New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-01
CITY GIVES NEW YEAR
A ROUSING WELCOME
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, About II o'clock the lights on the
first floor were switched on. AT inter-
walls of two minutes another floor was
made brilliant, until the entire build
ing seemed ablaze. Then high efficiency
nitrogen lamps equipped with specially
designed rehectors, flashed up on the
tower from the lower part of the build
ing. When midnight was struck or
the clock in the worlds greatest build
ing's little. old-fashioned neighbor, St.
Paul's Church, the tower seemed reared
against the sky like spectacle from
Fairyland
The chimes in the tower OF Trinity
Church were first rung at 1880. At in
tervals until midnight their liquid
notes hoated over the financial dis
trict. packed with the older and more
staid part of the city's population.
gathered to listen. Al five minutes
past IL a service was held in the
church. the Rev. DIR. Manning celebrat-
ing Holy Communion.
Watch Services Were Held.
Watch services in other churches
were also observed in the earlier hours,
including the Cathedral of St. John the
Divine. the Church of the Ascension,
the Madison Avenue Presbyterian
Church and scores of others.
Hard times and the scarcity of pur-
chasing means were nowhere evident.
Not only were such unpleasant barriers
to the good time lacking, but New York
seemed to 90 down little deeper into
its pocket ahd crag forth whole wads
of money that other years did not
dream could exist.
Each restaurant and grill had it's in
dividual Surprise" for its patrons. As
sured in advance by the unheard of
demand for tables, an estimate of the
crowds to be entertained was CLEANED
by the managers. And they did their
part TO see that entertainment was
abundant.
At the Waldorf. the Aston. the Bit-
more, which celebrated its second
birthday; the Knickerbocker. the Ritz
Carlton, the Plaza. the McAlpin and
every other prominent hosiery guests
were given a programme of unusually
excellent music. careful service by an
augmented horde of waters, souvenirs
Of more than passing value ard some
thing novel IN the manner Of greeting
10 the New Year. And the guests in
return manifested their appreciation by
buying until time or inclination babe
them cease and seek their homes.
Took License with License.
Mayor Mitchell. as his contribution
TO the joyousness of the time, issued
more than 200 special licenses TO cafes
and restaurants, whereby their patrons
were given the privilege of sitting or
standing all night, or as long as they
could command the eye OF n waiter. or
fight successfully for reaching room at
a bar.
Not few oroprietors took advantage
Of the occasion to remain open, with
out a license. The police came down
on some and forced them TO turn away
their guests. But many seemed TO have
been overlooked. and their doors stood
open, greatly 10 the profit of the pro-
prietOrs.
Paper snowballs flashed like meteors;
streamers of interminable length
wound about chandeliers, chairs and
tables, and got in the eyes, hair.
mouths and wine of the celebrants.
Confetti foated about like snow. Bal
looms bearing the familiar slogan,
Happy New Year." hoated toward the
ceiling and bodied about in the heated
air. Tom-toms were beaten, horns
blown and orchestras Wed with the din
Of banded greetings.
A. for dancing t shared the evening
with the noise. II all the steps taken
TO the syneopated strains of the hun
dreds of orchestras by the inestimable
number OF dancers were measured and
the length totalled there is probably
no planet sufficiently removed from the
earth 20 which the distance would not
reach and then return TO lap about the
earth law timsS.