The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-01
Watch-Night Services in Many
Churches. While Many So
cial Functions Are Held
NINETEEN SIXTEEN Is
GIVEN NOISY GREETING
Theaters Give Midnight Matt
nees, While Many Lance the
Old Year Out and New Tear
In FEWER Fireworks Set OFF
Te nIpus iusit !.

4SAPlS A&6i$'
Last night until ont minute before
J. O'Clock Richmond people waited
in various moods OF anticipation the
coming Of another year. The death Of
1915. the birth of 1915. Some Ia va
rious Protestant churches af the city.
and at Sacred Heart Cathedral wor-
shipped as the old year vanished and
the new year was usiered in. Others
waited for hours in their homes, while
some of the frivolous danced and
sang the old year OCT and the new
year IN.
ltichmond's recognition OK The COM
ing Of a new year wss very little
different last night -haa GA nights OF
olher years. The sotHas IF the fac
tory whistles was soIsey, hat louder,
due probably TO tnc Increased num-
Der Of industries, but she celebration,
II II may he called suca. was the
same as of last year Ut tine year be-
fore. and of all the previous years.
New Year celebrations seldom
change in Richmond. They seldom
change ..nywhere Civilization in all
parts Of the universe shows marked
respect for midnight Of December 81.
Five minutes before fntc night last
night the historic churca bell on top
of the Grays' Armony began to toll
cat of respect for 19ldx Then other
bells ali over tie city segan to ring
out the welcome 10 40 new year.
Down at Fulton a steamboat began
to roar. meekly az lsrst- but eniarging
iii volume as Il o'elvek grew nearer
and nearer. Two fninuEAs 10 twelve
O'clock fonaa factor 4a.ssssff.s all oyer
the taty Blowing sofsly. AZ IL they
themselves. made np OF hard. insen-
sih,e mettis. understood and were will
ing to assist i'm the ceremonies.
Fireworks Fewer.
Remarkable perhaps. we're the
small number of fireworks that were
Sc, Off last night, Few were dis
charged on Broad Street and little
trosit'ir was experienced by tho po-
lice Ia keeping order Tn. men DE-
tailed for duty ON Broad Street did
no: have much TO du. Tho actions OF
those people "a Exoad Street laxt
night, the crowds which general.
make the most hilarious celebra ton
on New Years Eve, evidenced clear
Ia the spirit Of the New Year in
Rtchmond--one of a strict sanity and
good sense.
Twelve o'clock came al last. Slow
iy but surely Father Time was escort
ing nineteen aud fifteen to his holy
chanccl. The bells of the city rang
,out clearly. distinctly, then loudly II
was over! AT last after ss5 days. $685.
500 minutes of life In which sorrow
war. disaster. panic and pity for some
and joy. happiness, good fortune and
optimism for others, the old year had
passed and the new had arrived.
IL was an instant after II O'Clock
! that the most fireworks were heard.
Crowds swarmed out OF the Lyric
Theater. In which a midnight matinee
had been held, and out of the Colonial
and Bi1ou. where like performance.
were given.
Social Features.
one OF the mast ENJOYABLE events OF
the night was the ball given by thu
visiting students OF the University OF
Virginia at the Country Club OF vir-
slnia last night, Shortly before i:
o'clock all of the lights IN The ball
room were extinguished. 4 second af-
ter IL they were turned on again, This
affair was brilliant social success
Two hundred members of the West
moreiand Club attended the annual New
Years Eve celebration at the clut
hasll9iagss Esd sssrass Streets. iaGi
might. A celebration was also held
at the Commonwealth Club. A dance
of much prominence was that at ths
Hermitage Golf Club last night. More
/ than 250 persons attended the dance
Besides the dances mentioned above
hundreds of private parties aud dan.
SAINTS were given all over the city las,
night. s- :
While awaiting III. celebration las
mi NJ RS sf-ff fs,If .fs 81
Rlchmond's most prominent men TIL.
remarks Of the citizen probably ex.
presses the sentiments of most Ameri.
can people. lie said:
II am not sorry 1915 will pass soon
II has been year OF war and pesti-
ience ] only hope 1916 will be ycai
of brightness and happiness. moi only
To the people on This sida of the At,
lantte. but 10 everyone