New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-02
WELCOMING THE NEW YEAR.
HOW THE PLEASANT DAY WAS ENJOYED.
TIE THEATRES WELL MISUNDERSTANDING CALLS
NO HOLIDAY FOR WARD.


FIftb-ave mansions yesterday Throughout the length
and breadth OF that great thoroughfare there was not
another specimen OF the race to make the nuoc tue
lucky seven Lonely and unnOt;ced these SIX dainty
little baskets hung in their places. Some were maze OF
willow and some of tropical GRASSES, hut ali were alike
in their emptiness. YEARLY they gaped from morning
till evening, far behind the times or so poor
in knowledge of what constitutes good form rs TO
do them honor by dropping visiting card mo their
depths dozen years ago the absence OF baskets on
the do0rkn0bs would have meant that the ladies' or the
family were at home and receiving. But yester-
day the burden OF proof rested on tie
passer-by to show that the inmates had not
forgotten that 1t New Years Day. Two dozen
years ago. when Mes Years calling at Its height
the appearance Of those has kets II understood Mt ALL
would caused the social ostracsm OF their daring
owners. But times change aud We change with them
| 1t Is longer tho correct thing for men about
| town" to skip lightly up and down one stoop after
another several OF times In the course OF the rs
day January endure the agonies OF new pair OF
tight boots and the uncertainties Of now tie OF huge d
mcnsons aud aspiring tendencies todoh their wonder
fully SHAPED and bow their tightly laced forms
before innumerable smail-wasted beauties, four-fths
OF whom they before aud never expected to
again. all OF whom wished their callers Happy
| New Year with sweet accord.
All that sort OF thing the custom from which all
that sort Of thing originated went of nicely while New
York was a village inhabited by phosophic Dutchmen
But when the circle wldened and the pretty custom
| became a wearsome formaity between chance nc;
quantances and utter the reaction set in and
landed the New Years celebration where IL ycster
day. Those six baskets Fifthave the few sraggers
In the side streets and the one solitary remnant OF its
race hanging from doorknOb In tho still fashionable
portion OF SecOndavc. told story OF what used 10 De-
that, with the annexation OF drawn curtains and
darkenel DRAWN not difficult to understand
Yesterday the average man. instead OF spending his
scant holiday and vitality in climbing mp and down
stoops went to winter resorts took days shooting In
the cOuntry drove up the road His VIE and sisters
probably passed the time in idenoss until tho necessity
for the theatre or an evening reception was
forced upon them.
Even the weather did its utmost TO overthrow ira
dtion OF the rapidly moving sleigh, the closely
packed snow, the icy sidewalk and the keen wind that
New Years Day on ght to bring thero were warm sun
shine, Thermometer that positively refused To go
below 1902 aud wind appreciaDle Ffh-ave. and tho
driveways OF the Park filed all day with the car
rages OF those who preferred to spend their time In tho
open air rather than IN making or receiving calls
The grass In the public squares was as grcen almost as
in midsumm'r Men walked about with their overcoas
over their arms with overcoats at all. Gloves
were discarded carried in the hand In the familiar
fashion which says plainly Take notice, all men, that
can afford the luxury, but don't choose to wear
them" Shops generally closed aud clerks
enjoy luxury Of extended morning nap. As the
day advanced young men and maiden, evidently Do1nG
theatreward appeared. and sections OF scattered families
could be convcrcinc toward common point to cat
a New Years dinner under the patrtarcha rooi-tree.
The demand for carriages was lees han on any Ioner
first Of January. Rows Of unused hacks ana colpes
stood about all the public places where they are per
mtci to DO The livery stable people reported bust
dur. and what t!e there was was All In tho even
ing from I'll 10 o'clock heinz tho most EXTENDED term
of reception H. the smith Ward tho abode 81 GA NcM
Yorkcfs and In thar part OF the city east OF East Broad
way faces cond he seen az the windows Waltns ior
the tin horn SIN fingered and The co.brasn Of IA"
day mainly In the middle OF the street.
sleepy citizens. who had started tho with
the resolution to keep drunk seven days IN the week
rTIfta he 4 A
II wa. moi a happy New Year for the dogs. Pound-
Keeper lon aid not receive aud had also omitted
t. hang out basket All the respectable dogs paradrd
solcmuy with their jaws strapped together tussci ~
the end OF chains than four zee, 10 length"
There many OF them out for IN airing IN The morn
in big dogs With lue mi.igcs.ca and vcIIcomh.d
skye terriers and glossy png, with blk nisies,-s. lC"
evidently does not attract TX" heiwrcn dogs 1l me-"
stray curs Kept Ia the middle OF the road aud viewed all
corners with suspicion.
the afternoon fairy well attended. Large houses
not rhir l1pk'd Tor by managers on Jew Years
where Nj 6,u1rir W.. enn I'm one 81 our
GIr." and a. the Madison SQUIRE Theatre. where /
saints ana sinners sjil attract, the patrons OF the
house The audience largcr than christmas Day.
Mr. Dxcy. Who 4. approaching the jOOth perform |
OF Adcus" ratified of his jokes aud gave his
Theatre nearly filled with Mr. larrip'ns admirers
affections 81 XswYorS thcstrc s"'r. showed ho, Of
people how 10 execute p0s sent IN long tlain and
MeTnn mnd no rGI,"H 10 70 SIR -, c ..G re
Black fu-sar," while the Grand Opera House ana the
n "e AMI .Erans.ne N the Fourteenth street
Theatre the same At DAVIS Theatre IN" busincss douc
by - Night ON" seemed large enough 10 throw the /
revival Of " The Merry wyc, OF Windsor still further |
into the future. Cheerful faces IN fact were found /
In all the managers offices. and the New Noar opened
As far as guests AMI arrival, the hotels
Of New-York were quiet There were .w persons com
pnraiiy"iy stopping over N"w lrar- mere nnl thctc |
were arrivals. Those hotels which made speciality
of lunch spreads IN their bars were throngcd with
visitors III Tue Mt'tnp"' WI" won ~ rom "no
place Ia another. he Holman Hou-c, - James, Gil
lunches. Al the Hoffman iI"rsc huss of Henry Ward
ntnkcd bust of Governor ill which was the centre
piece ~ the elaboraoly spread table In the barroom
tnp,r They were ali executed by Eugene Laperruaue.
the Hoffman, House chef There were few drunken men
The Knckcrbocker custom OF calling appeared to have
fallen into dsuse m Bronlyn In m fashionable parts
OF the city almost no callers were To no seen. BASKETS
hung from many doorbes The streets bore holt
day appearance many persons taking adyan;aee OF the
line weather for walking and riding The drives OF
Prospect Park were lird with carriages aud ~ many
PLAYERS enjoyed games IN the long meadow. amt there
was football on the parade ground Mr. Breeher was
mate friends saw him. Dr. Tamage kept open
hands with upward Of 900 persons having Invited Tho
public generally 10 ciil upon him. Dr. Cnyler received
eise Prc.byT"ram Chnrch from noon until ocock
Dr. stofS received calls from his large circle OF friends
and mdny other ministers were at home To
visitor reception was Tlysn nn,,nv the
President Packard and the Directors ofthe Associnton
aud many young men Inspected VA" ;ew building ana
The army officers stationed on Governors Island paid
their New Years call on General Hancock In fuldress
The Bremen steamer Rheln brought an exceptionally
large mail and heavy mail also arrived on the CITY
OF Chester, the Post Oilce clerks woro buster than
only one trIp but carried large loads that trip There
thousands Of New-Years cards delivered. though
the number smaller than on any Sew Years Day
for several years Most OF the officials went home at an
early hour. aud many Of the clerks aud carriers took
holiday after their unusually heavy labors of the past
Ina ia