The Springfield herald., 1912-12-27

reading OF the stars. II 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
one of rejoicing: that is. unless is able to
rise above such mundane things as finance, for
New Years in France means-bills! 1t is the
universal paying-up day of the year All the
dear. familiar old bills that have been jogging
along and accommodating 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
sesses the externals OF comfortable compe-
tence and the tradesmen and landlords and
shopkepers content to wait-until January
first Then they drop their gentle little remin-
ders in the malls or frequently. present
them through representatives The butcher. the
baker the candlestck maker-and all the gal.
axy of their sisters and their cousins and their
aunts"-are to be reckoned with.
Festival banqueting and merrymaking like.
wise hold high carnival From New Years eve
until the morning of the second day of the new
year the streets of Paris are en- fete. Beautifully
gowned women. in richly decorated carriages.
and groups OF berbboned hoday-seekers form
boulevards. Cafe life then is wild and brilliant
surging happy pageant that throngs the spacious
and the students from the Latin quarter con-
tribute their full quota of roistering and revelry
in the restaurants and along the streets
The German celebration of the New Year is
not lacking in wholesome good cheer and festive
pranks but 1t is prominently decorous one.
In Berlin elaborate musical programs
dered and everywhere anthems and festival
songs chanted beginning at twilight OF the
last day of the old year and continuing until the
bells peal forth the glad tidings of a year
born unto the centuries There is German
custom that dates from the year 1913 that has
no little of the spirit Of the typical bad boy
in 1t.
On New Years eve anyone walking along the
streets of Berlin and wearing high hat need
take no umbrage II a couple of German students,
who may have endeavored a trife too zeaously
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 a hat at such time and he has
kick coming to him. even II his hat is knocked
off his head and kicked until 1t ceases to be
hat.
The good folks In the Rhenish 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
friend he is walking along the street and
whispering In his "Prosit NeuJahr." The
friend thus accosted straightway
with little present, such as a cigar or drink
or an invitation to dinner. In Frankfortonthe-
Main the entire city PUSHES 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
merrment and all retire for a peaceful
nights slumber.
In England the New Year customs OF very
ancient origin and even more generally observed
than in this country. Every English family sits
up the old year out and the year in,
and always there is bowl of hot punch, etc,
with which 20 drink the toasts to the New Year
The custom lis survival of the time when the
head of the house assembled his family around
a bowl of spiced 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 Hazel" meaning ito your health" Pres
emily the toast bowl to be known the
wassail or wassel bowl.
In Scotland the wassel bowl is the center OF