Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-01-22
new YEARS
ON BR lOl]l,A|||DWA Y
{. S. Dale Tells WilImar Tribune
Readers Of The Hilarious Lille
i In New York.

Extend Pacific avenue between
Third and Fourth to Atwater, multi
ply the number Of people who take in
/ the "Pike' at Willmar street fair
time by few thousand and the noise
made along the Pike by infnity, and
you will have q pretty good idea of
Broadway's New Years Eve. Songs
and music in the parks, these feat
ures arranged by Jacob. A. Riis,
the we'll known reformer, horse play
in the crowded streets on the part
Of thousands armed with horns, bells,
rattles and confetti, and merrymak-
ers in the gaily decorated restau-
rants and hotel dining rooms, all
contributed their share in welcoming
the newy year and bidding the old one
goodbye. r.@..
By 9 o'clock Broadway wa s
thronged with pleasure seekers,
among them many thousands from
other cities, and all carrying some
sort Of noise-maker from the old
"ish horns" to face ticklers and
"sneeze POWDER" with here and there
bunch Of youngsters dragging a
bunch of COW bells along the street.
AS the hour of midnight approach
ed, every head in the crowd in the
vicinity Of Times Square, as usual
the chief gathering place for the rev.
elers, was craned backward to fol-
low the Illuminated ball on the flag
mast. To the north Of the Times
building the crowd extended for
blocks and blocks. sea of people,
brightly Illuminated by thousands Of
glazing lights, and when the ball fin
ally dropped pandemonium Of noise
rent the air. The big bells Of Trim
ity and other churches tried to gain
hearing but the horns drowned the
hymns so effectively that most peo-
pie did not even know the bells we're
in action!
Up to this point the crowds had
been good natured and orderly, but
after l o'clock bands Of hoodlums
made their appearance, and before
the first morning of the new year
had come, scores Of persons were
shot or stabbed, and more damage
was done to property than on the
most hilarious Fourth Of July before
the "safe and sane" days. The po-
lice stations were filed With men and
women charged with intoxication and
disorderly conduct, while the fire de-
partment as well as the police de-
partment, was badly disorganized for
a good many hours, due to extra
calls or false alarms.
But in order to know the real dis
tinguishing side of New Y ork's New
Years celebration you must follow
the crowd to one of the hundreds of
hotels or restaurants. That is you
OUGHT to follow the crowd. To do
lit you must prepare for the event
early. Several weeks before the last
day of the y ar orders begin to pour
in to the SWEETEST hotels and restau-
rants for tables. The reservation
costs all the way from $40 to 5000
per table, depending on which place
you select, and this amount you must
pay before you are allowed to enter.
Then credit is given you on your bill
for the money paid, but Of course
you must eat-or rather DRINK
at least as much as the reservation
called for. And here is the heart of
the celebration-if you can conceive
Of such a thing as a celebration Of
this kind having a heart. About II
o'clock there is hush in every big
hotel. The head waiter has given his
men the last instructions, and all are
waiting for the crowd. Then all at
once, as if by magic, they rush into
the brilliantly lighted dining rooms
brought to the doors in taxis, cabs
and private autos. The orchestra
starts to play, and in fifteen minutes
the place is converted into music
hall, a smoker, dance hall, any
thing you please. Eating is inciden-
~