The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-01-01

fore it was at last. after boiling al day.
pronounced thoroughly cooked. On the
return of the party dinner was ready.
which consisted Of Scotch kali, a leg Of
roast beef, spudS potatoes), haggis
and green peas-and the pudding. No
one who has not been restricted entire
~ to one species Of food for long
time can form any idea Of our crushing
disappointment OH tasting that pud-
ding! On digging a knife into the heart
of it we discovered that it consisted or
caps. buckshot and Jumps Of suet. To
spoil n plum pudding on New Years
day in Scotland is practically next door
to committing crime. On this occa-
sion, however. the TASKS were protuc-
ed. and the cook was soon forgotten In
song:
A Plumbs the prophets son despise
An a sorrows be forgot;
Treasons in oor December pudGin L;
And death within the pot y,
Aud year farewell thy days u fe2C, e.
An merry days dine,
But let US not forget the day
The puGdin' ow're brther fzzled.
Followed by the chorus:
welcome be We that arnie here,
welcome a an max gid cheer,
Welcome a another yeer.
Welcome a.
A custom which is generally obscrv-
cd by the working classes Is what III
called first footing" At all hours OF
the early morning Of the first day OF
the new year an effort is made to be
first to call Oh their friends at their
bones. The one who is lucky enough
to be first to catch his friend IN Is i'll
vited to partake Of short bread cake
and q nip O. whisky after the usual
hapdshake and a Draw New Year
By the time lie has made all the calls
he can remember making. the first day
Of the new year is dawning. and Scotty
can be seen sailing majestically home
ward, his inner man filled with New
Years hospitalnas. Those living in
the country will walk many miles to
bid a Draw New Year TO their friends
in the city. 1t is no uncommon thing
to see family Of five or six leave their
bone about 10 o'clock at night anu
walk three or four miles in snow
storm in order to first foot their rela-
t;yes or friends living in the city. Very
often they are disappointed in their
surprise visits in finding the object OF
tLeir Journey was not at home.
On returning homeward. however.
1hey will sometimes meet their friends
whom they intended first footing and
to learn that they had gone to first foot
tnem, and vice versa.
The birth OF the new year Is an
nounced in the town and cities by the
striking Of the local town hall clock OH
the hour Of T. and followed by the
ringing of the church bells. 1t Is soon
after this that first footing begins.
Long before the approach OF j. great
crowds OF people surround the city nall
and eagerly watch the big hand or the
clock as it approaches the last hour OF
the old year. Every one III the big
crowd has hottie OF some description
in bis possession. Immediately the ois
hand OF the clock marks the nrst
stroke of T. every bottle is thrown ST.
mul;aneously against the walls OF the
hall. followed by tremendous crash.
This is an ancient custom. but IS now
rapidly dying ont. 1t is still practiced.
however, every New Years eve against
the old walls Of the Trou church in
Edinburgh. the capital.
In the highlands the new year IS
, ushered in by the tolling Of the auld
kirk bell and the playing Of baSplpes.
Iii clear, frosty night 10 hear this
much maligncd instrument played by i
thoroughbred highlander among the
hills and from distance Of mile the
rotes are stripped of their harshness
and seem to be waited across TO you
by the clear atmosphere in one harmo-
nious melody 1t is really beautitut
ard inspiring.
New Years day is observed as gen
ersl holiday throughout the country.
The churches are open III the morning
only. and III the large cities the day.
would seem like Sunday were IT not
for that disturbing element. the sa-
loon keeper. who always makes 1t q
business point to keep open in Scot
land on all public holidays. much to
the ANNOYANCE Of law abiding citizens.