New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-02
A QUIET NEW YEARS DAY.
FESTIVITIES PRINCIPALLY CONFINED TO
THE HOME CIRCLE.
SOME OF THE CLUBS HELD RECEPTIONS AND
LuNCHEoNs THE ONLY OFFICIAL FUNCTION
BEING THAT OF THE MAYOR IN CITY
HAIL-THE LOWER PART OF

pEIyG THAT OF THE MAYOR IN CITY
HArL~THE LOWER PART OF
THE CITY DESERTED.
Now-years DAY in this city one OF the
ouietest on record It was welcomed In NOISY
enough fashion In the part Of the city arounh
old Trinity Church. where great part OF 'he
population Of Brooklyn. Ncw-fork staten is'anu
and New jersey seemed 10 have congfega'td' Inc
annual horning that resulted some years ago III
putting stop 10 the ringing OF the chiines was
never noisier than II this year. but the crown
wos ~ mt o,,,te such proportions IL was last
vear The racket OF the horns was not confined
however 10 the lower part OF the city. All 'he
length Of Broadway good -humoreh ana hois! per
sons wandered up and down making 'ne ''s"'
hideous with their blasts The horn hapit' l"u'c''
seems 10 have become more general In spite OF the
fact that II has little appropriateness 10 reco"i-
mond II Not only do the residents Of the East
Side resort 10 artificial means TO express their
iubiaton but otherwise sober-mindcd chizens io'-
lowed the same custom this year. AND among the
number who augmented the racket was large
proportion of young and pretty girls. who seemed
TO take particular delight in getting the ends Of their
tin horns as close as possible TO the ears OF those
whom they passed
But after the midnight racket had abated ana the
last revcIler had found his unwilling way home.
the dawn broke upon silent city and deserted
streets which retained their Sabbath calm and
waite celebrations as there always will he on me
first day of the year In spite of the fact that the
day IS no longer regarded as the frst OF hoHuayS'
Many OF the clubs. too, gave receptions TO ther
members but few Of these were largely attended,
for many fashionable people are still In the coun-
try whittier they went before Christmas. Inc
Press Club makes feature Of its annual New
Years reception however. and the one held yester-
day was largely attended about 100 callers appear
ing in the course OF the afternoon. Among the Vsi-
tors were General Daniel f.. Sickles. Police Comms-
sioners Roosevelt and Parker. Maurice Grau John
B. Schoeffel and Thomas c. Platt II was an
nounced that b. F. Keith sent check OF 500 as his
New Years present to the club. A. b. DE frece'
master of ceremonies. also told the assembly that
the Executive Committee and the honorary orhcers
of the Commercial Travellers Fair Association had
given him silver service In recognition OF MS SER
vices in managing the recent fair In Madison
Square Garden
The New-York Athletic Clubs annual reception
and luncheon were also largely attended. The tables
were handsomely decorated and there was good
cheer until late hour last night.
The official function In recognition OF the day
is now the Mayors reception in the City Hail. ana
this Mayor Strong held yesterday afternoon The
prisoners of the Tombs enjoyed a concert arranged
especally for their benefit by the Prison Guild. ana
in the course of the day various members OF the
city government called at the prison Among them
were Mayor Strong. Commissioners Croft ana
Wright and the Mayors secretary. job f. Hedges
At the Harlem branch OF the Young Mems Chris
tian Association and at the Twenty-thrd-st build
ing the day was observed by receptions and con-
certs for the members Of the association and for
their friends.
Judge and Mrs. John II. Mccarthy gave their an
nual New Years reception at their home NO. 10
West One-hundred and twentieth-st last evening.
and a large number OF the legal friends and asso-
ciates of the Judge enjoyed their hospitality
The day Itself not an Ideal one. IL broke
clear and bright. but dull clouds soon began to
gather and the sun smiled upon the natal day OF
1897 for only n few minutes. and only the last
stragglers of the nights revery and the early
Users whom stern labor called from warm beds
soon after dawn saw the good omen at ALL While
the almost deserted all day. the parks
were really lively in the afternoon. The drives
were filed with stylish turnouts and the walks
with people clad in holiday array The biggest
crowds were seen in Central PARK OF course ana
there they centred about the menagerie. ] ne
crowds were greatest about o'clock in the after
noon when the animals mad their New nsar cars, On IN
the holiday crowd. and the throng was almost az
great as that which assemblies when the latest adj
diton TO the hippopoamus family is exhibited 10
the public for the first time.
The Boulevard was not in prime condition for b.
wheels during the hours OF daylight, as II AWAY.
rs Gn viii 20 on record as the Gnetest
New Years Day In recent years.
The hotels yesterday had elaborate menus: spe-
difference was in the cafes. There was
lack az New-Year cheer all around. In the past II
has been the habit OF hotel proprietors and the
managers OF popular cafes to have elaborate
spreads on New Years Day and to treat all their
patrons 10 luncheons that fairly eclpscd banquets
Under the Raines law this Is beyond the pale OF
the law, and yesterday there were no spreads. IL
was a quiet day around the hotels. with the usual
number of guests and the ordinary run OF con-
gratulations and greetings. There were few visit
ors in the city All of the politicians were at
Albany. to be present at the inauguration OF Gov
much in evidence
More than three hundred railroad men including
those who work In the freight yards. also those
working in the train service; sat down to New
Years dinner at the Railroad Branch of the Y. NJ
G A. at West Seventy -second-st and North River
yesterday afternoon. The dinner was served In
The social room and library. which were tastefuliy
festooned with the red. white and blue: An
abundance of turkey, plum pudding and fruits OF
of an Informal nature was given by members
from the various branches. which was heartily
en- loved by all present. Dinner served from