Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-01
SOUND BELLS AND HORNS
Troops of Young People Celebrate
the Auspicious Event.
WATCH NIGHT SERVICES HELD
Congregations Gather in Churches
and Local Organizations Bid
Farewell to Old Year.

Father Time brought to Washington
last night new year, properly accred-
tied and introduced. and it was accepted
by the city at its face value, and well
coined uproariously. 1t was the same
year that was greeted in other parts of
the United States. but it reached this city
among the first. arriving a Chicago fully
an hour later. and almost running behind
its schedule before it got to San Francisco
where it did not show up until some three
hours after Washington had finished cele-
brating its advent
Possibly it was detained on the way.
for there was enough doing in Washing
ton alone to make little stppover on the
journey both welcome and agreeable
Noise rivalinG that of Fourth of JULY
while possibly not an attraction. as at
fractions go. was at least an intlica ton of
welcome in haroaric style. Bells were
rung and whistles blown. while troops of
young people. in Halloween spirits. and
often in Halloween disguise. paraded
some of the downtown streets. raising
several varieties of ructions and enjoying
themselves to the limit.
Confetti was hurled in punches. and at
some points the aspect of the thorough
fares was more like that of carnival
than of a midwinter celebration. The
night was ptdutll W. tledT anu DTiSHl,
with Just enough cold in the air to give
a crispness to it and make the blood tingle
bit. Appropriate snow. sleet and howl
ing winds may have been lacking, but
they certainly were not missed.
Await Passing of Old Year.
In the restaurants gay parties gathered
from the theaters, where. as a rule, some
speaker from the stage had wished the
aI Now Near and wait q
for the passing of 1907, to toast it's de-
greet the newcomer. fraught with I'M
agined possibilities.
The Soemnity of the occasion was
brought home more closely to the large
congregations that gathered in the
churches. While to the crowds without
the lighter side of the passing of the year
appealed. to the worshippers the preachers
pointed out the coming of new array
of opportunities for doing good and avoid
ing the bad
But good resolutions were also made
outside of churches, and many man at
figured was his last glass of pure-food-
law spiritus frumenti for at least a year.
or cast aside a half-smoked cigar when
the bells rang out the New Year. as he
remembered that now My Lady Nicotine
was TO be no more friend of his for
dreary twelve months.
In scores of private houses and apart
mentS Watchnight parties were given,
friends gathering to speed the parting
guest with all the honors of glass, dance
and song.
Center of Interest.
But last night was in many cases but
a preparation for the festivities of to-
day. for with reception and dances this
first of January is kept. busy, the year
being put hard at work the minute it ar
rived without being given time even to
look around and get used to things. The
center of activity is, usual the White
House. where a constant succession of
receptions was held by the President
until everybody on Secretary Loeb's list
had come in. shaken the long-suffering
executive hand and departed.
Receptions will also be held by many
whose names and hours have
appeared in The Star. while a number of
official households will be open to guests.
The new year is somewhat more than
full grown for it has the extra day char
acteristic of a leap year making it so
much the harder to keep resolutions, since
there are twenty-four hours more in
which they must be observed. February.
to which the extra day is attached is
proud and puffed up. but the date is a
joy to those distinguished persons who
were born February % for now they
can celebrate their birthday anniversaries
for the first time in four years.
All Fall on Saturday
Washingtons birthday. Decoration day
and the Fourth of July all fall ON d Sat
urday. thus bringing two holidays to-
gether-for all who do not have to work
Sunday.
At midnight the naval observatory tele
of no in
the eastern time belt repeating it at l
clock for the central time belt cities.
at for the mountain zone and at > for
the Pacific coast. The Philippines did
not need to be notified for they had al
most finished celebrating their New Year
before it had begun in the United States.
At University Club.
The University Club kept open house to-
day for its members and their friends at
10th and * streets northwest. Visitors
were welcomed by the members. who
gather at this event each year to ex-
change greetings. The club will resume
its regular meetings Saturday.
Services were held at the Central Union
Mission last evening, extending from 7:3O
o'clock until after the new year had been
ushered in. \ large gathering was pres
ent and many poor unfortunates pledged
themselves to profit by the failures of
the past and to carve out brighter and
a better future for themselves. o. b.
BrownJnad y. A. Robbins were in charge
during the early evening and until
o'clock. w. II. Ramsey during the hour
between and 10 O'Clock, and A. l..
Swartwout until the close.
Watch meeting services were held at
the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church, beginning at IL and closing at
midnight.
The services consisted of prayer and
song, the hymns being rendered by the
choir of the church. composed of Mrs.
w. II. Shir-Clif. soprano; Miss Pauline
Whitaker. contralto John II. Nolan.
basso, and Charles E Myers. tenor.
DR.. Wallace Radcliffe. the pastor, made
a short address. taking The Note of the
Song as his topic When the chimes rang
in the new year silent prayer was Of
fered
The masquerade skating contest at Con-
vention Han last night drew out. per
haps the large st crowd of the year. Three
prizes were contested for. Mrs. al. V.
Wagner. as Princess won tha5 first
prize. so: f.. G. Crompton. as Prince"
the second prize. so. and K. l.. lie Mat,
the third prize, 81.
Saengerbund's Dance.
The Washington Saengerbund danced
the old year out and the new year in at
Saengerbund Hall on c street, last night.
The large hall was beautifully decorated
with American flags interspe-sed with
bells The program consisted of twenty
numbers. and during the intermission a
buffet supper was served. Three hundred