The Red Cloud chief., 1912-12-26

reading Of the stars It furnishes standard time
for half the world and a. the new year 10 born
Will send lts message clear up to Alaska. to
South America. to China and to London.
Over in France New Years day 10 not entirely
one Of rejoicing: that 10. unless one 10 able to
rise above such mundane things ~ finance. for
New Years In France means-bills! Il 10 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 en- masse and greet the head OF the
house on New Years morning It 10 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
nrst. Then they drop their gentle little remin.
them through representatives. The butcher. the
baker. the candlestick maker-and all the gal.
axy Of their sisters and their cousins and their
aunts'-are to be reckoned with
Festival banQuetins 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 fete. Beautifully
gowned women. In richly decorated carriages
and groups Of beribboned holldayseekers form
boulevards. Cafe life then 10 Wild and brilliant
sursing. happy pageant that throngs the spacious
and the students from the Latin quarter con.
tribute their full quota Of roistsrins and rsvelry
In the restaurants and along the streets.
The German celebration Of the New Year 10
not lacking In wholesome good cheer and festive
pranks. but Il 10 pre-eminently . 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 tidings Of q new year
born unto the centurfes There 10 one German
custom that dates from the year ls%s 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 q high hat need
take NO umbrage II couple Of German students.
who may have endeavored tribe too xealously
to hnd the bottom OF the flowing bowl slip up
behind him and smash the aforesaid hat down
over his eyes This 10 the penalty he pays for
wearing such . hat at such q time and he has
no kick coming to him. even II his hat 10 knocked
Oh his head and kicked until It ceases to be q
hat.
The good folks In the Rhenish provinces have
an adaptation OF this custom that IL 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 across
with little present. such a. q cigar. or q drink
or an invitation to dinner. In Frankfort-on.the.
Main tho entire city rushes to its windows a. the
old year dies hings 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 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 see the old year out and the new year in
and always there 10 q bowl of hot punch etc..
with which to drink the toasts to tho New Year
The custom 10 . survival Of the time when the
head OF the house assembled his family around
. bowl Of spiced ale from which he and they
drank each others health and the health OF the
No ma pAn sa~A esn Hh~
"Wass Hael." meaning ito your health" Pres
emily. the toast bowl came 70 be known q the
wassail. or wasssl bowl
In Scotland the wasssl bowl ID the csnter Of