EW YEAR CUSTOMS. CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THEIR OBSERVANCE. Th Old Time Ronnd of railing ami shrinking Mo Longor Fashionable In Mew York Conntry Frolic Are Now Popa tar A Bad Story. There was a time, and that was not too many years ago to count upon the fingers, when New Year's day was the "maddest, merries day of all tho glad Hew Year," for evsjy man pnt on his holiday manner and his very best clot hes, and called on all th women he knew. In towns and cities wliere this custom prevailed each house wore a festal air, and each housekeeper spread her table with such attractive viands as could be partaken without ceremony, for there was no time for sitting down to eating and drinking with a list such as many men had of several hundred calls to be rushed through in that one day. In New York the custom became at last a tax. There was no real sociability made evident in a hurried handshake and greeting, followed immediately by an equally hurried farewell; and yet there was time for nothing more, and even with all this haste few mn could finish the calls written upon their lists, and omissions were apt to give offense. Pushing young men took advantage of the hurry and flurry of the day to call at houses where entry under other circum stances would not have len possible. Even if they could only bow to the en grossed hostess they could pass on to tome of the young women receiving with her, who would nuturally suppose them friends of tho house. Their cards would he left and possibly included among the guests to be invited on other occasions, which was the end they hoped to gain by their assurance. Another evil which right thinking people took a grave view of was the promotion of social drinking which the custom fostered. Men who could not atop for a bite did manage to pause for a glass of wine or cordial, or even a stiff dose of brandy and water, "just to keep the cold out, you know." The result of so many tastes was apt to become disas trous before the day was out, and there were incidents and scenes which were sad to witness. Worse than all was the fall of some who yielded against their better judg ment to the pleading of Circe as she sparkled and beamed and threatened to frown on the young man who refused the glass she held to him in her white gloved hand. I know a white haired mother whose sad lips refuse to smile because her only daughter is hopelessly insane.. The girl was engaged to a man to whom liquor was a terrible temptation, a hereditary craving against which be had silently ftraght a good fight and triumphed. One Hew Year's day, the first of their en gagement, his fiancee made a point of his taking a glass of wine with her. He refused, she insisted not knowing his weakness and at last declared that if he would not yield to her pleasure in sneh a small matter his affection could not be what he pretended. lie could not resist beyond that, but that one glass opened the gate to his enemy, and the passion for drink conquered him and was never overcome. Grief and remorse deprived the gay, thoughtless girl of reason. That is only one story. There are thousands as pitiful, and, feeling the danger which attended the pretty cus tom of New Year's calls, one can hardly regret its disuse. In New York and Philadelphia, and to a limited degree in some other places, it is fashionable to make np country parties, leaving town on one of the last days of the year and spending a week in such amusements as the hostess can invent. If she owns a country house she will open it for her guests, or lack ing a house she will hire of some farmer all the rooms he can spare, and turn her entertainments into un institution of some of the primitive frolics in which our ancestors were supposed to delight. I Burn dances for the evenings and straw rides for the daylight are among the amusements offered on these occa sions, and for variety the Halloween tests or ceremonies ure introduced, and tho gay visitors toss apple skins, float ap ples, name chestnuts and eat lferd boiled eggs with salt, filling the cavity made by taking out the yolk, agreeably to the old tradition that a dream would follow in which the thirsty one's lover would bring a drink. For those who stay at home the fes tivities which belong to the day are not overwhelming, being generally confined to u family dinner, and possibly the the ater or a reception in the evening. It is not a day for family gatherings, like Christinas or Thanksgiving, and, as the usual avocations are relinquished, time seems unoccupied and tho day is not al together enjoyable. lint the New Year deserves a form of celebration as well as the other anniver saries, and thoso who mold and lead so ciety should inaugurate some especial entertainment or custom byvhicb we may enliveu the day, Now York Re corder. New Year's Sons. Com, new year, Aud strew pule roen lor thy sister's blorl tares aro turned told that ut bur birth leaped high. VVhen ihou urt old, thou, too, forgot, sualt He, With all thy golden glories faded, sure. Come, new year! Sleep, dead year! For dear delights are flown, anil days are drear, for oh, for oh, bleak lie tho UuIUh and bare; Woe Is me woo winter Is everywhere: With eyes that nee not, ears that never hear, bleep, dead year! f !omo, new year! But silently! Let full no foolish tear For cankering caro, or grief, or Joy gone by, Slum all must yield to ago aud change, aud die. Witt pant, Joys cherished, perished, duyiouce dear, Bleep, dead year! Sleep, dead ycarl Soon on spring's breast your violots shall peer. , Burst from earth's casket for thy pleasuring, ,, Purple and gold, her tender treasuring. Hark! the tirst. robiu, singing loud and clearl Come, new year! Agues (ierut'd iu Boston Transcript. CUTTINQ THE MISTLETOE. An Ancient Rrnld Now Year Custom How Associated with Christmas. The mistletoe has for many years been generally associated with the celebra tion of Christmas, bnt in fact the cut ting of the mistletoe was in honor of the New Year. The Druids were summoned to meet at this time by the supreme pontiff. The priests came forth from their forests and traversed their various districts, inviting the faithful to follow thorn with the cry of kal -rst day of the year) or kalonna (gifts) to attend the holy ceremony of gui (mistletoe) of the New Year. The supreme pontiff of the Drnldical order was, as it were, its pope. Immense numbers of the clergy and laity were present at the fete. The ceremony opened with a search for the famous mistletoe upon a tree of thirty years' growth, and the mistletoe so found was to become by its consecration the pan cristrum or panacea for all woes. When tho mistletoe was found, a tri angular altar of earth was raised at the foot of the tree on which it had been discovered, and then commenced a pro cession. First marched the Engali, con ducting two white bulls, which had never been subjected to a yoke. These wero followed by the bards, who sang hymns in honor of the Supreme Being. Next came the novices, students and disciples, accompanied by a herald in white. Then followed the most ancient pontiffs one carrying bread that was to bo offered up; the second two vessels one filled with water and the other with wine, and the third a hand made of ivory attached to a wand, symbolical of justice and power. Nest came the clergy, preceded by the supreme pontiff in a white robe and wearing a girdle of gdld, and the procession closed with the nobles and the people. The cortege having arrived beneath the tree, the officiant, after prayers, burned a morsel of bread and poured some wine and water on the altar and divided what remained among the as sistant priests. This done, he ascended the tree and cut off with a golden sickle the mistletoe and dropped it into the robe of one of the principal pontiffs, who received it with profound reverence. The supremo pontiff, aided by the Eu bagi, then immolated the two bulls and concluded the religious ceremony by praying, with his arms raised, that God would permit his benediction to rest upon the gift he was about to distribute among tho people, then prostrate upon the ground. Immediately afterward the inferior priests distributed as a gift to the assembled multitude particles of the sacred mistletoe. They sent portions also to the temple and to the chieftains, who felt honored in receiving it, and who, as an act of devotion and as a talisman against harm, wore it ronnd their necks in time of war. Sickness, enchantment and malevolent spirits were expelled by it Nothing evil was capable of diminishing its celestial power, and lightning itself would not fall upon the house that con tained it Philadelphia Times, Mew Tear's Gifts. In England the observance of New Year's day by the bestowal of gifts dates from the Caesars. In the Seventeenth century it was customary for the Eng lish nobility td send purses of gold to the king. The reason prompting this custom of gifts arose from belief that it was a message drawn from the first things met with on the beginning of a day, week or year, and of course noth ing can be more pleasing than a gift A rejoicing with friends at their escape from the year's dangers, joined to mu tual congratulations for the future, by presents and good wishes for the happy continuance of good fortune, is a proper view of life and its duties. In olden times hospitalities were re newed by offerings called xenia, which was the name bestowed upon New Year's gifts, as serving to renew f riendship, one of the greatest blessings imparted by heaven to man; a blessing not fully ap preciated by the community at large at the present moment The Dutch had evi d. .ly brought their good old fashioned ideas of friendship with them when they landed here, and they had acquired them before quitting their native land from pretty nearly the same sources as other nations. Exchange. An Anecdote of the Olden Time. In the time of Charles 1 of England a court jester was cleverly outwitted by a nobleman, who had, according to the custom of the day, presented the jester with a sum of money. On New Year's morning tho jester came into the presence of the nobleman. and received, us he expected, a number of gold pieces. He thought he had not been given enough, so he tossed them in his hand, muttering that they were light J. ho nobleman saw this, and said. "Prithee, Archy, let me see them again; and, by the way, there is one of them I would be loath to part with." Naturally enough, perhaps, Archy thought more coins were to be added to his store, 60 he willingly returned them to his lordship. Cut the nobleman put them into his pocket, saying, "lonce gave my money into the hands of a fool who hadn't the wit to keep it." Phila delphia liecord. The New Year. The New Ytar rises from niiiht's silent tide. As Venus roBe from out tho foaming spray, And with his dimpled arms extended wide Smiles on tho glories of Time's newborn day. With blushing pride upon his tinted cheek. And love light flashing from bis sparkling eye, lie feels a rapture which be daro not speak, Leat this bright vislou fade from earth and sky. Now Orleans Times-Democrat. Is It? He bad a Christmas frollo And a New Year's Jamboree, And when he came unto himself A sadder man was he. Aud If he then made good resolves. And swore them all by thunder, Yon good men who have all been there. Just say U it's a wonder. New York Herald. THE "MAN WHO SMILES." "There is a man in our town" He's not so wondrous wise, But in selecting goods for sale, The BEST he always buys. He has a line of IMPLEMENTS With which no fault is found, But through the Country far and wide. Their praises still resound. Farm wagons of the "Keystone" make ; The finest grade on Earth One glance at which will serve to show Their undisputed worth. GRAIN, BARK, AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS AND REPAIRS. BLOOMSBURG, PA. RELIABLE Comes to the front with the LARGEST ASSORTMENT AND MAKING AND. FITTING .-.OF THE. Best, the newest and lllost Stylish, Lowest in Price ; and to prove Satisfaction is oar Endeavor The best value for Money is to buy your Clothing, Hats, Shirts, Neckwear, Trunks and Valises of Gi- :m:.a.i:e3:r,7 Corner ot Main and Centre Streets, BLOOMSBURG, PA. WNEMEmBB OmTMiMG MABB ' Largest 1 othing and Hat House in Columbia "-..Oe cats try -j. r P-PrH rP4-' f:-):! I i' .'OA must bo simple; when HiiYivwVvw not I good. Simple, fej words mean much, Lut to see "The Rochester" i will impress the truth more forciblv. All metal. i? tough and seamless, and made in three pieces only, it is absolutely sajezna unbreakable. Like Aladdin s of old, it is indeed a "wonderful lamp," for its mar velous light is purer and brighter than cas licht, soiter man eiecinc ngnt ana Look for this stamp Tub Rochkbtrk. If tlielampdealer hasn't the genuine Rochester, nud the style you want, send to us for our new illustrated catalogue, oik! we will send you a lamp safely bv express your choice of over 2,00(1 varieties from the Largest Lamp Start in the World. ItOt HliSTIill LAMP CO., 43 I'ark Place, Now York City. MS m THE POSITIVE i !ELY BKOT11ERS, 68 Warren THE LAUD OF FLOWERS. To Atfeiita or Trailers! With a Hmnll amount of money a rnro op portunity to make money In a tine business. It will puy you to coniuunlcuto with L. A. F033, 395 St. John St., JACKSONVILLE, FLA. IsMMt BEATTY'S PIANOS f"d J3W?'.,5 Fkkb. Address DAMKLF. IIEATTY, Wahiiinu TON N. .1. IM lid W. HfCMM, SEEDS, FLOUR, FEED. BALED HAY, Etc. TEE .i yi as ' ' A . rJ 7.1 Alt A rxiutf u tvvu minis it is not simple it is Beautiful, Good these "i-c-yr-; more cneerlul than either. CLOTHING MD HIT HE "The Rochester." Meatus ure. mm 8U Now York. BETTON'G A Positho FOR PI o Cure LEG. Ill IIMI (IVIT .lit 1 I'll I'M. tiimjitr, ."(Vrirf. HVj nuililuln. At riruuulhlfc or uiulkHl on rTuit of lrit'u i)ui iur oox, Winr.ILKANN & BROWM UHUU CU.. l'ri'iw., Jiultiiurc, Md. IJ-ltMw . a Binders, Mowers, Drills and Rakes ; Farm tools of every sort, A list of which would be too long, So we must cut it short. The Farmer's GRAIN he buys for CASH, For C4SII, his Buckwheat Flour; And the highest Market Trice he pays That lies within his power Are you acquainted with this man ? His trade extends for miles, He always tries to please his friend?; He is "THE MAN WHO SMILES." and Montour Counties THOMAS GORREY Plans and Estimates on all kinds of buildings. Repairing and carpenter work promptly attended to. Inside Hardwood finishes a specialty. Persons of limited means who desire to build can pay part and secure balance by mortgage J. R. Smith & Co. LIMITED. MILTON, DKALKliH IU PIANOS, fly the following well-known nvkcwi Chickcrins;, Ik Ei tube. Wcbcr, Mnllct & Davis. Can also furnish any of the cheaper makes at manufact urers' pricen. Do not buy a piano before getting our prices. n Catalogue and Price Lists On application. THE ' Philadelphia Press DA IL Y, SVXDA r, WEEKL Y. R FMlLYTftPFR WHICH IS C:l:l::::!ii::u:l:rii,;:il!:;P::!; FOR THE AMERICAN HOME. Tn rKR.ift hns tho host prmsihln organization to ticcure news from the uitwt Important sour. ppr, and with ni-urly 400i'om'sponili'ntnln Penn sylvania. New .lirwr snd Delaware, the Htntfl and in in-at-home news Ih covered with a rout lue carefulness and attention to detail not even attempted by nny other paper. Tn I'kkbh huH also the best of correspondent In all the tfreat cities of the United oitutes, aa well aa financial nnd railroad experts In Chica go and the West, who keep tho paper more than ubrcast with events. The columns of the Ri-npay Pbksh arcenrlch cd by contributions from names that are writ ten hljfh In our list of (treat authors, novelists, essayists, aa well as from men of high rank In Cubllo life. The best authors know that their est audiences aro the readeniof the Dailv, SI'npat, and Wrkklt I'kkhh. In politics Tiik J'hkss knows no other mas ter tfinn the people and the past year has seer., un nun in-i-ii seen neiore, t no marked fact, tnal It Is subservient to no nollllcnl luuu. It h nn political ambitions to foster, but looks after ths Interests of Its readers, and delivers Itself upon the Issues of the day In a manner both frank and feurlegs, letting tho facts speak for themselves and evading no issues, but meeting them all on the basis of fair nliiv in nil inpn fit. all times It pages know no distinctions and tho rights of one class over another are neither recognized nor supported. Advertisements of Iteln Wnnteri mnr ha In. sorted In Tut I kkss forbne Cent a Word. Ad- venisemenw ot Mituatlons Wanted H Cent, a v ord. SlHH'llll duvs for iirlvi.rllini.iila Nun- duy, Wednesday, Saturday. TERMS OF THE PRESS. By mall, postage free In tho I'nlted Mates, t'a nuua ana Mexico. 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers