The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-02-03
THE FIRST NEW YEARS DAY.

THE FIRST NEW YEARS DAY.
New England may have seen the
first Thanksgiving celebration, and
Philadelphia may have inaugurated
the Fourth of July racket but the
initial New Years day observed by
white men on American soil was cele-
brated on the island of Haiti, January
Ist, 1903. Just what there was to
that celebration will never be known.
Columbus, for he was master of cere-
monies, was so busy with other mat
tiers that he failed to leave a record.
But it is impossible that Europeans
should have let their first New Years
day in new world pass by without
some observance.
It was on the Ist day of January,
1892, by the way, that Columbus met
the sovereigns of Spain, Ferdinand
and Isabella, and concluded with them
the contract for his voyage of explora-
ton and discovery That might be
called the initial New Years day,
though it was not spent in America.
1t was sort of prophecy, as it were,
of the day that was to be spent in the
then undiscovered country one year
later.
It was not until August that the
three ships got under way. Then
they sailed into new seas in search of
continent that had been hidden
from the knowledge of man all
through the ancient and middle ages.
But Columbus did not know that he
was to find such a continent. He
was seeking western route to India
and died in the belief that the land he
found was a part of Asia. He ac-
complished more than he knew. The
divinity that shapes our ends' was
k;nder to him than his own provision.
Across the unknown ocean he sail
ed until, almost becalmed in the tropic
seas, each OF his vessels was like
painted ship upon painted ocean. "
1t was then that the crews we'll nigh
mutinied. Only the indomitable will
and courage of Columbus kept them
upon their way. At last floating
seaweed and flying birds told of ap
preaching land. By following the
flight of the birds the new shore was
sighted. America was discovered,
and a new era was opened in the his
tory of humanity.
1t was in October that the landing
was made. The thing was accom-
plished, or Columbus thought it ac-
complished, of which he had dreamed
from youth. Through poverty, ne
glect, ridicule and rebuffs he had
sought all through the intervening
years for people of means who would
take interest in his dream. So great
was the stress of his soul that he had
gone white headed at thirty, and now
he was far past forty. But he had
been faithful to his vision, and his re-
ward had come.
From island to island the voyagers
passed until Cuba was reached and
| then Haiti, where the discoverer's
flagship was wrecked. The natives,
who were delighted with the visit of
the white men, helped him to save
his wreckage and cared for him and
his crews until he was ready for the
return voyage. 1t was Christmas
morning when Columbus landed at
Guarico, and it was January q, 1893,
when he sailed away for Spain. So
the New Years day was spent among
the hospitable Haitian natives.
The birth of 1906 marks the four
hundred and thirteenth anniversary
of the day since then, very brief
time in the life of the world, but
very long time in the annals of pro-
gress. The Spain from which Chris
topher Columbus sailed has passed
into eclipse, while the lands he dis
covered support nations that are in
the morning splendors of better
age.
Whatever the formal ceremonies
attending the first New Years day
in the western hemisphere, its nota-
bility is not lessened. That Colum-
bus and his men took some note of its
passage goes without saying. Even
in time so crowded with other emo
tions the fact that he was greeting
another year on the shore that he had
seen so long in vision must have filled
the heart of the daring discoverer
with quickened JOY and thanksgiv-
ing. His mind would naturally travel
back a twelvemonth to the day that
he had completed with his sovereigns
the negotiations for the voyage that
had eliminated in success.
Just as naturally he would look
forward to another year, picturing the
enthusiasm at his home coming, the
fitting out of other expeditions and
the colonizing of the new land. Hap
PLY then he knew naught of the
chains and indignities that awaited
him. The future was all roseate.
He had discovered the western way
to the Indians he would return and
find gold, and henceforth fame and
fortune should be his.
The feast which the Spaniards had
that New Years day in Guarico was
something novel for European pal
ates. First their bread made of In
dian maize, or corn, over which Co
lumbus grew so enthusiastic that be
carried quantity Of the grain back
to Spain. Another form of Indian
bread was made from a tuber called
manioc. The white men were also
introduced to the West Indian pep
per pot," which is still highly es-
teemed. Then they were asked tc
try condiment called "aje," which
proved too strong even for the sea-