Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1912-12-27

reading Of the stars It furnishes standard time
for half the world, and the new year is born
will send its message clear up to Alaska. 10
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 payingup day of the year All the
dear, familiar old bills that have been Jogging
along and accommodating during the year sud
denly pile in en- masse and greet the head of the
house on 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 are content to wait-until January
first Then they drop their gentle little remin-
ders in the mails or frequently. present
them through representatives The butcher, the
baker. the candlestick and all the gal
axy of their sisters and their cousins and their
aunts'-are to be reckoned with.
Festival banquetng 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 en- fete. Beautifully
gowned women, in richly decorated carriages,
and groups Of beribboned 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 con-
tribute their full quota of roistering and revery
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 it is pre-eminently a decorous one.
In Berlin elaborate musical programs are rem
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 tdings of a new year
born unto the centuries. There is one German
custom that dates from the year 1S48 that has
no little of the spirit of the typical "bad boy"
in it.
On New Years eve anyone walking along the
streets of Berlin and wearing high hat need
take no umbrage if a couple of German students,
who may have endeavored trife too zealously
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
no kick coming to him. even if his hat is knocked
off his head and kicked until 1t ceases to be a
hat
The good folks in the Rhenish provinces have
an adaptation of this custom that is more gentle
and-yes-ess expensive. considering the dam
age done This consists of stealing up upon
friend as he is walking along the street and
whispering in his ear: "Prosit Neujahr" The
friend thus accosted straightway comes across
with little present, such a cigar drink
or an invitation to dinner. In Frankfort-onthe-
Main the entire city rushes to it's windows as the
old year dies. filings them open and, glasses in
hand drinks toast to Father Times latest
born Then the windows are slammed down, the
merriment ceases and all retire for peaceful
nights sumber.
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 see the old year out and the new year In.
and always there is bowl of hot punch. etc.
with which to drink the toasts to the New Year
The custom is a survival Of the time WlBen the
head OF the house assembled his family around
q 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:
ssWass Hazel, meaning ito your health" Pres
emily the toast bowl came to be known the
wessail or wassel bowl.
In Scotland the wassel bowl is the center Of