Midnight revelry rarely marked the arrival of a new year in Chariton during the later years of the 19th century --- in part because potential celebrants were resting up (or making final preparations) for New Year's Day, a traditional time for entertaining on a grand scale.
A New Year's Day open house was de rigueur for those with social aspirations --- hosting one, assisting a hostess or a host during one, or traveling from house to house to partake.
Cards were sometimes sent, notifying friends that open houses would be kept. But notices generally were published, too, in the weekly newspapers just after Christmas --- extending the invitations to all.
The following reports of entertainments held on Jan. 1, 1880, were published separately --- one for ladies' receptions and another for the gentlemen's --- in The Patriot published immediately after. I've blended the two here.
The final paragraphs, about a reception hosted by "Count Karansky" (hardware merchant David M. Thompson) makes very little sense --- but presumably the references and the characters assumed by Mr. Thompson and his assistants made more sense 140 years ago.
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In Chariton, New Year's day was observed with a greater completeness and with more general merriment than ever before. A large number of ladies had made arrangements to receive gentleman callers and the gentlemen were equal to the occasion and turned out in full force. They organized themselves into clubs --- the most notable being the Honey Locust and the Bumble Bees --- and into companies large and small, and went about in carriages and sleighs, while others took walker's line, the pedestrians apparently enjoying themselves fully as well as their more favored brothers-in-fun who betook themselves from home to home behind spanking teams.
The day was a beautiful one, the weather could not have been better if it had been made to order. The temperature was just exhilarating enough to brace up the appetites of the callers in their rounds from table to table, all beautifully laden with choicest viands. In calling cards, a great variety of styles were displayed, from plain to the most unique and elegant. The houses where callers were expected were without exception tastefully, indeed beautifully, decorated with flowers, pine, holly and shrubs of green. We cannot attempt to particularize.
The inanimate decorations were not the only attractive features of the day; the ladies, in beautiful toilets, with cheerful faces and hearty greetings, made the occasion one of genuine pleasure. Among the many welcome callers were Robt. Coles, Senator Bestow, the "should old acquaintance be forgot" chanters, and Young America in the persons of Masters Lu Thompson, Bert Hatcher, Ed and Dave Storie, and Bert Folsom. To name more than the seniors and juniors our space forbids.
One of the novel features of the day was the reception in old time costumes by Dame Martha Standish (Mrs. D. Wormley) and daughters Patience (Miss L. Wormley), Priscilla (Miss Jo Millan), Rebecca (Mrs. Jessie Smith), Barbara (Mrs. A. Potter), Dorothy (Mrs. Capt. Boyle), Margaret (Mrs. Coleman), Ruth (Mrs. H. Wormley) and Abigail (Mrs. E.P. Wood). Callers were treated to boiled cabbage, beans and other old time luxuries.
The other places and ladies who made glad the hearts of callers were as follows:
At Mrs. D.Q.Storie's, assisted by Mrs. Moses Folsom, Mrs. D.Y. Collins, Mrs. Joe Mitchell, Mrs. Dr. Brant, Mrs. W.H. Underhill, Mrs. G.H. Ragsdale, Mrs. M.A. Hatcher, Mrs. Wm. Hatcher, Mrs. George Dungan, Mrs. Frank Wright, Misses Alice V. Coffin, Bessie Guyer, Clara Waynick, Mary Cotton and Jean Van Tassell.
At Mrs. J.A. Penick's, assisted by Mrs. J.C. Peacock, Mrs. T.M. Stuart, Mrs. Dell Stuart, Mrs. W. B. Penick and Mrs. E.T. Best.
At Mrs. D.M. Thompson's by Mrs. Samuel Kennedy, Mrs. Amos Wright, Mrs. John Culbertson and Misses Laura Gibbon, Nellie Temple, Lillian Brant and Dora Matson.
At the Misses McCormicks' by Mrs. J.D. Wright, Mrs. E.B. Woodward, Mrs. J.A. Brown, Ms. Evan Lewis and Miss May Copeland.
At the Misses Waynicks' by Misses Lydia and Clara Hollinger, Bertha Martin and Minnie Arnold.
At Mrs. G.J. Stewart's by Mrs. Eli Manning, Mrs. Messenger, Mrs. Strong, Misses Maggie Foreman, Dora Sour, Zora Stewart, Mrs. A.C. Sherod, Mrs. L.B. Allen.
At Mrs. H. Kubitshek's and daughter Susie by Mrs. P.H. Wood, Mrs. C.T. Haskins, Mrs. Ella Fox, Mrs. J.A. McKlveen, Misses Maggie Hall and Jennie Carnahan.
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Many gentlemen kept open house, too, and had a number of friends to assist them in entertaining the ladies, who did their duty faithfully in making the rounds in carriages; a number, however, owing to the beauty of the day, made pedestrian calls.
Conspicuously noticeable was the reception at Woodlawn, the residence of E.A. Temple, Esq., who was assisted by Messrs. Frank Crocker, Ed Dungan, J. D. Whisenand and G.H. Ragsdale. The hospitable mansion was thrown open about 2 o'clock and a continuous stream of callers kept arriving until a late hour. The ladies, after receiving the congratulations of the day, were escorted by the gentlemen to the dining room, which was tastefully and elegantly decorated, where an elaborate and bountiful entertainment awaited them and mirth and jollity prevailed.
Dr. W.H. Gibbon and W. H. Underhill exchanged courtesies with their numerous lady admirers at the spacious and elegantly furnished parlors of Dr. Gibbon's residence.
One of the most pleasant receptions was given at the residence of the Hon. S.H. Mallory, who was assisted by his Honor, the Mayor of the city, and the Hon. J.D. Wright. The parlors were tastefully and beautifully decorated with ferns wrought into appropriate inscriptions and otherwise arranged. The table was bountifully and richly supplied with the choicest fruits and viands. It was eminently successful and the house was thronged with a continuous stream of callers anxious to pay their respects to the distinguished host and his friends
Calvin P. Russell, Chas. Wallace, L.E. Mayer and C.C. Collins gave an elegant reception at the residence of Mrs. Dr. Collins. These young gentlemen, being among the most popular in town, it is perhaps hardly necessary to add that the spacious parlors were crowded during the day by the lovely and beautiful young ladies of this city. The gentlemen dispensed their hospitality with a liberal hand and won the hearts of many of the young ladies by their gallant attention.
Will Wormley and H. Lee Russell received at the Depot Hotel and none were more successful in entertaining their numerous callers.
Last, but by no means the least important, was the Count Karansky's reception at his magnificent mansion, which attracted general attention. This distinguished nobleman has but recently arrived from Hungary; he has however by his engaging manners, generosity and liberal hospitality, endeared himself to the community, especially the ladies. In order to receive the fair sex with eclat, he invited he following named distinguished individuals to assist him in the reception: Baron Rothchilds, of New Jersey, the great millionaire; Juke Monchauson, the celebrated traveler and poet; Mr. Pickwick, sientest & filsofer; M. Gambetta, Usurper No. 414 --- Rushulu, Republic of France; Col. Sellers of Missoury, with "millions in it"; Captain Cuttle, the Arctic explorer; Monsher Jingle, the "Good friend, very one day happy"; and Captain John James Smith of Virginia, the bosom friends of the great East India princess, Pocahontas, who presented each lady with the pipe of peace and the cup which cheers, but does not inebriate.
The fair visitors were afterwards conducted by the attendant cavaliers to the banqueting hall, where an elegant and recherche repast awaited them, the tables being furnished with delicacies culled from every clime; tropical fruits, rich cakes and costly confectionaries were in profusion.
The callers arrived continuously during the afternoon and until late in the evening when the last guest departed, all of whom were deeply impressed by the noble bearing, gracious condescension and unbounded hospitality of the distinguished nobleman, County Karansky. Long may he live. Want of space and time prevent our making more than a passing allusion to the bon mots and wit of the gentlemen, the sparkling repartees of the ladies or to the humorous and laughable incidents which occurred during the reception. We therefore conclude with expressing the hope, than on the occurrence of the bissextile year, Mr. D.M. Thompson and his friends, sometimes known as Count Karansky, may be equally successful in entertaining the ladies who honored them with their company on this occasion.
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