Year: 1859

The New Year.


The exit of the Old and the advent of the
New Year was celebrated in various ways by
our citizens. The religious portion assembled
at the Methodist Church, and devoted the hours
connecting the past with the coming year to
religious review and pious resolution; while
Pike county, as the representative of the South
west, aided by Young America, faithfully per-
formed the duty of bauishing sleep from the
town limits by the incessant discharge Of fire.
arms. With the rising sun, Gotham's customs
grew into favor, and those who survived the
nights campaign sailed forth to pay their res
poets to the Iadies-a very simple ceremonial,
consisting of washing down some palatable
pastry with doses of poisonous whiskey, and
wishing the hostess q number of occurrences of
the day, ranging from one to one thousand,
according to the spiritual condition of the wish
er and the number of calls already made. The
ladies, dear souls, in their exceeding amiability
can do no less than to urge these visitors to
call more frequently, and the gentleman backs
and bows himself into the street, thoroughly
convinced that he is Fascinating cuss," and
has heretofore moderated himself. 1t may,
perhaps, be imagined what effect these repeat
ed renewals of consideration have upon the
gentlemen. A more sedate body of young men
could not be found than graced our streets on
New Years morning, but iE the language of
Pixies first poet, Sat sunset, 'char VGr they"
Gladly would we drop the curtain, a blanket,
gunny sack, anything which would let our pro-
| Iyoso off afo
as they came on; but our duty as faithful chron-
iclers eompels us to record that as they became
spiritually minded they became week-kneed,
and though in some instances intellect triumph
ed over physical weakness, and genius unable
to stand achieved some poetical flights, yet
these were the exceptions, and we trust that
this illustration of the inebriating effect of cake,
cheese and pickles, will in future prove whole
some warning to the fair housewives Of our
city.


1t may not be improper to mention one or
two of the noticeable incidents of the day.
Among others, one of our most enterprising
quartz operators favored the denizens Of Com
mercial street with some astonishing feats of
equitation. He first rode through the street at
full speed, guiding his horse by the pommel of
the saddIe series of astonishing postures fol-
lowed, the daring rider changing upon the an
imaPs back at each bound, and concluding with
flying somersault most thrilling to the spec
tators, but as the performer with admirable
presence of mind lit directly upon his head, the
only injury that resulted was the breaking of
one or two timbers.


In narrating the. next performance, we bor-
row starter from G. P. R. James The rays
of the setting sun, tipped with a mellow light
the Sugar Loaf, the calaboose, and other points
of interest. while beneath its last rays Main
street looked just as it was, q river of mud.
At this witching hour, three solitary horsemen
were seen 10 ride down High street and boldly
enter Main. The two who first came we will
endeavor to describe. The younger was mount
ed upon a horse whose tail was ingeniously
done up in knot, in the fashion of six or seven
centuries; one of the stirrups was shorter than
the other, which gave to the rider picturesque
and angular appearance. His complexion was
the rich olive, peculiar to sugar-cured ham,
or o sick Chnaman, and his countenance wore
that calm, benevolent expression, peculiar to
inebriated individuals who have reasoned them
selves into thorough conviction of their own
sobriety. The elder was mounted upon horse
whose tail was not done up. The countenance
Of the rider was of the composite order, and
wore no expression whatever. He may have
been one thousand years old, but probably was
not Behind these, came the third solitary
horseman. The only noticea BILE feature in this
individual was the length of bis legs, making it
horse carried him, and the splendor of his at
tire, certain Indication of either recent fire
or q swindled Israelite. His countenance was
of the character much sought after by Dutch
architects for figure heads, in the twelfth cen
tury. Scarcely had this horseman entered
Main street, when down in the raging torrent
went the horse and his rider, and had not the
horseman, with prudent forethought, thrown
himself directly under the falling steed, a valu-
able animal might have been injured. Fortu-
nately the horse sustained no injury, and the
rider emerged to be recognized by his affinity
for mud, as we'll known citizen Of the town.
He Gays his disguise was adopted to avoid his
creditors, and but for this accident he would
probably have succeeded.


Upon the whole, the day passed Off very
pleas antly, and New Years may hereafter be
considered one of the gala days of Nevada.