The Romans from whom we get the names of our 

 months began the year with March, hence September, as 

 its name implies, was really the seventh month, October 

 the eighth, and so on. 



An account was then given of the different ways in 

 which New Year's clay (Jan. 1) has been celebrated from 

 the time of the Romans, when it was kept in honor of 

 Janus, until the present time. 



What the Romans had observed as a feast in honor of 

 the double-faced deity, celebrating it by kindly salu- 

 tations and the exchange of presents each taking care 

 during the continuance of the celebration, that all his 

 words and acts should be pure and blameless was turned 

 by the church into a fast ; and New Year's gifts were 

 repeatedly forbidden under severe penalties. In England, 

 however, the heathen practice of exchanging presents was 

 never overcome by the Church ; so strong a hold does it 

 seem to have had in the popular sentiment. Indeed the 

 custom seems to have been older, in Britain, than the time 

 of the Roman invasion. About the only public celebra- 

 tion of New Year's in England at this day is the ringing 

 in of the new year and ringing out of the old. 



The present year is memorable as the first year in 

 which the heads of departments at Washington, and many 

 other prominent men following their example, have 

 resolved to furnish no intoxicating drinks to those who, 

 in observance of the time honored custom of New York, 

 celebrate the day by making calls upon the ladies of their 

 households. 



INJURIOUS INSECTS IN ESSEX COUNTY. 



Dr. A. S. PACKARD spoke of several species of insects 

 injurious to vegetation noticed during the past season in 

 this vicinity specifying among others 



