New Mexico state record., 1919-12-26

couples tHH parties ANA even in drovcs of 80 or
more, remaining as short time at each stopping
place rs possible and announcing everywhere how
many calls they had already made and how many
they expected TO make before they finished.
At every place theg drank The result a
most appalling assortment of "jaSs" long before
sund0wn.
Late in the hftics the abuse came 10 be so great
that the newspapers and the ministers took 1t up,
and many were the editorials written and many the
sermons preached against it, This crusade speedi-
ly brought results
II was not many years before the smart set of
young men in most cities stopped calling The
hospitnhle door that had been open from morning
10 evening adorned with basket for cards.
Gentlemen were driven all over town deposting
their visiting cards in these baskets. In year
so servants were delivering these cards Then
the baskets disappeared and the mail carrier de-
livcred the few cards sent out. OF course this
process not at all uniform II was fast in
some cities, slow in others.
A belle of the eighties, sitting in her easy chair,
thumblng over old scrapbook filed with faded
cuttings from the newspapers of those days; her
husband II beau of the same period, In slippers
and dressing gown, smoking and listening rs she
spoke and read. now ana then nodding his head
and smiling at some memory recalled; and the
daughters of the house, planning for the watch
party festivities of 1920, listening with curious in
terest and laughing and chatting about how odd II
all seemed now-such scene doubtless to be
Witnessed in many city all over the country
with the closing days of 1919.
"We didn't go in so much for the watch parties
In those days" the matron said "rhe whistles
blew and there was some noise, 1t is true, among
the downtown folk, but we girls as rule, retired
eary--we had to ourselves for the trying
ordeal of the next day. for New Years day was
the great social event of the year. II 'receiv-
ing day in all the homes of the town. We called
il 'keeping open house
'It was a day Of lavish entertainment and the
doors were supposed to be open TO everybody that
called whether friend or stranger We prepared
for IL weeks in advance. II period of great
conviyiality. Aside from the fact that the CON
yyialty was somewhat overdone. at times. that old
custom of the New Years open house was quite
old-fashoned sincere expression of good fellow
shin to friend and neighbor and visiting strangers
-opening the portals of the New Year. IT
were with greeting and a home welcome. And
as social function, it was most delightful-it
helped TO bring people together.
at was the fashion Ia give each Of the callers n
souvenir TO carry away with them and all sorts
of Ingenious little devices were used. Some had
silk badges with the names Of the girl painted on
them: some had dainty metal souvenirs specially
struck off others ornate cards with notices and
some went in for the oddities. like the clay pipes
that papa tells about | remember the gentlemen
used 10 wear these souvenirs pinned or tied with
ribbons to their coats-as the knights Of old wore
their ladies' favors-and late in the evening the
callers looked like foreign diplomats. with all their
decorations or perhaps like South African chiefs
would be the better simile
"Of course. only the gentlemen called-they
wore never accompanied by ladies. The ladies re-
maned i'm their homes to receive them The gen
tlemen were supposed TO be in full dress-the
vounper set wore swallowtails and crush hats. and
;he older gentlemen Prince Albert coats and light
gray, pin-striped trousers-that was the vogue.
The old timers. | remember. did not take very
kindly to the crush hats. And everybody. OF
course had to have hack or a sleigh
.sTbe hostess Of the house usually called to her
assistance a bevy of the young girls who made up