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About The Falls City tribune. (Falls City, Neb.) 1904-191? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 1909)
NEW YEAEl.^ OgAmvANCES is'MANY I AlsU# Americans are too tinny to take many holidays, but few of them fall to observe New Year's day in soma 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, hut 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 day, however, are not so picturesque as are those of many other countries, Vf MSJStAND lSg s'GLAND and Scotland have re \\J talned many of their interest ing customs of olden times, this being especially true of Scotland Weeks before the New Year begins, (he village boys, with great secrecy, 1 meet In out-of-the-way places and re hearse their favorite ballads. As tho 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 Hist If they go lo the cor ner they will gee a man with as many oyes as tho year has days The chil dren of the poorer classes go from house to house In the betler districts with a large pocket fastened to their dresses or a large shawl with a fold 1n front Each on* receives an oaten cake, a piece of cheese, or sometimes a sweet cake, and goes homo 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” I", friend greets friend anti wishes him "a guile New Year and rnony o’ them." Then, with great formality the dpor 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- , quaint twees. In Kdlnburgh a great crowd gathers around the church In Hunter square and anxiously watches tho clock. There is absolute silence from tho first stroke of 12 until the Inst. The old folks now go to bed but thf young have other business on hand. Much girl Is < xpectlng the "first ; foot" from her sweetheart and there ts much stratagem displayed In out witting her occasionally, and having some serving maid or graudmothcr open the door to her lover. The weather Is carefully observed at this ' a-on, for It Is supposed to betoken that which is to come. There ts a rhyme current in Scotland which runs thus: If Now Voar's ovo tho night wind blow oth south It botokonoth warmth and growth; If wost much milk, ami fish In tho sea; If oast, tho tre<»s will boar much fruit; if northeast, floe It, man anti bjuto. 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 hushes. Kuch 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, ns contact with the earth would hnve 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 r brush, treated the rest of the family to a vigorous baptism, which was generally acknowledged with any thing but gratitude. Coming back, the ihrtfiy Scotch man closed all the doors and windows and put the juniper bough ott the tire. 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 tire goes out It ts a sign of death. lMOTE®ZAR'S'')i OMAm __^_i_.e*'— USS1AN3 have a very pretty ceremony. On each New Year’s clay a pile of sheaves is heaped up over a large pile, and the lather, after seating himself behind the pile, asks the children if they can see him. Upon their replying that they cannot, he cays ne hopes the crops will be so flue the coming year that he will be hidden in the fie lds. The Russian New Year is 12 days later than ours, ar.d is a gala occa sion for all The; e 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 he carried In this way are In serted In the newspapers. In mili tary and official circles ceremonial visits a Pc paid. The Russians arc great at fortune telling, and on New Year’s eve (he un married ladies and gentlemen send servants iuto 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 tlrst man his Indy'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. yjwa t . • '■ [ SI HE hospitable Norwegians and Vl/ Bwedcs spri ad their tables heavily for all who may come In, and In Siockholm 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 clti zen to citizen, in true democratic fashidn. 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 lire off a gun or a pistol under the bedroom window of one's friends at a very early hour. Dwellers In Capo 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 lull of vis itors. every man, woman and child is dressFd In his best, and no one has any business except to seek amuse ment. which lie does frantically. There are plexites 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 Ibo settlement is a ; calm and well ordered ns if it. had never heard of New Year. T-.fr x .. ■ ■ / 11 • /». '~~k /» I > KVI.UY one who lias seen 11 Chinese quarter tn a lar: . city knows, "the heathen Chi ne,e” celebrates the New Year in a right royal fashion. In the mother country tiie rejoicings absorb fully a month, during the first pari of which there is not an empty mouth in the cippire. Hut 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 w ith 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. Ljyil A PAN'S Nev.- Year's day is the (Jp4 twenty-ninth of January. It> this time all accounts have been adjusted and all disputes settled. Everybody puts on the regulation dress—a sort of light blue cotton— ami 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 go to 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 utnuse themselves with top spinning, kite flying, jugglers, actors and fire works, and the “ladies of quality" please themselves with the "butterfly dunce.” Presents are offered of cooked rice, roasted peas, oranges, and tig The peas are scattered about the ho es to frighten away evil spirits, and on the fourth tiny of the New War, 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. pNih\ii>diry :i PKISVIOUSLY arranged, the Fsqtiininux go forth' from their snow tints or ice eaves 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 whoio place, and having extinguished every spark of fire they can find, they kindle a livsh one. going through mys terious ceremonies meanwhile. From tills one source all lamps and fires in thi> distriet are lighted anew. hi the Indian empire, the day jrhlch corresponds to other New Year cele brations, is called Hooly, and is a feast in honor of Kri hna. Caste tem porarily loses caste and the prevailing hue is red. livery one who can afford it wears red garments. They throw ted 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 .\Vw Year's gifts are made to the servants. The eve of the New Year is called "der Sylvester Vbend,” and while it is deemed not un becoming for t he young and thoughtless to while away the evening by dancing, the day in more serious households takes on a semi-religious aspect. Dar ing the evening there is prayer at the family altar, and at midnight the watchman on the church tower blows ills lioru 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 Chrlstmustide 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 Or THE OLD YfcAK. By CHARLOTTE REA I MUST JARVIS. Miserere! toll (lie bell. I.el the earth send forth a knell. For a great soul lakes his Might. None knows whither, in the night— Miserere' Streteheil upon Ills snowy bier. Dying lies the good Old Yeur; And upon the midnight gale All may hear his parting wail— Miserere' In the old king's chequered reign There were mingled joy und pain; Friends proved false, while foes were true. Sinners many, saints—a few— Mlsei ere! There were hearts that suffered wrong, Rote it bravely, and were strong; Hearts there were, so black within, Satan wondered at their sin— Miserere! Garners full of fruitful store. ' Measurt s 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! Snell eartn'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 M. sere re! Now his spirit goeth fast. Midnight hour will be his last; To your knees, earth's worn ami weary— Miserere! Miserere! UyOANlEl. IV. GALLAGHER ralNDER the old earth’s outer crust— 3 BE ’Mid bed-rock fragments and lava dust: 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, hoiks can't complain that I've been slow, And now I’m offw'hen midnight calls—” Then he started doffing his overalls. He washed his face and brushed his hair— Then leaned fat 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 Aie sorter thinking of getting through." ‘‘Right you are," cried the aged man. ‘‘Your task awaits you. little Jan. Get into your duds and start right in, I will wait right here until you begin, For 1 wish to see if I rightly guess, Which of the levers you first will press.” Then Jan inarched 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: Tfiena handle grasped asheturnedto ga 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 anti an honest tear. For them that knew no glad New Year. 'Twas the lever of I.ove in the midsf of gloom— That Jan had gripped in the engine-room Thoughts for the New Year k k We sleep, but the loom of life never stops, and the pattern which was weaving when the sun went down is weaving when it comes up in the morn ing.— //. //', Beecher. We are not in this world to do w hat we wi sh, but to be willing to do that vdiich it is our duty to do. G rnod. !t is the every days that count, I tiey must be made to tell, or the years have failed.— II . C. Gannett. Soberly and with clear eyes believe in your own time and place. There is not, there never has been, a better time or a better place to live in. Ot iy Wiih tii ■ belief can you '<■ ■eve rj hope. BhUiips Brooks. / We may make the best of life, or we may make the worst of it, and it depends • ,y much upon re ■ s \ r we ex t, t , y or i try tiom it.— ill ' ■ ' ■' - ' -wy of life are tii u . . n himself makes when im . 13 in bis own light.— Lord Abury. Our lif • is short, but to ex pand that span to vast eternity is virtue’s work.- Shakespeare. 1 he hour that is gone I cannot recall, but to-morrow I will do better than yesterday; and all to-morrows : hall be bet ter than the ywtejxlays. L'-t us “h ave behind our low-vault ed past.’’ Dyer. Life is fruitful in the ratio in which it is laid out in noble action or patient perseverance. —Lid don. THE NEW YEAR'S CHOICE It is Well to Choose Wisely for the Time That Is to Come. Once, long ago, the I.ord appeared la a vie,ion of the uigni to a young man with the offer, "Ask what 1 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 ilie 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 inlltt , nee. And it is not a question of this and that, but of this or that. To choose is to decide between, to leave as well as to take. Therefore, what will be our choice for the year before us? God Himself asks the question, makes the offer. Christmas Fairies. An old English tradition has it that at Christmas-tide, elves and fairies may mingle with humankind in the festivities, and the holly, bay and ivy are hung that the fays may find hid ing places. They are also hung to af ford a refuge to the woodland sprites who. at this season, are hnlf-frozeu in the forests. I am trying to make a date with THE AUCTIONEER They tell me he is strictly up-to date and well posted on all classes of domestic animals and also farm property in general. He can certainly please you, as he has had s xteen years expe rience. He is also from Missouri, and if given the opportunity will “SHOW YOU - results. BEFORE ARRANGING DATE, WRITE, TELEPHONE or TELEGRAPH at my exponse) J. G. WHITAKER \ Piiones 168-131-216 Falls City, N ib. There’s A Reason There’s a reason fordoing all things. The ‘'reason" i this case for your giving us your Grain, Flour ami Feed business, is that (J-l’-A-LT-T-Y is our most important watch word. When you get it have it of the first quality. Free delivery to all parts of the city. We are located Just West Palls Citv Auto to. Aldrich & Portrev PALLS CITY, NEBRASKA RICHARDSON CO. PAR MS 40 acres rolling land, $1,400. 94 acres bottom land, $6,500 1C0 acres rolling land, $5,000. 80 acres good land, $7,600. 8Q acres good land, $7,200. 80 acres good land, $9,200. SO acres good land, $12,000. 110 acres good land, $12,760. 160 acres good land, $16,000. 160 acres good land, $16,000. 160 acres good land, $2b,000, 320 acres good land, $25,000. OKLAHOMA LAND 240 acreS improved, $4,500. 100 acres improved, $3,000. PALLS CITY PROPCRTY Ai four room house, $1,200. A1 fine modern cottage, $3,5C0. 5 room house, 5 lots, $2,500. 8 room modem residence, $4,500 10 room, fine residence, $3,200. 9 room modern residence $7,000 6 room residence, $2,500. 7 room residence, $3,500. The above are all well improved properties and worth the money. I also have several good farms to exchange for good income property or business. I have a couple of fine business propositions for sale. Iy you wish to buy, sell or trade see me, T may have a bar gain for you. G. H. EALLSTEAD PALLS CITY, NEBRASKA Passenger Trains 44**i t;. : ■ i 1 -Jr - • • 1 ' ■ ■ ^)WV- * South Bound Tr. 104—St. Louis Mail and Ex press .1:23 p. m* Tr. 106—Kansas City Exp.. 3:41 a. in. Tr. 132 x—K. C.local leaves..7:30 a. m. Tr. 138 x—Falls City arrives 9:00 p. m. x—Daily except Sunday North Bound Tr. 103—Nebraska Mail and Ex press.1:52 p. in. Tr. 105—Omaha Express. .2:23 a. m. Tr. 137 x—Omaha local leaves 6:15 a m. l’r. 131 x—Falls City local ar rives.8:45 p.tn x -Daily exoeot Sunday Local Frt. Trains Carrying Passengers North Bound Tr. 192.x—To Atchison.11:10 a. in. South Bound Tr. 191.x—To Auburn.1:23 p m Burlington Route a West Bound No. 13 Denver Exp.1:10 a. in No. 15—Denver Exp. (Local). 1:40 p. in No- 43—Portland Exp..10:17 p. m. No. 41—Portland Exp.2:25 p. ni. No. 121—Lincoln Loc. via Ne braska City.5:00 a. m. East Bound No. 14- St. .1., It. C A St. L . , ;38 a. m No. 44—st. J.. K. C. iV St. L . No. 10—St. J., K. C. & St. L. .4:22 p. m (Local) No. 42 St. .T., K C. & St. L. .6:52 p. m No 122—From Lincoln, via Nebraska City.8:45 p n, E. G. Whitford, Asjent. —Nebraska’s choicest corn and alfalfa lands for sale from $75 tr> $85 per acre. Send for free 11s* Nider & Henrlchs, Falrbury, Neb.
