The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-01
JOYOUS CROWDS
GREET NEW YEAR
DAW/lNIlNG ON CITY
Watch Night Services and Parties Held in Many Places
Whistles Blew, Bells Rang and Pop
ring out the old, ring in the new; :.
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
crackers Exploded

il 81 u ! : d. 4
"r2ing out the old ring in the new;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
The peal OF the midnight bells and the
discordant clangor Of many vari-toned
bells at midnight announced the passing
OF the old year and the birth of the new.
The infant 1907 appeared In swaddlins
clothes OF mist, but full moon at the
meridian illumined his debut and lighted
the weary tread Of his predecessor on his
way to join the procession of the things
that were. The record Of 1906 was made
up and consigned to the archives of the
past, to add to the aeons Of the WORLDS
existence. 1t was Farewell" and All
Hail Z" in the same moment. The KING
was dead, but his subjects forgot to
mourn him in acclaiming his successor
and according him n royal welcome.
As the old year passed away and the
new was ushered In, two widely different
scenes were presented. In the churches
many worshipers awaited on Bonded knee
the coming OF the untried twelve month,
and penitently reviewed the parting year;
on the streets a noisy throng of celebrints
and revelers greeted the new year with
merriment and laughter, with the dis
cord OF explosives OF various calbre,
many hued lights from candles and rock
cts, and tho varied tones of many bells
sounded the continuous bedlam OF many
whistles Each in his own way comment
GRATED the passing Of a period In his own
life and the advent OF a futurei which
none may sathom. Such Is humanity and
such life some view it cheerfnllN even
flippantly and carelessly; others regard 1t
with solemnity and solemn import.
Some make 1t the occasion OF a firm
resolve to amend life and live more
nearly UP to ideals Of duty, Of right, OF
propriety, while, others seize II M an
occasion of fun, sport 49, merriment. and
sometimes Of revealing and carousai.
Still others accept it philosophically and
treat 1t much as other days. Perhaps
the majority were wrapped in slumber.
little reckoning the passing Of year
or the beginning OF another
Display of Fireworks.
| Along Broad and Main Streets and to
a limited extent in all portions of the
| city noisy celebrants welcomed the year
| with candles and rockets, dynamite
crackers, torpedoes. explosive canes and
Fall sorts Of mechanisns for producing a
noise.
Along Broad Street the chief demon
| STATIONS and pyrotechnics were witnessed
| ut the corners where people most congre-
/ gate. notably at Seventh and Broad.
Eighth ana Broad, Ninth Street and at
| sixth street. The horizon was illumined
| almost continually with the red blue or
i yellow glare of Roman candles and the
! Sizing. soaring sheen of many-coloreo
rockets. with the intermittent flash OF
noncrackers and explosives. Now and
then red glare announced that some one
had ignited Chinese fire. While the bells
pealed and the fires blazed. the din OF
firecrackers was almost deafenins, lhl
sl the scene brilliant one.
From a few minutes Of midnight until {
quarter after the noise was almost con
a tinuous, but thereafter 1t became sporadi'
4 and spasmodc,s and finally only q lonel!
Ipicket shot could be heard ON the out
skirts. 1t was a typical New W ear:
! scene, much like those OF other years.
Fortunately. the damp streets and build
ings minimized the liability to fires an,
J made the celebration harmless. At Sew
enth and Broad, however, some thought
| less persons threw dynamite crackers oil
rectly In front of ladies returning iron
, church, placing them in imminent DANCE
of flying particles of grit from the pave
: ments. So far as known. however,
serious accidents or casualties occurred
Services Held.
Above all the clangor and obstrcperou
outburst OF the street welcome, tn
chimes of Centenary could be hear
, \ Sweetly, clearly, muSlcally AnyInnlns 4
I welcome. The music rang upon the "
? brant air with a note of checrfulnes
= end hope. The knell of the past ha
been sounded, the dead past had burie
: its dead and the living present, with a
a its responsibilities, It's duties and u
r cares, all its joys and hopes, was
n reality, drama, upon which the curtai
!. was just rising, while all the world lool
ed expectantly on. The bells that so latt
v ly rank a knell were suddenly attuns
a to paean of praise and gladness.
G Those who had received the New Year
! advent meekly kneeling upon their knee
4 arose and with bright, cheerful faces G,
q changed greetings with their fellow-wo
l. shippers and We're happier for their pre-
IS ence and all went home feeling bett
d for having kept watch over the dyi1
y year and welcomed the new.
IS Services at Centenary Methodist Churt
We're conducted by the pastor. the Re
w. j. Young, D.. D., and We're unusual
we'll attended They partook of the n
!. ture of such services, being characte
y lied by serenity and solemnity unusu
IL o1,an IN religious services. ~ .Hf3$