Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-01
NEW YEARS IN NEW YORK.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

the balance Of 100000; while club par
ties, private entertainments and the
thousand and one attractions along
Broadway, put at least s25O,OoO into
circulation.
During the early evening the CROWDS
were divided between the street pa
rades and the theaters, which we're
crowded. When the play houses turned
loose their audiences. things began to
liven up at the hotels and restaurants.
In the most fashionable places Ia
bes had been engaged weeks in ad-
vance and the aggregations Of diners
rivalled each other in brilliance ana
spectacular gaiety. In the most OF the
places only champagne was served Tor
drink, and the minimum charge Tor
eatables was 81 a cover. Delightful mu-
sic, beautifully gowned women and
the clink of glasses at Martins, Rec
tors. Murray's, Shanley's and other
restaurants gave the approaching year
rosy tint.
The dining rooms Of the big hotels
also held thousands. A fusilade Oh
corks popped at the knickerbocker,
Astor, ST.. Regis. Imperial. Plaza and
Waldorf JUST as though there
had never been a financial stringeney.
At Martins an innovation added spice
to the snerrymaking. For the first
time and for the night only. women
patrons were allowed to smoke IN the
pdplic dining hall. The scene in the
big dining room of the Plaza was an
unusual one. In this room at the stroke
of II. Caruso, the opera tenor, sang
the Chime song, from the Chimes OF
Normandy"
| In all of the cafes the diners rose ut
a minute before midnight and. with
glasses poised in air, shouted good bye
| to the old and welcome to the new
| year.
In marked contrast with these fes-
| tivities were the scenes at thousand
! churches, where congregations gath
| cred at 10 o'clock and in silent worship
watched the old year out. Especially
| largely attended services were held at
Old Trinity. st. Georges. Old First
Presbyterian, st. Patrick's and St Mi
| chaers. Above the heads OF the wor-
shippers pealed the chimes in refresh
ing harmony.
| Meantime the throng in the open
grew greater until Broadway from 23d
street to the upper end Of the ex-
banding Tenderloin and every ADA
cent street, were damned with mil
lion or two, possessed of but one idea
that Of making the exit Of the old veal
as noisy as possible. Clear and crisp,
with a temperature of %. better
| night for parading has never bridgec
| two years and the great. recklessly i'm
pertinent, but good-natured crowd
made the most of it. Nearly all were
armed with tin horns. whistles. tick
| lers, confetti and other accessories OF
| festival time
| As midnight approached as many as
| could got within earshot of Old Trim
| ity church ut the head of Wall street
At 11.30 o'clock the chimes Of the his
| toric editice pealed forth Evening
Bells" Then followed a religious and
patriotic program. including "Ameri-
ca" which sounded forth on the mid
night hour. Fifteen minutes AFTER
Trinity's program began the chimes bi
Grace church. farther up town weE
heard in while Shepherds Watched
Their Flocks." and other numbers fol-
| lowed. The chimes of St. Patrick S
| soon added to the melody.
As, the decadent year disappeared the
whistles Of factories and of seemingly
Of all the craft in the harbor let forth
one terrific screech. bells Changed and
every other variety of noise magma
bic, mingled in a roar that fairly shook
the town.