Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-01
NEW YEAR IN GOTHAM
New York Welcomes Stranger
 With Noise, Joy and Wine.
MILLION SPENT ON BROADWAY
Btreets Are Crowded From Early Even- ing With People Bent on Enjoyment. Merrymakers Own Town and All Symbols of Happiness Are Used.

New York. Jan. 1.--It began to be New Years eve in this city as early as in the afternoon when the army of
 COW bell, ticker, tin horn. rattle and
 confetti men that annually cater to the
 foolish spirit in New York appeared
 suddenly on the .curbstones of the city and started to peddie their wares like the proyerbial hot cakes
 It began to be a little more like New Years a little later in the afternoon
 when another army appeared on Broad way and demonstrated that the mer- chants and landlords of that thorough
 fare have learned a lesson from the
 past.
 carpenters. They came equipped with
 miles of pine boards and the tools of their trade and boarded up from curb
 line to top sash at least ee-quarters
 of the plate glass to be found on
 Broadway from Trinity church to
 Fourteenth street.
 Then except for crowds of workfolk and clerkfolk hurrying home for couple of hours there was peace in the city and surcease until 8 o'clock, when actual New Years eve broke with bang.
 Commissioner Bingham's cohorts were out on the streets to meet it. They had been told by their chief to deal lightly, and they dealt lightly. They preserved the hand of iron be- meath the glove of velvet. They had been told not to arrest anybody unless that body had raw red murder in his eye, and so they allowed all manner of merriment to frolic it's fill in the streets unless it was of a form calcu- lated to endapger life or property.
 Only the powers that prey were made unwelcome in the throngs. The plain clothes men were on the look out for them, and whenever pickpocket or confidence man showed his face on crowded thoroughfare he was promptly gathered in and landed sad der and more sote in cell
 Many of them were constrained to confess afterward that they were sor- " they had attended the party.
 The citizens of New York were not metropolitan, but happy villagers. They didn't walk aiotE. they capered: also they sang. sduawked, changed bells. rattled rattles and drew feather clusters acrogs one another's necks, and the inadlest. merriest. foolishest villagers of them all were gray beard ed old men and fat middle aged ma irons.
 Again. naturally. the hordes in the uptown restaurants seemed to be hav- ing the time of their lives and appear ed to derive ecstatlc pleasure from the fact that they were where they were and were spending money. Nothing but champagne. as per the custom of New Years. was served after 10 o'clock. and by II. when the crowds from the theaters had trooped in and sat down. the stun was flowing in seas. All of the tables having been engaged long ahead and at fancy prices, holi- day spirit was in the air. The restau- rateurs. the walters. the barkeeps and the cabmen added to 1t by rubbing their hands over the money they were getting.
 The amount of money that was spen on upper Broadway has been varlously estimated at from S250.OOO to a million, but the real figure will not be availa- ble until the end of the week. when the pawnbrokers and loan sharks shall have cast up their balance sheets.
 But every one had a good time be- cause fl was New Years and there was no law apeinst noise and only a few against disorder and because in l the condition of things and people it [ was painless process to take the 1 pledge for 190S.
 The tumult and the shouting died | only after dawn was day. and in the cold light of today the only peevish | persons to be found were certain men | of the street cleaning department who declared that never since they passed | their. civil service examinations have 4 they been compelled to sweep up and | rarry to the public dumps So many high hats. silk pettieoats. fur coats. liamond ornaments and parts of hu- man bodies as this morning