New Mexico state record., 1919-12-26
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As.s-sSs-S AsssSszs bad accidents; therefore we
expressly forbid any firing of
guns and heating of drums ="
This is the H. ginning Of one of the muny New
Years FraciaIngtonS of Peter Stuyvc>ant, director
general of New Ncth"rlands-hS farm the
"BouWerii,' on Manhattan island gave the Bowery
its name-by which h" hoped Ia prevent more
sins. debauchrricS and calamtics' in New Am
Strr,lam during his II years of administration
lGl1Gi. For IL was in old New York that the
American custom of New Years calls had lis be-
ginning. And when the fun got too boSterous old
Peter would come >tumpng along ON his silver
banded wooden leg and Try 10 make an unwilling
Httle-Natch enforce his proclamation.
New Years day WAS the holiday par excellence
in old New York 1t was day peculiarly dedi-
Gated Ia family congratulations and the renewal
of friendships in expressions of sympathy and
good will, which, following 50 closely the sacred
festival of Christmas, inspired all with peculiar
Significance. Washington Irving has said New
York was then n handy town. Anyone who did
not live over the way was to be found round the
corner" So the making of New Years calls was
easy. Let MS glance at the New Amsterdam of
that day on the first day of the new year.
The sober. Older citizens sturdy figures, richly
and warmly clothed, walk, slowly smoking. To the
fort TO render New Years wishes 10 the officers
of the garrison and then to the White Hall by the
Battery to do the governor the same honor. Ever
since daybreak noisier element has reveled up
and down the narrow lanes and by the banks of
che canal (now Broad strcet), shouting greetings
beating drums. firing muskets, blowing horns
shaking 'rumhling-potS" aud drinking rivers of
beer. group of young burghers, with some
clumsy firearm, a snaplance or murtherer have
gone from door to door of each corbel-roofed
house firing blank voeys. gathering recruits
drinking more beer. till all repair TO Beekman's
Swamp Onown to this day in New York as the
Swamp to fire at target.
Noise and New Years continued TO he closely
connected in the days of the American colonies
New Years day was favorlte day for shooting
at Il mark. for shooting for prizes, ana target
companies" Of very respectable citizens rose early
ia the morning for these contests. For 1t was
sleemed most selfish and rather disreputabe for
n man 10 spend the entire day in such shooting.
lie could go with his target company" in the
morning but he must pay IA round of calls to the
fair in the afternoon.
ia the DAYS of New Years celebration In New
York in the first half of the nineteenth century,
the town seemed great family reunion. In which
each man WED with the other in boisterous delight
Sbops were lighted, windows garlanded. streets
crowded Great vanS-stages with four and six
borses--werc crowded with groups of men, often a
group Of knsfolk, or old neighborS, or hilarious
mob of men allied in poIiticS-or some target
company" or band Of old iremcn.' The ac-
ouantnnces of each were called upon in turn.
II about Inc bt-lHllle VI inv
century that the change from ncighborly OBJ
srrNauce to one of pure fashion began in all the
larcr cities The younger women Of such house
holds as had daughters were hostesses. and great
WAS their rivalry. with another. In respect to
richly loaded refreShment tables and elegance of
toiicf The dudes of those days-they called them
.hcanx" and "dandies" and "gaants'-attired
themselves in their best and started out early in
thp morning their calls.
II was not until about the middle of the century
-,,nt the abuse which finally led to the customs
decline began. For years the dandes of New
York and other large cities rivaed one another in
She length of their calling lists. and the calls soon
.,,nc 70 he nothing more than hasty stops-mere
ranid corcings Of cake and gulpings of wine-in-
stead of the old-time friendly calls of men upon
,he families of their friends and acquantances.
Then the ladies-the matrons as well as the
Hounr women-began TO vie with one another in
tho number of their callers. This led TO the
most extraordinary practices. Callers were re-
,-,,ited indeed much as customers are drummed
nm Inv dealers in SOAP. Cards announcing that
Miss Tbis-or-That would be "at home on January
= ,vere sent out almost indiscriminately.
Then the Sunday papers of the time began to
,r;,t lists of those who would receive and the
houses of those mentioned in the lists were sure
.o no besiered by numbers of men whom the
ladies had never met or heard of and desired
meyer TO meet again Men would go calling in