Evening star., 1897-01-01
Holiday Appearance Of the Streets
and Surroundings.
OFFICERS OUT In UNIFORMS
Falling Off Of the Old Custom Of
Calling.
FAMILIAR YOUNG MAN

New Year day has been rather a quiet
festival this year, although it is not over
yet. 1t was us hered in with the ringing
of bells and the footing of innumerable
steam whistles, while all over town mel
and boys were firing off giant crackers and
occasionally a pistol. Morning broke with
the sky overcast and the promise of any
thing but pleasant day. Without being
actually cold the day has been raw and
cheerless, making a bit Of fire in the
crate pleasant and CHEEKY. For those who
were engaged in the annual task of max
ing New Year calls it was very delightful
to come in from outside to i warm, coZy
parlor where there was cordial welcome
and a certainty of good wishes for pros
perity and happiness during the coming
year.
All day long the streets had a regula-
tion holiday appearance. The stores and
business houses were for the most part
closed all day and the result was that with
the departments also closed thousands of
people found themselves with nothing that
they mad to do and whole day in which to
do exactly what they wanted to. There
are some people who do not enjoy holiday
because it interferes with the daily routine
of their lives and finds them with few re-
sources upon which to draw for entertain
joyed the day to the fullest extent accord
ing to their several tastes, not the smallest
delight of the day being the opportunity
to eat breakfast at any old time ana enjoy
a morning cigar afterward, instead of bolt
ing hasty and unsatisfactory meal and
hurrJing off to work.
Then arose the question of what to do for
the rest of the day. To such as owned
bicycles or had rented them in advance
the problem was easy of solution, and
thousands of people spent the better part
of the day riding around the city streets
over the nearby country roads All
sorts of horses and traps were also called
into requisltion for the time being, and
many enjoyed long drive during the fore
noon. -
All the local theaters gave extra matinee
performances this AFTERNOON ana all hao
good audiences.
Brilliant Uniforms.
New Year day is the one time in the year
when the streets of Washington put on
something the appearance of a European
capital, owing to the presence of so many
army and navy officers in full uniform.
Ordina rily, these gay birds wear the gar
ments of plain and unaristocratic citizens,
but on New Year day they burst forth on
the adn1iring populace in the full glory of
their gay reg, mentals, and 1t is hard to
realize that they are the very same men
that pass on the street every day, and
second glance. From the barracks, from
the navy yard and from Fort Myer they
came in coaches, cabs and army wagons,
and sometimes even in the street cars to
pay their annual tribute of respect to the
President, to the Secretary of War and to
the Secretary of the Navy. Being on the
war path, many Of them thought to make
the killing complete, and after they had
gone the official rounds they left their cards
at the homes of the leaders of Washington
society. Wherever they found a reception
in progress they were pretty sure to have
things their own way, for feminine fondneSS
for fine feathers Is proverbial, and the gay
est rooster usually crows the loudest. 1t
was but brief and fitting view of mascu-
line beauty, decked out to beat the band,
but 1t was charming while 1t lasted, and
the fact that many of the most stunning
uniforms diffused an odor of camphor and
moth balls detracted not at all from the
delights of the occasion.
Making Calls.
The custom of making calls on New Year
day has survived in Washington longer
than anywhere else in the country. In
other eastern cities 1t went by the board
long ago. Here the custom has always
had the stamp of good form, on account of
the reception at the White House and the
receptions at the homes of the members of
the cabinet. Even here, though, the Gus
tom Is not what 1t used to be. Compare
lively few Of those whose names are writ
t=n in the list of the socially elect were at
home to callers today
Time was, and not so many wears ago
when every one who was any one kent
open house, and no man was allowed to 20
forth hungry or thirsty. Salads and egg
nogg, oysters and light wines were in evi-
dence from one end of town to the other
and the young man who had started out
at 10 o'clock had made 213 calls and still
mad $50 to make, was not at all an unfa-
miliar figure. His calls We're very, very
br1ef No, really, you know, haven't time
to sit down; must hurry. Got so many
other places to go. No. thanks. no puncl,
have had thirty-seven glasses of punch
Can't eat any more salad or oysters Well,
l might have another glass of punch.
Goodbye. Happ N Year"
There were few of him this year, but
not very many, and the livery men and
the cab drivers missed him nightly. He
was a good thing while he lasted Nor
was there very much for him to eat and
drink today. Nothing shows the disap-
pearance of the calling custom better than
the Iact that many of him had to go to
restaurant or even back to his boarding
house to dinner. A decade ago q man who
regularly sat down to dinner on New Year
day was regarded as being as much ont
OF society as was the poor, deluded youth
who put on his dress suit when he sfarted
out at noon. OF course the same vonno
man was out again today; that Is to saw.
the dreSs-suit-yOung-m The day would
be incomplete without the sight of him rid
ing around In an open carriage, always an
open carriage, calm in the satisfaction that
he was just right, and that nothing better
came on the same bush.
AS a rule, the cafes and saloons laid in
big supply Of egg-nogg for the occasion
and dispensed 1t free of charge to their
regular patrons and friends. 1t was very
popular custom.
EXECUTION AT WILMINGTON.