The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1919-12-26

guns and beating of drums. :"
This is the beginning of one of the many New
Years proclamations of Peter Stuyvesant director
general of New Netherlands-his farm, the
'Bouwerij,' on Manhattan island gave the Bowery
its namely which he hoped to prevent more
sins, debaucheries and calamities" in New Am
sterdam during his IL years of administration.
1647-64 For 1t was in old New York that the
American custom of New Years calls had its be-
ginning. And when the fun got too b0isterous old
Peter would come stamping along on his silver
banded wooden leg and try to make an unwilling
rattle-watch enforce his proclamation.
New Years day was the holiday par excellence
In old New York. 1t was day peculiarly dedi-
Gated to family congratulations and the renewal
of friendships in expressions of sympathy and
good will, which, following closely the sacred
festival of Christmas. inspired all with peculiar
significance. Washington Irving has said: New
York was then a 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 us 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 to the officers
of the garrison and then to the White Hall by the
Battery to do the governor the same honor. Ever
since daybreak q noisier element has reveied up
and down the narrow lanes and by the banks OF
the canal (now Broad street,, shouting greetings,
beating drums. firing muskets. blowing horns,
shaking s.rumblng-pots" and drinking rivers, OF
beer. group of young burghers, with some
clumsy irearm a snaphance murtherer. have
gone from door to door of each corberoofed
house firing blank voileys. gathering recruits.
drinking more beer, till all repair 70 Beekman's
Swamp (xnown to this day in New York as the
Swamp) to fire Mt a target
Noise and New Years continued to be closely
connected in the days of the American colonies.
New Years day was favorite day for shooting
at O mark for shooting for prizes, and target
companies Of very respectable citizens rose early
IN the morning for these contests. For II was
deemed most selfish and rather disreputable Tor
a man TO spend the entire day In such shooting.
He could go with his target company" In the
morning. but he must pay round OF calls to the
far in the afternoon.
In the days Of New Years celebration in New
York, in the first half Of the nineteenth century.
the town seemed a great family reunion, In which
each man Wed with the other IN boisterous delight
Shops were lighted, windows parlanded, streets
crowded. Great vans-stages with four and six
horses-were crowded with groups of men. often
group of kinsfolk, or old neghbors. hilarious
mob Of men allied In potics--or some target
company" or "band of old firemen The ac-
ouantances Of each were called upon in turn.
It was about the beginning of the nineteenth
century that the change from a neighborly OBJ
servance to one of pure fashion begun in all the
large cities. The younger women ct such house
holds as had daughters were hostesses. and great
was their rivalry, one with another. In respect TO
richly loaded refreshment tables and elegance or
toilet. The dudes Of those days-they called them
ssheauxp and .dandies" and "gallants'--att
themselves in their best and started out early IN
the morning on their calls.
II was not until about the middle OF the century
that the abuse which finally led 70 the custom
seclIne began. For years the dandies "a New
cAsk and other large cities rivned one smother N
$sct1, of their calling lists. and the calls soon
81 ii nothing more than hasty stops-mere
a. 81 80 Of cake and gulpings Of wlne-in-
$3.50 cas- old-time friendly calls OF men upon
u ~ of their friends and acquaintancs "a
"a iadIes--the matrons as Wen - me
sen--began to vie with one another u
{sA :s5hber Of their callers. This lea e tne
-r,,ss aordinary practires. Callers were e
crnted' indeed much as customers are aruIIns ].
IN ~ dealers in soap. Cards announcing tnae
Miss Thisor-That would be at home On sanuais
! wore sent out almost indIscrimlnateiy.
Then the sunday papers Of the time Dcssn ~ =
print lists Of those who would receive ana s sre
houses of those mentioned IN the lists We're su y.
81 10 beslered by numbers o. men wnon n.. Ia
ss,,e = ha., never met 81 heard q ana desired
s a,.s u or meet again Hen would 20 Gaining y