Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-01-01


The year 1908 was set back into history
at midnight last night VIII with the ring
ing OF bells and the toots from whistles
Omaha was made aware of the fact that
! another year had rolled by and new one
giving greetings. The form of entertain
ment was varied and consisted of theater
parties. church services and new plan at
the leading cafes where many of the So
ciety people Of Omaha gathered to listen
to special programs of music the old
year was ushered out and the new year in.
The cold kept many off the streets in
the downtown section, and the sight was
considerably different from Christmas eve.
when every thoroughfare was crowded
The special festival illuminations were all
ablaze throughout the downtown district
A varied list of events ushered in the
new year here While cheereful ones made
Omaha howl with rattle of cowbells and
crack of revolvers, there were watch
night services at Trinity Methodist church,
Emmanuel Baptist church, at the Union
Gospel Mission, and a number of other de-
nominations and at Trinity cathedral a mid
night celebration of the holy communion.
The Young Mems Christian association,
following it's custom, will keep open house
and members of the board of directors
and their wives will receive tonight
in the lobby on the first floor. Guests,
which will include such of the general
public care to come, will be taken all
through the building, where various forms
of entertainment are provided.
Variety Spice of Program.
! In the dormitories many of the roomers
will receive guests in their own rooms
On the third floor a mandolin club will be
| located in the hall. Refreshments will be
| served in the cafe to all guests. A section
| in the educational department will be desig-
mated "The International Highway" rooms
being decorated to represent various ma
tions. Other rooms will contain calendars
posters and one exhibition will be a dem
onstration in electricity and wireless teleg-
raphy by the Boys Electrical club, under
the leadership of Dr. Milliner. On the sec
ord floor, moving pictures will be in
operation n the assembly room and in the
! boys department.
The principal feature will be a debate
| on THE Best Country to Be Born In"
| Superintendent of Schools Davidson will
! preside at this debate and the following
/ citizens have already consented to defend
! their native countries: For Ireland, ]. C.
/ Baldwin; Denmark, Waldemar Michaelsen;
| Canada, w. A. Smith; Scotland, q. T.
| Lindsay; Scandinavia, John Steel; Russia,
DR.. E. Holovtchiner; Germany, Alfred
| Marchner; United States, T. w. McCul-
Tough. These addresses will necessarily be
| short
No Official Affairs.
New Years day itself offers few large
formal and official affairs. 1t being the
Feast of the Circumcision, Protestant, Epis-
coral and Roman Catholic churches will
have morning services. In the afternoon
the theaters will all have special matinees
| and will be as crowded as Christmas after
noon. when all sold out, including all
available standing room.
| The watch night service at the Gospel
mission Thursday evening was at 7:45. The
/ service at Trinity Methodist began at AND
lasted until after the year was born, but
was broken up with a social hour Al
Emmanuel Baptist service began at p. M
and at Trinity the celebration OF the Eu-
cbarist commenced at 1850.
| Miss Helen Sommer Will play violin
solo at Temple Israel services Friday night.
In honor of the new year DR.. Cohn will
sneak on From Year to Year