The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-01
AN OBSOLETE CEREMONY

There has been some desultory talk OF
reviving the former custom OF keeping
''open house on the first day OF the new
year. That interesting observance was
carried to an extravagant excess in this
country for long time, but during the
decade 1880 1890, it waned and passed
away and there has been little encourage
ment for it's revival. .--.-.-. .....
Formerly, the urban newspapers gave
as much space to announcements or the
danes and damsels who desired to re
ceive" on New Years Day and to the
aftermath embodying descriptions OF
many of the magnificent toilets OF the
ladies', as they gave to the result OF
general election. The men were several
days bracing up for the exacting duties
Of the occasion and they who could boast
of from fifty to one hundred visits paid
between 10 o'clock in the morning and IL
O'Clock midnight, were accounted heroes.
No gentleman of ancient Rome, VINO
made the regulation New Years calls,
adjusted his toga proetexta and arranged
its yoluminous folds, according to the
more care than did the American caller
his fashionable garments for the days
arduous campaign No Roman lady OF
| the elder day showed more anxiety over
the disposition of the tunica interior,
the stola and the palla and the adjust
meht of her bosom band (for the Roman
lady did not know corsets) than did the
hair
more intricate exterior and interior at
tire 1t was the occasion for displaying
the richest conceptions of the purveyors
of fashions in Dress Where from five
! to fifteen ladies received together, the
parlors resembled the arena of contest
or competition for the prize for beauty.
| Perhaps the increase Of the fashionable
| functions of the present day has had
something to do with the abandonment
! Of the "open house, custom. Perhaps the
growth Of the temperance movement had
| something to do with it. There were
| clearly defined abuses of the "open
house. custom. There was too much OF
prudent men drank too much and too
| often There we're occasional disgrace
full scenes and incidents which disguised
many. Many ladies ceased setting out
punch and eggnog and substituted coffee
| and chocolate. 1t was a commendable
movement very Objectionable feature
Of the *'open house. custom was the OBJ
trusion, not infrequently, upon the pres
! ence of receiving ladies', of persons who
managed to slip in with the incoming
callers and who had no business there
for the reason that they were unknown
to the receiving ladies and the mistress
of the house. " "
After all that may be said against
the old custom, there is much to COM
mend it. 1t was an expression Of the
social instinct Old friends met who had
not seen each other for years. Friend
ships were formed which often ripened
into happy marriages. There was fine
play of wit and badinage, consistent with
the atmosphere of the festal day. An6
1t was we'll.
There will be to-day the greetings Of
the occasion and informal calling, bu
"open house, is but a memory. The
world of men and women face new veal
with courage and joyous expectation. Ye
there are sorrows patiently or inpatient!
borne as the case may be.
Wondrous and awful are thy silent halls,
o kingdom of the past!
There lie the bygone ages in their pals,
| f Guarded by shadows vast
There all is hushed and breathless
! So sings Lowell, yet we have the future
in which to actualize the wisdom, If any
, which we have drawn from the experience,
Of the past.