The morning times., 1896-01-02
SCENES OF THE STREETS
New Years Day the Brightest
Ever Seen in Washington.
White House the Central Point of At
traction-Stream of Social Callers ~
on Almost Every Doorstep.

Atnospherically, New Years day was
perfect, sky cloudess, sun golden, breezes
crisp, brisk and brdcng. The little urchtn
80 didn't come into the world like David
Copperfield. crying dismal tears, but, on the
contrary, he burst upon the Washington
world with his chubby countenance illu-
minated with srniies. Everybody felt it
contasion, and HAPPY New. Year"
acquireu an added snap ana cheeriness be-
cause OF the auspiciOus weather.
IL was IL DAY so braCing that red noses
were to be expected and excited no undue
Suspicion. Sucn fine weather brought out,
ofcourse, maDyprOnienaders. Pennsylvania
avenue was notable for its many walkers,
whiie +, Fifteenth and Seventh streets
presented each II kaleidoscope OF passing
figures; the bright robes OF the ladies
beng matched well by the more sober yet
none the less natty attire OF the men.
There was also, or course, Il garden OF fair
girls OF the younger generation, while The
small boy, in populous evidence, vented
his youthful cxuberance In all the ways
noted Oft and again.
There was a not iceable trend OF the
promeDaders toward the neighborhood Of
the White House, where tile President s re-
cepiion was awing big and little wigs
of the land and city, but there were nlany
diverging lines. These wound TO the
National Museum, the Smithsonian, the
Medical Museum, the Capitol, and all the
other at,Iac,Ive points Of vantage and
curiosity dear to the visitor, and 10 the
home resident when he has days holi-
day.
socially, the day was big success. There
were never more New Years calls than
We're made yesterday. open hOnse was
the rule, and she was a very neglected Lady
hostess, indeed, who did not count her
-. b.. = q. u
was a common sight to see the step of
some famous house door the promenade of
a constant stream OF entering and departing
callers. If the beverage which lends
Zest to the time and day flowed freely
within none could have discovered 1t by
the appeara nee Of drunkenness on the
streets, for there wasn't any.
Only one gentleman who stood with hat
awry and necktie at the back of mis- brad
stood duhiously surveying the new Post
office building in evidence OF 4 drop too
much" but he said he was from Kentucky
and wasn't used to the COnvivial ways of
Washington, and. therefore, shouldn't lie
held up as an example.
Many small boys, and some men, too,
mostly Colored, gathered in the New
Year sbekels by indisCriminate wishing OF
Happy New Year" to The uDwary pe'les-
trian, whose hand, of course, almost in
varlably sought his pocket when the nIeery
call rang out in his front. All didn' t
respoHG, CweveT. ana SIICpOs to this quite
a little incident was noticed at Sixth and
Louisiana avenue. 4 big darky with Il
bandanna handkerchief wrapped aheHt
his throat, and face that suggested char
coal, stood on this corner and the appear
ance OF passer was always the signal
for a stentorian cry OF tie seasons greet
ing.
pats the ligbtest white man in dis
ycre town" he cried, as The Times re-
porter came up and the tall form OF q
dignified silk-hatted stranger was dis
appearing round the corner.
'Why SO, " he was asked.
a. Cause dats de siNt time 1 wish
him Happy New Year today, and he don't
come up yet. He's light white man, he
is"
He cast a rueful and indignant glance
round about him, but soon spied new
conner when a bread smile wreatbed his
black face. and his CHEEKY cry rang out
again. This time he got a nickel, and said,
Hes de proper stuff"
Altogether. atmcspbcrically. socially. and
generally it was Now Years pay of the
proper old-fashioned kind. and while a
little ouiet to the casual observer. to
those who sought to kEow 1t was cutie up
to tre best records of Washington's most
notable holiday.