The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-01-07
YEAR 1916 ARRIVED
RIGHT ON SCHEDULE
Appropriate Programs We're
Carried Out At Number of
The Churches
From Mondays Sauy.

born year. Many hundreds in this
city were on the watch for the COM
ing of the young stranger, whose pic
ture has of late been the central fig
ure of so many published cartoons.
Social and religious gatherings took
place in all parts OF town.
At the moment when the loud
whistles on the various factories shot
forth their merry note, announcing
that 1915 had passed into history, and
several locomotives added their shrill
voices to the volume of sound, while
here and there the banging sof blank
cartridges could be heard, there We're
many local parties, dances and relig-
ious exercises.
At the Saulpaugh hotel hundred
couples, that had been feasting and
dancing all evening, Joined in sing
ing the Star Spangled Banner" ac-
companied by the now famous band,
which has been furnishing music for
1.-The Birth of Nation" at the Grand
theatre. The regular Grand theatre
orchestra was over in the Elk's club
house, and had be playing for
eighty other dancing couples. At the
instant of the ushering. in of the New
Year, all the lights in the dance hall
were eXtinguished, except those on
the Christmas tree. There was yet
another watch night dance over at
the armory, given by Company H.
Here as at the Saulpaugh, the dancers
sang the Star Spangled Banner" to
welcome the year 1916, the Loyola
orchestra playing beautiful accom-
paniment, While confettb was show
cred about the room.
Salvation Army Was Out.
The local corps of the Salvation
army, which had been holding an ex-
ira service in its hall on South Front
street, under the leadership of Cap
tain Ernest A. Marshall, came
marching down Front street towards
the Saulpaugh hotel, singing and
playing appropriate airs, and wishing
Happy New Year to all who hap
pened to be on the scene.
Watch-night services were held in
many of the churches. Among these
were the Centenary Methodist, the
First Baptist, the German Lutheran,
the Scandinavian Baptist and the
Swedish Lutheran.
The Young Peoples society Of the
Swedish Congregational church of
North Mankato held New Years
party at the home of Mrs. Albin
Peterson on Moreland avenue, West
Mankato. The program consisted Of
social games and musical numbers.
Parties were held at private homes
in many parts of the city. Many were
the young folks who in all serious
ness tried to fortell the fates that
awaited them for the coming year
Marriage, riches and many other
blessings, and occasionally something
not quite SO welcome, were seen in
the forms taken by the molten lead,
when dropped into pals of water, or
in the images seen or imagined in the
tea and coffee grounds at the bottom
of the cup.
Danced Until Late Hour.
At the Saulpaugh hotel, Glenn Dix
son was the host. A sumptuous re-
past was served, a la carte, and the
guests arose between the courses and
danced from time to time. The
splendid orchestra, directed by c. II.
Wuerz, was not the only musical fea-
ture. The well-known Orpheus
quartette was there, consisting
of D. NJ. Jones, Sidney NJ Davies,
Howard Johnson and |. N. Griffith,
and their vocal selections were a
treat to all lovers of that art Dancing
continued until late in the morning :.
At the Elk's club house, the dance
hall was decorated with Alabama
smilax. Red and green were the pre-
vailing colors in the adornments of
the dining room, where the guests
had supper. This gathering, too,
continued its dance into the wee
small hours
At the Centenary Methodist church,
during the first part of the evening,
social gathering, under the manage
ment Of the young people, took place
in the parlors This was from eight
to ten o'clock. A supper, with mu-
sic, speeches, and recitals, was held.
From ten to twelve, a service was
held in the church. The gathering
was addressed by the pastor, Rev.
G. A. Cahoon; Rev. Warner john
son, pastor of the Belgrade Avenue
Methodist church; Rev. Frank Cone,
trict; DR.. Frank Stout, superintend-
ent of the Mankato district, and Rev.
w. G. Babcock of Lake Crystal.
Gathering at Baptist Church
Another large congregation assem-
bled at the First Baptist church. Here
also, Rev. Cahoon spoke The Bap-
fist pastor, Rev. R. w. Hobbs, and
George NJ. Palmer also addressed
the gathering. A solo was rendered
by Miss Barbara Mansfield. Letters
from other Baptist churches were
read in regard to candidates for mem
bership in this church. All the ap-
plicants were welcomed into the To-
cal fold. A unique feature Of this
service was that every person pres :
ent formed good New Years reso-
luton before departing.
The service at the German Luther
an church was conducted by Rev. A.
F. Winter, the pastor Rev. Walter
George also took part Communion
was held. Later in the evening the
young people had celebration in
honor of the advent of the new year.
1t was on Thursday night, justaone
day ahead of most of the church or
paniZatiOnS that tho T OvoJa cI,1h hold