The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-01
NEW YEAR DAY AS SEEN
BY AN OLD CITIZEN
Revival Of Calling Custom Can Never Equal What 1t Was in
DAYS Gone By.

where sometimes a single hostess. more
often a bevy of charming, lovely women,
awaited their coming. Il was considered
good form to leave as another party
entered; yet. this not being always pos
sible, a very usual sight was it for half
a dozen women to be engaged in enter
tanning two dozen men at the same time
With the ultra fashionable. drawing
rooms were darkened and Illuminated
by gas or lamps, more frequently wax
candles, from noon until the day ended
All the women tnen wore evening gowns.
and many Jewels cleaned on fair throats
and rounded arms, bare and beautiful;
silks, Iaces. velvets. from the regal dow
ageT to the slender debutante. the femi-
mines of the family were all 10 the fore,
most daintily decked on New Year Day.
If, from any cause, no callers were
10 be admitted. the servant took the
cards and made excuse: or possibly a
tiny basket would be hung on the knob.
into which it was understood cards were
to be placed. Often a young matrou
gathered about her other young ma
irons, making beautiful ensemble Of
harmonious Coloring in. the grouping of
blonde and bruno, costuming to com
plete the picture Then, perhaps. in
another home would be found a coterie
f charming girls, each at her best, and
one setting of the other
In either case, the men were advised
when they appeared at the homes Of
the visiting ladies' as to where they
could be found. thus giving no ohense
or rebuff to any expected callers.
An Informal Dance.
Where the younger sets forega Their
ed. the day usually wound up with an
informal dance, the men being asked to
return in the evening to participate.
Refreshments, Beyond peradventure,
refreshments and right here can be
found the cause of the custom falling
into disuse The expression a table
gToaning under its weight of good things
to eat. applied forci5ly, literally to the
serving of refreshments. Oysters and
winel Turkey and more winel Salad,
and yet again wine! reHshes, cakes,
confections-and champagne Oh, yes,
champagne by the dozens of bottles
Son stimes IN petit yerre Of cognac.
Was it any wonder that q mans head
reeled and his knees wobbled after
score of houses, each with a different
set Of drinks provided had been Wis
tied?
and 10 refuse his pretty. fascinating
hostess was to offend! a mans only
refuge lay in pleading some special all
ing as excuse, accepting only the tiny cup
OF cafe noir. always provided. and served
steaming hot and fragrant by white
aproned mulatto or ebony hued boys.
Drank Until Befuddled.
But rtsere. one man abstained. hun
aseaa as~sk fRtil- befuadled. and then
presented tbemse3ves in such condition
forgiven on such occasion. yet it dawned
slowly and forcibIy upon the women that
the custom must be wrong where these +
effects followed. They realized. when
half dozen tipsy youths reeIed into
those beautiful reception rooms. maud
lin, disgusting, and, refusing food. eager /
" accepted more liquor. that the usage
would soon have to be given over for
the sake of those eallow boys. whose
brains were too beclouded for recogni- !
ton even, many times. Hospitality was
abused, young men demoraIized. the
charming custom OF New Year greet
ing degenerating into simple swinish in
diligence. So. as she has moved and
ruled the world since God placed Eve in
the Garden Of Eden, woman took it upon
herself 10 abolish the practice OF pro
miscuous. OF rather, general calling on
lie jour de IAN