The Washington herald., 1918-12-29

New Years Day spelled plenty OF
hard work as all the open houses
had to be covered. In order to do
! this he was privileged to comman-
deer the services of all the other
reporters except those on important
regular assignments like "hre and
police" The society reporter OF
nfty years ago was a man, as few
II any women had broken into"
the newspaper business at that time.
In 1882, when 1 was free lance on
the National Republican. the society
assignment was filed by a vener-
able newspaper man OF long stand
ing. who never tired of relating re-
miniscences OF the civil war when
he was correspondent at the front
for a New York journal. He wore
growth of wild white whiskers,
was careless in his dress while
about the editorial rooms. and
smoked the stub of a 1-cent clay
pipe woefully strong, and badly dis
colored- On occasions OF ceremony
Old Bob, as his fellow workers had
nicknamed him, discarded his nico-
tine scented street garments and
appeared in the latest cut of full
dress, with the essential high SILK
hat and immaculate rutrled shirt
pOcOIQ. WI TINS bNOAANloli came
about the boys politely addressed
aim as King Robinson"
On special occasions the society man
vas provided by the office with a
nrriage, and king Robinson" Sc
Rected from one of the public hack
tands a vehicle as ancient looking
5 himself, with a white-topped color
= ed driver. attired in a well-worn
livery suit. On New Years eve ne
was a man of considerable import
ance BY direction Of the city editor
the reporters assembled in the news
room and received their assignments
from the king" So general were
the New Years receptions that each
reporter was given a certain locality
to cover" and was required to visit
each open house on the several streets
to which he was assigned. This meant
an average of about 100 calls for each
man. The best writers on the stan
were given the preferred assignments
White House, Cabinet officers. dip
lomats. etc.
Washington was wet in those
days. and one New Years day it was
wet to the point of saturation. Pro-
hibitionists were the exception. and
temperance folks were as scarce as
the proverbial hens teeth. With few
exceptions the callers were first usher
ed into the refreshment room by the
host and introduced to a large bowl
of fragrant eggnog, with straight
drinks of brandy. whisky and wine on
the side and old-fashioned fruit cake.
Then followed introductions to the
representatives of the fair sex, and
in the evening parlor games, usually
with a kiss as the forfeit.
Lcnieney of the Police.
The condition Of callow youth who
had made the New Year rounds can
be better imag than described.
Many became absolutely helpless and
were gathered in by the police. There
was no law covering drunkenness. un-
less the intoxicated person INDUCED
in profanity or became disorderly.
/ Plain drunks were taken to the sta
tion houses and locked up until they
were sober enough to navigate to
their homes. Habitual drunkards
we're charged under the vagrancy act
md sent to the workhouse in default
of a fine or upon failure to furnish
bond. There was no exception made
Tor this class even on joyous New
Year Day. As a result of the first
of-the-year roundup the station
houses were filled to overfiowing with
morning after a woeful procession of
bedra ggled youths would greet the
early dawnlng as they emerged from
the police stations.
The newspapers Of the day after
were sold like hot cakes" while
Disguised policemen referred to the
the first Of the year celebration as a
big general drunk"
In the olden days the White
House was a Mecca on New Years
Day. The Presidents receptions to
the diplomatic corps, the army and
navy, Senators and Representatives,
the judiciary, patriotic and other
societies. including the Association
Of Oldest Inhabitants, concluding
with reception to the general pub
lie, attracted a great crowd to the
Mansion 1t was, in fact, a sort Of
international dress parade. The
diplomats wore their bright colored
and belaced court dress, while the
army and navy officers were re-
splendent in full-dress uniforms.
While two urchins were observing
This show feature Of the Presidents
reception, a pompOus army officer
IN detailed duty, who had procured
new uniform for the occasion,
came through one Of the Pennsyl-
NtnlA avenue gates Win eleNaIeu
eyes. to join the procession of broth
er officers With his cockade hat
and liberal display OF gold lace he
attracted the attention OF the ad-
miring urchins.
'-Oh, look, Bill, who's coming"
nrst OF the year celebration as
"Ain't he grand? Wonder who he
is7" the other boy said.
Don't know, Bill, but I reckon he
must be God"
Referring to New Years Day at
the White House, Col. Barry Bulk
ley. in his book. 'washington-Old
and New" says:
'SThe ban Is removed, when the
cabinet. the Vice President and the
Speaker of the House hold high car
nivaL All Washington on that day
lndulges in a wild "saturnalia." On
such occasions extremes meet, and
Jones from the South. Smith from
Alexandria, or Brown from Kalams-
600. If. perchance, he happens to be
present. elbows great ambassadors,
Justices of the Supreme Court, cab
met ministers, Senators, admirals
and generals. Champagne flows
freely and terrapin and pate de- fois
Eras are served Unfortunately to
the multitude"
Made an International scoop
while King Robinson was editor
of the society column of the National
Republican announcement was made
of one of the most exclusive social
events ever held in this country. 1t
was a complimentary New Years