All the holidays are observed in New York with more or less heartiness,
but those which claim especial attention are New Year's Day and
Christmas.
The observance of New Year's Day dates from the earliest times. The
Dutch settlers brought the custom from their old homes across the sea,
and made the day an occasion for renewing old friendships and wishing
each other well. All feuds were forgotten, family breaches were
repaired, and every one made it a matter of conscience to enter upon the
opening year with kind feelings towards his neighbor. Subsequent
generations have continued to observe the custom, though differently from
the primitive but hearty style of their fathers.
For weeks before the New Year dawns, nearly every house in the city is in
a state of confusion. The whole establishment is thoroughly overhauled
and cleaned, and neither mistress nor maid has any rest from her labors.
The men folks are nuisances at such times, and gradually keep themselves
out of the way, lest they should interfere with the cleaning. Persons
who contemplate refurnishing their houses, generally wait until near the
close of the year before doing so, in order that everything may be new on
the great day. Those who cannot refurnish, endeavor to make their
establishments look as fresh and new as possible. A general baking,
brewing, stewing, broiling, and frying is begun, and the pantries are
loaded with good things to eat and to drink.
All the family must have new outfits for the occasion, and tailors and
modistes find this a profitable season. To be seen in a dress that has
ever been worn before, is considered the height of vulgarity.
The table is set in magnificent style. Elegant china and glassware, and
splendid plate, adorn it. It is loaded down with dainties of every
description. Wines, lemonades, coffee, brandy, whiskey and punch are in
abundance. Punch is seen in all its glory on this day, and each
householder strives to have the best of this article. There are regular
punch-makers in the city, who reap a harvest at this time. Their
services are engaged long before-hand, and they are kept busy all the
morning going from house to house, to make this beverage, which is
nowhere so palatable as in this city.
Hairdressers, or "_artistes_ in hair," as they call themselves, are also
in demand at New Year, for each lady then wishes to have her _coiffure_
as magnificent as possible. This is a day of hard work to these
_artistes_, and in order to meet all their engagements, they begin their
rounds at midnight. They are punctual to the moment, and from that time
until noon on New Year's Day are busily engaged. Of course those whose
heads are dressed at such unseasonable hours cannot think of lying down
to sleep, as their "head-gear" would be ruined by such a procedure. They
are compelled to rest sitting bolt upright, or with their heads resting
on a table or the back of a chair.
All New York is stirring by eight o'clock in the morning. By nine the
streets are filled with gayly-dressed persons on their way to make their
annual calls. Private carriages, hacks, and other vehicles soon appear,
filled with persons bent upon similar expeditions. Business is entirely
suspended in the city. The day is a legal holiday, and is faithfully
observed by all classes. Hack hire is enormous--forty or fifty dollars
being sometimes paid for a carriage for the day. The cars and omnibuses
are crowded, and every one is in the highest spirits. The crowds consist
entirely of men. Scarcely a female is seen on the streets. It is not
considered respectable for a lady to venture out, and the truth is, it is
not prudent for her to do so.
Callers begin their rounds at ten o'clock. The ultra fashionables do not
receive until twelve. At the proper time, the lady of the house,
attended by her daughters, if there be any, takes her stand in the
drawing-room by the hospitable board. In a little while the door-bell
rings, and the first visitor is ushered in by the pompous domestic in
charge of the door. The first callers are generally young men, who are
ambitious to make as many visits as possible. The old hands know where
the best tables are set, and confine their attentions principally to
them. The caller salutes the hostess and the ladies present, says it's a
fine or a bad day, as the case may be, offers the compliments of the
season, and accepts with alacrity the invitation of the hostess to
partake of the refreshments. A few eatables are swallowed in haste--the
visitor managing to get out a word or two between each mouthful--a glass
of wine or punch is gulped down, the visitor bows himself out, and the
ladies avenge themselves for the infliction by ridiculing him after he
has gone. This is the routine, and it goes on all day, and until long
after dark.
Sometimes a family, not wishing to receive callers, will hang a
card-basket on the front-door knob and close the front of the house. The
callers deposit their cards in the basket, and go their way rejoicing.
Perhaps the mansion is one that is famed for the excellence of its wines
and eatables on such occasions. The veteran caller has promised himself
a genuine treat here, and he views the basket with dismay. There is no
help for it, however, so he deposits his card, and departs, wondering at
"the manners of some people who refuse to observe a time-honored custom."
[Picture: NEW YEAR'S CALLS.]
A gentleman in starting out, provides himself with a written memorandum
of the places he intends visiting, and "checks" each one off with his
pencil, when the call is made. This list is necessary, as few sober men
can remember all their friends without it, and with the majority the list
is a necessity before the day is half over. The driver takes charge of
it often, and when the caller is too hazy to act for himself, carries him
sometimes to the door of the house, and rings the bell for him. Each man
tries to make as many calls as possible, so that he may boast of the feat
afterwards. At the outset, of course, everything is conducted with the
utmost propriety, but, as the day wears on, the generous liquors they
have imbibed begin to "tell" upon the callers, and many eccentricities,
to use no harsher term, are the result. Towards the close of the day,
everything is in confusion--the door-bell is never silent. Crowds of
young men, in various stages of intoxication, rush into the lighted
parlors, leer at the hostess in the vain effort to offer their respects,
call for liquor, drink it, and stagger out, to repeat the scene at some
other house. Frequently, they are unable to recognize the residences of
their friends, and stagger into the wrong house. Some fall early in the
day, and are put to bed by their friends; others sink down helpless at
the feet of their hostess, and are sent home; and a few manage to get
through the day. Strange as it may seem, it is no disgrace to get drunk
on New Year's Day. These indiscretions are expected at such times; and
it has happened that some of the ladies themselves have succumbed to the
seductive influences of "punch," and have been carried to bed by the
servants.
The Kitchen, as well as the parlor, observes the day. During the
Christmas week housekeepers become impressed with the fact that the usual
amount of provisions utterly fails to meet the wants of the family. They
attribute it to the increased appetites of the establishment. Biddy
could tell a different tale, however, and on New Year's Day sets a fine
table for her "Cousins" and friends, at the expense of the master of the
house. "Shure, she must say her friends, as well as the missus; and
bedad, it's a free counthry, and a poor ghirl has to look out for
hersilf."
The next day one half of New York has a headache, and the other half is
"used up" with fatigue. The doctors are kept busy, and so are the police
courts. This day is commonly called "The Ladies' Day," and is devoted by
those who feel inclined, to making calls on each other and comparing
notes as to the work of the previous day.