The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-01
BID ADIEU TO 1906
Washington People Join in
Annual Celebration.
NOISE GREETS NEW YEAR
Small Boy, Deprived of Fire Works
and Arms, JoyfuIIy TOOts His Horn
with Those OF Locomotives, River
Boats, and Factories-Wreck Casts
Pail on CheerfuIness.

The old year was hidden farewell and
the New Year welcomed at midnight with
the blowing Of whistles, the ringing Of
bells, rough blasts on horns in the hands
Of the small boys. and in other ways pc
culiar 10 different people and ages.
Promptly at FIVE minutes to r. factory
whistles in Georgetown sent up their
shrill goOd-by TO 1906. II was answered
by steam sirens from the harbor and nc
tories in South Washington and by the
locomotive whistles In the railroad yards
and about the stations Of the Pennsyl-
vania and Baltimore and Ohio railroads.
From across the Eastern Branch, the
abbatoir whistles and those Of the loco
motives In the Benning yards rolled back
the din. while from far across the PO-
tomac came the answering echoes. the
/ factory and engine boilers in the vicinity
had bottled within their iron bodies. I'm
I'll u few minutes after Y the uproar
continued, and then Washington settled
down to It's usual quiet and the facts Of
the year 1907.
Observed in Hotels and Cafes.
In the hotels. cafes. and saloons good
fellowship held reign until after the stroke
OF twelve. The conviviaIly inclined
pledged one another's health in the foam
ing glass Of grog and wished a happy
new year and many OF them. Most Of the
guests OF the hotels were up at midnight
walking about the lobbies longing in
the reception rooms. spinning yarns and
otherwise indulging IN mirth, watching the
old year out and the new year IN. Some
OF the guests formed bridge and other
cara parties I'm the rooms above and
played until near the midnight hour
when they raised the windows 20 hear
the din OF the steam voices that heralded
the change Of passing time.
IL the residential section there were
also many little house parties OF the
watch variety. Friends gathered about
/ the parlor lamps, in the library, and
played games or engaged IN other forms
OF amusement until the hour Of midnight,
when the good wishes Of the new year
were pledged IN wine or other bevera ges,
according to the taste Of the host. But
whether IN tea, coffee, chocolate. or
champagne the good wishes We're the
same, and each We'd with the other %
give expression 20 the sentiment that
time would spare all present to a long
and happy life Social amenities show
probably az their best al the passing Of
the year. and last midnight was no ex-
ception 10 the rule.
All Helped to Make Noise.
The small boy, and those not so small,
were In evidence In every part Of Wash
ington. His idea Of good ,ime is a big.
bOisterous, and hideous noise. The Wash
ington boy had no curfew call last night
He was abroad in the land. generally
armed with a tin horn OF some other in
strument Of torture 10 the ears OF his
elders. Along Seventh street, the Avenue,
L street. and other th0roughfares lead
ing from the center 20 the outskirts Of
the city. the urchin was abroad with his
fellows. Because Of the strictness Of the
police there was an absence Of fireworks
and the shots Of firearms which used 10
waken the echoes IN the good old days.
In numerous places the dance was on.
and young people trOd the mazes OF the
waltz and couilion 10 the hour Of MID
night and beyond pausing al the hour of
y TO pledge one another happiness and
blessing for the new year.
Only one note of sadness dampened the
unalloyed pleasure OF the midnight hour.
and that was tie pail Of the terrible
calamity at Terra Gotta the night before.
Even in the happiest gatherings some one
mentioned it, and special sentiments were
I spoken and sympathy uttered for those
/ IN grief and suffering over the awful ex-
7 periences Of that disaster. In all the
merry-making Of Washington that
shadow was present, and no one seemed
10 forget his tribute Of respect to the
dead and suffering. That alone served
20 cloud the joyful greetings and the
/ gOOd-fellOwship OF the departing wear.