New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-02
THE YEARS FIRST HOLIDAY
HOW NEw-YORKERS AMUSED THEMSELVES.
ORDERLY AND GooD.NArURED CROWDS IN THE
HOTELS, CLUBS, STREETS, PARKS
NfI-SEIrMS.

AND MUSEUMS.
The old year went on, in a fog, under cloud,
damp and disaTceabe. departing this life 4" tEe
loot OF the midnight whistle and the cang OF the bells
that marked his death and welcomed the birth OF the
year. Up to the last minute old 1888 was fnli
of fog but the one in as II he were glad 10
get here. He fin of sunshine. warmth and
cheerfulness that before he many hours old
people felt sure there was nothing the matter with
1850 and that the year was all right. There
wasn't any snow, stia, freezing winds, and that
was conceded to be remarkable. 1t was almost
balmy spring day. and The florists forgot the flower
trust and I'm their rush of business singing
something about Flowers that bloom in the spring.
ira Ia"
People were out early. all except 'hc man who
saw the Old year ont aud would start on Tie new
year with new resolutions lie in bed. and called
for something cool, monopozed the ice.pcher clnne
TO the appolinaiis bottle until he was in shape to
recollect that all good precSdcnts allow another day
Of grace, and that above all swearing of should be
done gradually. carefully and cautiously And no
swore or cautiously and viii take another year To
think about swearing oil ' for good The old New
Years Day, with 1t, calls and feaStng Is all but
memory now in this city. The rotous calling which
kept the city In whIl few years ago ran into
extremes Even conventional calling fell into disuse
and flowers wasted their sweetness the winters air
But there were some signs yesterday OF more lively
observance in the future. The streets were extremely
quiet though there many weiressed people 10 be
seen There little or calling but the florists
did much better business in presentation bouquets
and baskets than they have for some time
The beautiful weather brought ont many drivers
and the Harlem road and others black with
crowds of merry racers. The hotels had duet home
like look early in the day and torpid crowd OF
guests and visitors in the afternoon. Many of the
leading hotels had SPREADS Nearly all gave a
quiet dinner 10 their guests. There were streams OF
visitors at the private clubs. too. but the day was
generally observed a home day. some churches
had services At ST. Pairicks Cathedral. in Fifth
celebrated from TO II a. There was
large attendance $500 members of the Society OF the
iicly KarDe being present. The day was also OBJ
served at 81. Peters. I'm Baicayst.. with large at
tendance. Religious services were also held in the
Toubs Prison and in the institutions On Dlackwell's
Island.
Among the clubs which celebrated the day was the
Newlork Athletic Club. The dining room on the
second floor decorated with athletic trophies and
bunting. Dinner was served at noon TO a merry
gathering The dining room presented brilliant
sight and much admired small boat hung
from the ceiling, and at the end Of the room there
a booth upon which several ingenious designs Of
cookery. The boahOuse recently erected by the club
1Iayers Island was Represented IN miniature. In
candescent lights which shone from the trees sur
rounding the booth. made pretty effect. The Man
haitian Athletic clubhouse was filed with jolly
crowd. and other clubs had their good time. On the
East side there a good deal of calling among the
Germans. and some decorations were seem Their,
little dImi"nn IS. and New Years Day was gen
orally Quiet and pleasant.
Central Park va, throngcd with people yesterday.
The Museum of Natural History visited by hun
dledS. and the spacious halls of the Museum Of Art
and the galleries of paintings were enjoyed by thou
sands.
The calling custom only observed to a limited
extent in Brooklyn yesterday despite the pleasant
atmosphere The holiday tempted many people TO
find fresh air In the parks and suburbs, while the
fOrmanceS IN the theatres not forgotten. Mayor
Chaplin at the City Hall about an hour. and re
ceved many citizens. among them being about forty
members of the society of Old Brook whites. TO whom
he addressed few words. The new County Clerk.
W. J. Kaiser, received many friends in his Office I'm the
Court House The Young Mems Christian Association
kept open house. with entertainments in the afternoon
and evening.