The Washington herald., 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
Boats, and FactorIes-Wreek 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 to different people and ages
Promptly at FIVE minutes to y, factory
whistles in Georgetown sent up their
shrill good-by to 1906 It was answered
by steam sirens from the harbor and fac
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 Pc
/ tomac came the answering echoes, the
factory ana engine boilers in the vicinity
had bottled within their iron bodies. IN
I'll few minutes after Z the uproar
continued. and then Washington seJtled
down to It's usual quiet and the facts OF
the year 1867.
Observed I'm Hotels and Cafes.
In the hotels. cafes. and saloons good
fellowship held reign until after the stroke
Of twelve. The convivialy 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 Hobbies. longing in
the reception rooms, spinning yarns and
otherwise INDUCING IN mirth, watching the
old year out and the new year in Some
Of the guests formed bridge and other
, card parties in the rooms above and
played until near the midnight hour,
when they raised the windows TO hear
the din Of the steam voices that heralded
the change Of passing time.
Ia 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 bevcra yes,
according 10 the taste Of the host But
whether IN tea, coffee, chocolate, or
champagne the good wishes were the
same, and each We'd with the other %
give expression 90 the sentiment that
time would spare all present TO q long
and happy life. Social amenities show
probably at their best at the passing of
the year and last midnight was no ex-
cepu0n 20 the rule.
All Helped TO Make Noise
The small boy. and those not so small.
We're in evidence in every part Of Wash
ington. His idea Of a good time is q big,
boisterouS. and hideous noise. The Wash
ingt0n boy had no cUrIew call last night.
He was abroad in the land, generally
armed with tin horn or some other in
strument Of torture 10 the ears of his
elders Along Seventh street, the Avenue.
F street, and other thoToughfares lead
ing from the center TO 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 90
waken the echoes in the good old days.
In numerous places the dance was on.
and young people trod the mazes " the
waltz and cOtilliou to the hour Of mid
night and beyond. pausing al the hour of
Y 10 pledge one another happines and
blessing for the new year
Only one note Of sadness dampened the
unalloyed pleasure OF the midnight hour
and that was the pail OF the terrible
calamity at Terra Gotta the night before
Even in the happiest gatherings some one
mentioned IL, and special sentiments were
spoken and sympathy uttered for those
in grief and suffering over the awful eL-
+ periences Of that disaster. In an the
merry-making Of Washington that
shadow was present, and no one seemed
to forget his tribute Of respect TO the
dead and suffering That alone served
TO cloud the joyful greetings and the
good-fellowship Of the departing year.