The sun., 1903-12-27

but don't believe that was the only reason
Naturally during round of fifty or moro
calls men did get away with a lot of drinks
more. / am sure, han any of the present
generation could carry, whether because
the liquor was purer or not IN sure don't
know. 1t never seemed to me, though,
that they were any the worse for it.
Callers usually went in pairs, and when
one got so full that his speech wabbled-
which happened quite often-another re.
tired him for repairs. For that reason 1t
was not often that a man came to grief in
drawing room.
Il remember once, though, when a pal
of mine had an awful SET back, He was a
young fellow and not much of a drinker
at any time. | think it was the oggnog
that knocked him out that day. II was
drink much served then and about as
deadly as it was decous-which is saying
much. Anyway, just after we reached
certain house he got hazy and began wh's.
pering sweet nothings to the hostC So under
the impression that she WIS her own
daughter, to whom he was engaged. As a
result of that mist axe the engagement was
broken. The young man has never tasted
eggnog since, and he is a grandfather now.
"Teetotalers among the entertainment
Well can't say that | remember any
| am afraid Carrie Nation. had she been
around in those days, would have been
kept uncommonly busy among entertainers
in the fashionable district on New Years.
Z. n. Taller, who still lives in Washington
Square, II never made less than thirty-fve
calls on New Years Day, and enjoyed max
ing them. There was an informaity about
the occasion that men liked. In the best
houses the spread was very simple indeed,
so far as edibles went. and don't remember
that champagne was ever served, although
almost every other kind of drink was. In
those days champagne was generally re-
served for dinners or formal evening func-
nd or
afternoon.
Calling hours on New Years Day were
from half past II O'Clock in the morning
till 9 in the afternoon, and again in the even
ing; Drawing rooms were decorated only
with greens and few men dreamed of send.
ing presents of flowers at New Year s, unless
there was particular lady in the case.
Il don't believe any one can quite ex:
plain why New Years calls went out OF
fashion. To my mind the reasons are
because the city grew SO fast and because
society of necessity began to break up into
rlioues. AS every one knows. formal
invitations were never issued to these New
Year receptions. Every man acquaintance
call and take with him if he wished friend
who might not be known to her. At that
time the plan worked we'll. Now, how
ever. it would scarcely do so well, What
is more, l don't believe the fashion n will
ever be reinstated in New York.
Nowadays. when men want to see their
feminine friends they call on a Sunday
afternoon, time which women of fashion
have set aside for that very purpose, and
a concession for which we men are all
grateful"
"How do most men spend New Years
now?" was asked of we'll known man
about town.
why, those of us who stay in town hang
around the clubs and drink whiskey,' was
his reply. "If anything, men drink more
now on New Years Day than they ever did,
only instead of drinking in private houses
they drink at the clubs or at public bar.
The country clubs, though. and out-of::
town house parties-both recent social
manifestations-take a lot of men. younger
men. out of town Here there will Be
absolutely nothing doing.
Il wish some one would devise a popular
amusement to take the place of calling.
1t has even come to pass that a man is
afraid to ring friends door bell at New
Years for fear of being put down as old
fashioned or a bore, and consequently
those of us who hate the country and country
houses in winter and matinees at any time
of the year are reduced to the club and
whiskey drinking for amusement on New
Years
think of it,"