The Arvada enterprise., 1912-12-26

reading OF the stars. 1t furnishes standard time
for half the world, and as the new year is born
will send its message clear up to Alaska. to
South America, to China and to London.
over in France New Years day is not entirely
OF rejoicing; that is, unless is able to
rise above such mundane things as finance, for
New Years in France means-bills! It is the
universal paying-up day of the year. All the
dear, familiar old bills that have been jogging
along and accumulating during the year sud
denly pile in masse and greet the head of the
house New Years morning 1t is not difficult
to obtain credit in France, provided one pos
the externas OF comfortable compe
tence and the tradesmen and landlords and
shopkepers are content to wat-until January
first Then they drop their gentle little remin
ders in the mails or more frequently. present
them through representatives The butcher, the
baker. the candestck maker-and all the gal
axy of their sisters and their cousins and their
aunts'-are to be reckoned with.
Festival. banquetng and merrymaktng like
wise hold high carnival From New Years eve
until the morning of the second day of the
year the streets Of Paris en- fete. Beautifully
gowned women in richly decorated carriages.
and groups OF berlbboned holiday-seekers form
boulevards. Cafe life then is wild and brilliant
surging. happy pageant that throngs the spacious
and the students from the Latin quarter
tribute their full quota OF roistering and revelry
in the restaurants and along the streets
The German celebration of the New Year is
not lackng in wholesome good cheer and festive
pranks, but it is prominently a decorous
In Berlin elaborate musical programs
dered and everywhere anthems and festival
songs are chanted. beginning at twilight of the
last day of the old year and continuing until the
bells peal forth the glad tidings of new year
born unto the centuries. There is German
custom that dates from the year lS4S that has
little Of the spirit OF the typical bad boy"
In IT,
on New Years anyone walking along the
streets OF Berlin and wearing n high hat need
take umbrage II a couple OF German students
who may have endeavorcd n trine too zeaousy
to find the bottom Of the flowing bowl slip up
behind him and smash the aforesaid hat down
over his eyes This is the penalty he pays for
wearing such hat at such time and he has
no kick coming to him. even II his hat is knocked
of his head and kicked until it ceases to be a
hat
The good folks in the Rhenlsh provinces have
an adaptation OF this custom that is more gentle
and-yes-less expensive, considering the dam.
age done This consists OF stealing up upon a
friend he is walking along the street and
whispering in his ear: "Prosit Neujahr" The
friend thus aCCosted straightway comes
with little present, such n cigar, drink
invitation to dinner In Frankfortonthe.
Main the entire city rushes TO its windows tho
old year dies, filings them open and glasses in
hand drinks toast to Father Times latest
born Then the windows are slammed down the
merrimcnt ceases and all retire for n peaceful
nights slumber
In England the New Year customs are OF very
ancient origin and even more generally observed
than In this country Every English family sits
up to the old year out and the year in.
and always there is bowl OF hot punch rte,
with which TO drink the toasts to the New Year
The custom is survival OF the time when the
head Of the house assembled his family around
n bowl OF spiCci ale from which he and they
drank each others health and the health Of the
New Year The words used In the toast were:
"Wass Uacl" meaning to your health Pres
entity the toast bowl came to be known - 'he
wassall or wassel bowl
In Scotland the wassel bowl is the center Of