Semi-weekly herald., 1909-01-18

To any reader of The Herald, who
thinks there is not plenty of money in
this land. we call attention to the fol
lowing New York correspondence of
the Chicago Record Herald:
No one, who witnessed the advent
of the New Year in New York or read
the newspaper reviews of events in
just emerged from a financial paic
and a terrible commercial and indus
trial depression. Never was SO much
money spent for hospitality and hi
larity as on New Years eve, and the
whole population seemed to be in the
streets, the theaters, the restaurants
and cafes, rejoicing. -Four thousand
people sat at the supper tables in the
Waldorf-Astoria, 1000 at the Knicker-
booker Hotel, 1900 at the Astor and
and corresponding number at other
fashionable dining places, making a
total of $4,000 at the twenty-five first
class eating places along Fifth Aven-
ue and Broadway. Estimating that
these pleasure seekers spent an aver
age of So each. it is clear that nearly
100000 was taken in by the
cashiers on supper checks that evening
at twenty-five restaurants. At some
OF the fashionable places like Sherrys
the st. Regis, Martins Delmonico's and
Rector's tables were not reserved for
less than four persons or supper or
ders for $40, but no such limit was
imposed upon the patrons of the larger
hotels. Any respectable person who
applied at the Waldorf Astoria in time
was given number for a table until
seats for 5000 persons had been as.
signed, and for the first time in the
history of the hotel the crowd spread
upstairs into the banquet hall and the
adjoining ball room. More than 400 ex.
ira walters were employed for that ev-
ening and the receipts were larger
than ever before IN the history of the
establishment.
l am referring simply to the supper,
which began about 10 o'clock and last.
ed until the old year was dead and
the advent of the new year had been
announced by the chimes in the church
steeples and the shrieks of the whis
ties of the factories and ferry boats
Thousands of other people and in
many cases the same persons, took
their dinners at the same places.
The holiday shopping in New York
was as active as ever before and quite
as much money was spent as in 1906,
which was the banner year. At two or
three of the largest establishments
where made inquiries | was told
that the purchases were not so costly
as In that year; that quite as large
n number of articles were sold, but
the average expenditures would un,
doubtedly be less. In other words, |
there was no display of extravaganza;
as one of the managers said, the
'spenders" did not blow themselves /
off, as they did two years ago.
The general feeling in manufactur-
Ing and mercantile circles is that of
cheerful confidence that the new pc.
riod of prosperity will continue in.
definitely, and while the volume of
business during the last ninety days
has been only about three-fourths as
large as for the corresponding period
two years ago, 1t was 35 per cent great
er than in 1907.
Everybody who is competent to
Judge will tell you that prosperity has
come back again and is going to stay.
This is illustrated in most striking
manner in real estate circles. where
every one says that confidence is
greater than ever and that New York
City real estate has not lost one 5ot I
" title OF value despite the general