16 No New Leaf Said Mrs. A to Mr. A on Dec. 31:— To-morrow another year begins. To-night is the time of all times to plan for the future. To resolve; to forswear our petty vices; to lay aside the evils in our lives. Have you, John, considered what t<o-night means to you, and to me? Have you thought of the things 1 have gone without and might have had but for your extravagance? 1 lave you counted the cost to you, and to me, of your so-called pleas ures ? You sit there smoking a vile weed, but have you thought of the gowns you have burned up within a year? I venture to say no. Let's talk it over, John, just you and I, and as the old year dies plan for better and more noble things in the year to come. Said Mr. A to Mrs. A on "Dec. 31:— \ our sentiments, my dear, are noble ones, and meet with my approval. We will plan to-night for the year that is to come. Yes, not the year alone, but years. We will study and solve the problems that mean a better and truer life for you and me. There are many little things we might improve upon. So many better ways in which to spend the small sums we now but throw away. The price of that novel you are reading would have purchased the slippers I so badly need. Now let's begin by my giving up cigars, which I agree are but vile weeds, and you your novels, which are but the cheapest kind of trash and twaddle. Said Mrs. A to Mr. A on Dec. 31:— With all the many vices with which you indulge yourself, it »ecms that you might overlook the one small pleasure which I have. Yes, I admit there are more elevating books than present-day novels. But am I to give up my only pleasure, the one small thing from which I get my wee mite of enjoyment? Do you, John, think it fair to ask of me this sacrifice that you might have the slippers you certainly do not need? Your vices are so great beside my small one. If you really mean all that you say about pLlining for the future, why not give up '' your club? It is but another of the many needless expenses which you incur year after year. Said Mr. A to Mrs. A on Dec. 31: That's right, and I'm glad you mentioned it. I had not thought of it before. That will be money saved. Now I propose a bargain, and it's fair. My resignation from the club will go in to-night if you will join me in the good work and mail to-night your withdrawal from the bridge club or class or whatever you may call it. A good deed is always better when it's doubled, and that will be two good deeds accomplished, two savings made, instead of one. What say you, my dear; will you join me in turning over this new leaf with the opening of a new year? The question is entirely needless, for 1 know, of course, that you will. Said Mrs. A to Mr. A on Dec. 31:— You certainly can be horrid upon this one night of all nights when you should look back upon the things which you have needlessly robbed me of during the year just closing. I should think you would be ashamed to sit there and point to my few small pleasures as though they were vices from which I should escape. There is certainly little enough in life for me without being deprived of books and social intercourse. But if I must, I must, and if the sacrifice of my innocent pleasures will put a stop to your many vices I presume I must offer them on the altar of noble and obedient wifehood. But, oh, John, I •did not think you would ask it. (Tears.) Said Mr. A to Mrs. A on Dec. 31: Now, wife, don't cry. lam a brute and I admit it. Let's start anew and talk this over. Let's see if we have sinned against ourselves or others. Let's see if our so-called vices are not mere pleasures to which we are entitled. I think they are. I see nothing we need repent of; nothing to swear off. I'll keep my cigars and you your novels. I'll keep my club and you your bridge game. We'll let gowns and slippers go hang if need be, and enjoy ourselves. Now, that is better, isn't it, my dear? That meets with your approval, I am sure, and we will greet the coming year with joy and not with tears and lamenta tions. "Resolxled bv Mr. A and Mrs. A on Dec. 31:— Durnig the next year and the years to follow we will live our lives as we have lived them. We will enjoy to the full our several pleas ures. We will make no new resolutions which we will later regret and break. We will not ask either of us from the other that which ■each is not willing to give to the other, and now let the New Year •come. Dated 12 o'clock, midnight, December 31, \ CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, DEC EMBER 23, 1909- NEW YEAa ; iM|? inMANY mh H - Americans are too busy to take many holidays, but few of them fail to observe New Year's day in some way or other. The good old custom of making calls on one's friends fell Into disrepute long ago because it was so abused by the over-convivial, but family gatherings usually mark the day, and the church folk all over the country still hold watch meetings in the religious edifices to usher in the new year. Our observances of the (lav, however, are not so picturesque as are those of many other countries. —__ sv N'GLAND and Scotland have re ![.§7 tained many of their interest ing customs of olden times, this being especially true of Scotland. Weeks before the New Year begins, the village boys, with great secrecy, meet in out-of-the-way places and re hearse their favorite ballads. As the time draws near they don improvised masks and go about from house to house singing and cutting many quaint capers. The thirty-first of December is called "Hogmanay," and the children are told that if they goto the cor ner they will see a man with as many eyes as the year has days. The chil dren of the poorer classes go from house to house in the better districts with a large pocket fastened to their dresses or a large shawl with a fold in front. Each one receives an oaten cake, a piece of cheese, or sometimes a sweet cake, and goes home at night with a good supply of homely New Year cheer for the rest of the family. The Scottish elders celebrate the day with a supper party, and as the clock "chaps" 12, friend greets friend and wishes him "a gude New Year and mony o' them." Then, with great formality the door is unbarred to let the Old Year out and the New Year in, and all the guests sally forth into the street to "first foot" their ac quaintances. In Edinburgh a great crowd gathers around the church in Hunter square and anxiously watches the clock. There is absolute silence from the first stroke of 12 until the last. The f»>d folks now goto bed but the young have other business on hand. Each girl is expecting the "first foot" from her sweetheart, and there is much stratagem displayed in r-it witting her occasionally, and havßg some serving maid or grandmother open the door to her lover. The weather is carefully observed at this season, for it is supposed to betoken that which is to come. There is a rhyme current in Scotland which runs thus; If New Year's eve the night wind blow eth south It betokeneth warmth and growth; If west much milk, and flsh in the sea; If east, the trees will bear much fruit; If northeast, flee It, man and brute. During the last century all work was laid aside on the afternoon of the thirty-first, and the men of the ham let went to the woods and brought home loads of juniper bushes. Each household also procured a pitcher of water from the "dead and living ford," meaning the ford in a river, by which passengers and funerals crossed. This was brought in perfect silence and without being allowed to touch the ground in its progress, as contact with the earth would have destroyed the charm. The rites next morning were sup posed to protect the household against witchcraft, the "evil eye," and other devilments. The father rose •first, and taking the charmed water and a brush, treated the rest of the family to a vigorous baptism, which was generally acknowledged with any thing but gratitude. Coming back, the thrifty Scotch man closed all the doors and windows and put the juniper bough on the fire. When the smoke reached the suffocat ing point, the fresh air was readmit ted. Then the cattle were fumigated in the same manner, and the painful solemnities of the morning were over. On New Year's day a superstitious Scotchman will neither lend nor give anything whatever out of his house, for he fears that his luck may go too, and for the same reason, the floor must not be swept. If the fire goes out it' is a sign of death. j^3^^B©ZAß'S'Sl Tm USSIANS have a very pretty I ceremony. On each New aRL Year's day a pile of sheaves is heaped up over a large pile, and the father, after seating himself behind the pile, asks the children if they can see him. Upon their replying that they cannot, he says he hopes the crops will be so fine the coming year that he will be hidden in the fields. The Russian New Year is 12 days later than ours, and is a gala occa sion for all. There is a grand cele bration of mass in the morning, and the rest of the day is devoted to con gratulatory visits. Good wishes that cannot be carried In this way are in serted in the newspapers. In mili tary and official circles ceremonial visits art; paid. The Kussians are great at fortune telling, and on New Year's eve the un married ladles and gentlemen send servants into the street, or go out themselves, to ask the names of per sons they meet. These will be the names of persons they will severally marry, and many a bashful Russian lover has speeded himself in his suit by taking care to be the first man his lady's servant met. When midnight is reached, each member of the family salutes the oth er with a kiss, beginning with the head of the house, and then retire, after wishing each other a Happy New Year. 81^^SS I] HE hospitable Norwegians and vi/ Swedes spread their tables heavily for all who may come in, and in Stockholm there is a grand banquet in the Exchange, given to the king and his family. On this occa sion the monarch throws aside "the divinity which doth hedge a king," and mingles with his people as citi zen to citizen, in true democratic fashion. Danes greet the New Year with a tremendous volley of cannon, and old Copenhagen is shaken to its founda tions at midnight. It is also consid ered a delicate compliment to fire off a gun or a pistol under the bedroom window of one's friends at a very early hour. Dwellers in Cape Town, South Af rica, are an exception to the general run of English colonists. After the custom of the early Dutch settlers, they celebrate New Year for an en tire week. Every house is full of vis itors, every man, woman and child is dressed in his best, and no one has any business except to seek amuse ment, which he does frantically. There are picnics to Table mountain and pleasure excursions in boats. There is a dance every evening. At the end of the week everybody settles down to business, and the settlement is as calm and well ordered as if it had never heard of New Year. P»"J I\\ S EVERY one who has seen a Chinese quarter in a large city knows, "the heathen Chi nee" celebrates the New Year in a right royal fashion. In the mother country the rejoicings absorb fully a month, during the first part of which there is not an empty mouth in the empire. But the refreshments are of a light kind —peanuts, watermelon seeds, sweetmeats, oranges, tea and typical ly Chinese cakes. Presents of cakes are given to the poor, and "brilliant cakes," supposed to help the children along with their studies, are distribu ted from the temples. At an early hour on the second of February—their New Year's day— they propitiate heaven and earth with offerings of rice, vegetables, tea, wine, oranges, and imitation paper money, which they burn with incense, joss sticks, and candles. Afterward they worship their household gods and de ceased ancestors and living relatives. All this is carried out in the most sol emn manner, and offerings are made to everybody except the living. Images of gods are carried in pro cession to the beating of a deafening gong, and mandarins go by hundreds with congratulatory addresses to the emperor. Their robes are gorgeously embroidered and are heavy with gold. Numerous amusements are provided for the public, the chief of which are acting, illuminations, and fireworks. Uylj APAN'S New Year's day is the twenty-ninth of January. By this time all accounts have been adjusted and all disputes settled. Everybody puts on the regulation dress —a sort of light blue cotton— and starts out to visit relatives and friends. The visiting lasts for three days, and they send letters of con gratulation, In stiff, set phrases, to those in distant places. They goto their favorite tea gar dens, and there is a grand procession in which all trades are represented. Drums and stringed Instruments are played by numerous bands, and wax figures are sold by the thousand. They amuse themselves with top spinning, kite flying, jugglers, actors and fire works, and the "ladles of quality" please themselves with the "butterfly dance." Presents are offered of cooked ricc. roasted peas, oranges, and figs. The peas are scattered about the houses to frighten away evil spirits, and on THBL [NGINEEt i the fourth day of the New Year, the decorations of lobster which signify reproduction, cabbages which mean riches, and oranges which mean good luck, are taken down and replaced with boughs of fruit trees and flowers. This is to signify the near approach of spring, when the "winter garment of repentance" shall be thrown aside. /lj S PREVIOUSLY arranged, the Esquimaux go forth from their snow huta or ice caves in pairs, one of each pair being dressed in women's clothes. They gain en trance to every igloo in the village, moving silently and mysteriously. At last there is not a light left in the whole place, and having extinguished every spark of fire they can find, they kindle a fresh one, going through mys terious ceremonies meanwhile. From this one source all lamps and fires in the district are lighted anew. In the Indian empire, the day which corresponds to other New Year cele brations, is called Hooly, and is a feast in honor of Krishna. Caste tem porarily loses caste and the prevailing hue is red. Every one who can afford it wears red garments. They throw red powder at one another, and mix it with water and squirt it from syr inges on passers-by. This is taken in as good part as snow-balling is in northern climes. Complimentary visits between the merest acquaintances are exchanged in Germany, and New Year's gifts are made to the servants. The eve of the New Year is called "der Sylvester Abend," and while it Is deemed not un becoming for the young and thoughtless to while away the evening by dancing, the day in more serious households takes on a semi-religious aspect. Dur ing the evening there is prayer at the family altar, and at midnight the watchman on the church tower blows his horn to announce the birth of the New Year. The "Jour de l'An" Is a great period almost all over France, and many of the customs common with us at Christmastide are transferred to New Year. In many parts of that country masquerading by children continues for three days, the youngsters going from house to house, singing and beg ging for small presents. DEATH OF THE OLD YEAR. By CHARLOTTE BEAUMONT JARVI3. Miserere! toll the bell. Let the earth send forth a knell, For a great soul takes his flight. None knows whither, in the night- Miserere! Stretched upon his snowy bier, Dying lies the good Old Year; And upon the midnight gale AH may hear his parting wail- Miserere! In the old king's chequered reign There were mingled joy and pain; Friends proved false, while foes were true, Sinners many, saints—a few- Miserere! There were hearts that suffered wrong, Bora it bravely, and were strong; Hearts there were, so black within, Satan wondered at their sin— Miserere! Garners full of fruitful store, Measures pressed, and running o'er; Famine in the streets at night. Doing deeds too dark for light— Miserere! Rang the church bells for the wed, Tolled they also for the dead; In one home a Joy was born, From another joy was torn- Miserere! Such earth's sorrow, such its sin. All must end where they begin; Snow which wraps the New Year's feet Is the Old Year's winding sheet- Miserere! Now his spirit goeth faut. Midnight hour will be his last; To your knees, earth's worn and weary— Miserere! Missrero! By DANIEL W. GALLAGHER HNDER the old earth's outer crust — 'Mid bed-rock fragments and lava Watching the axis turning slow, The Old Year stood at his dynamo In the power plant which time maintains, And numbered losses and figured gains. "I've done quite well," said the aged seer— "My record's good as an engineer, I've kept things humming, above—below. I oiks can't complain that I've been slow, And now I'm off when midnight calls —" Then he started doffing his overalls. He washed his face and brushed his hair — Then leaned far back in his arm-chair In pensive mood till a sturdy chap Clambered up to the old man's lap. And said: "Old Year —they tell me you Are sorter thinking of getting through." "Right you are," cried the aged man. "Your tarsk awaits you, little Jan. Get into your duds and start right in, I will wait right here until you begin, For I wish to see if I rightly guess, Which of the levers you first will press." Then Jan marched up to the dynamo. He passed the levers of "Want" and "Woe"— Nor touched the levers of "War" or "Fame"— Stopping the while to read each name: Then a handle grasped as he turned togo, The Old Year's face seemed all aglow. So when the dawn of that day began Man thought of his stricken brother man. With ready help and an honest tear. For them that knew no glad New Year. 'Twas the lever of Love in the midst of gloom — That Jan had gripped in the engine-room > 112 Thoughts for ? I the Ne<w Year I |★ ★ ? | We sleep, but the loom of 1 jy life never stops, and the pattern \ 5 which was weaving when the 9 X sun went down is weaving J I when it comes up in the morn- 112 e ing.— ll. IV. Beecher. t | We are not in this world 112 # to do what we wish, but to be I I willing to do that which it is 1 c our duty to do. — Gounod. & 1 It is the every days that J 112 count. They must >e made to # I tell, or the years hav failed. — t 5 IV. C. Gannett. < ' X Soberly and with clear eyes I believe in your own time and £ place. There is not, there < | 1 never has been, a better time J or a better place to live in. , 1 Only with this belief can you . ? believe in hope. Phillips ? X Brooks. I We may make the best oft C life, or we may make the worst T of it, and it depends very much | I upon ourselves whether we ex- 1 L tract joy or misery from it. — 1 ' > St/tiles. y ; The darkest shadows of life I are those which a man himself i I I makes when he stands in his <L 1 * own light.— Lord Ave bury. * Our life is short, but to ex pand that span to vast eternity < | • > is virtue's work. — Shakespeare. The hour that is gone I j cannot recall, but to-morrow I i < iwill do better than yesterday; < • and ail to-morrows shall be bet ter than the yesterdays. Let ! us "leave behind our low-vault- < | ed past." — Dyer. Life is fruitful in the ratio in 1 which it is laid out in noble I action or patient perseverance. —Liddon. 1 THE NEW YEAR'S CHOICE It is Well to Choose Wisely for the Time That Is to Come. Once, long ago, the Lord appeared in a vision of the night to a young man with the offer, "Ask what I shall give thee." And a decisive moment was that in which the young king weighed against all others the thing which he most desired. Centuries lie between us and the young king, Solomon, but still—and especially on each recurring New Year's —God appears to each of us with practically the same offer, "Ask what I shall give thee." And, as with Solomon, so with every heart, there lies the choice of the gift. Were the question an audible one, what would your answer be? Each recurring New Year's, in ef fect, says:"Ask what I shall give thee." And the choice for the coming year may be our choice for all the years of life. It is by choice that men seek wealth and learning and by influ ence. And it is not a question of thi« and that, but of this or that. To choose is to decide between, to leave las well as to take. Therefore, what | will be our choice for the year befora j us? God Himself asku the question, I makes the orfer. Christmas Fairies. An old English tradition has it that at Christmas-tide, elves and fairies may mingle with humankind Ln the festivities, and the holly, bay and ivy are hung that the fays ma}' find hid ing places. They are also hung to af ford a refuge to th« woodland sprites who, at this season, are lialf-lio.:>.'ii in the forests
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers