsehood which seemed TO
| no deemed due to the day that "Our city kept re-
| markably sober throughout this New Year Day,
considering the cheerful occasion
Tho ,ovsnapers of IL century ago afford ample
ariSenra Of the cruelty and futility of one OF the
laws Of the day name @a an sne utterly HOPELESS @ task
for any imprisoned for debt ever 10 eXpeGt TO ne
s1np nrisoners were extreme they had no slight