The sun., 1919-01-05
WARRINGTON, Jan. 4.

WARRINGTON, Jan. 4.
TT was tho quietest New Years.
day and eve-in the memory of
Washington's Oldest inhabitant-
partly because 1t was 80 wet (the
weather was not calculated to en-
courage unnecessary esdding) and
partly because It was so dry. WASH
ington nominally went dry Novem-
Der 1, 1917, but with Baltimore thirty
miles away the iron did not really
onter into the soul OF the community
until a few months ago when the
President proclaimed Washington a
military zone. Thus 1t became unlaw-
ful to bring liquor in at all-and more
especially a few weeks ago the I'M
feeling authorities actually began en-
forcing that heartless edict, raiding
trains and trolleyS and even motors.
Joking aside, as SOMEBODY put IT,,
Nineteen nineteen came in on tip toe
'sirly sneaked in, so quietly that one
scarcely heard" And those OF US who
have lived in the national capital long
enough to know the day as it used to
be realized keenly how far its glory
had departed. It's decline began when
President Wilson discontinued the
sreat public New Years reception.
when all the world and his wife-if
they had sufficient endurance-might
shake hands with the President Of the
United States and get a glimpse Of
the state apartments OF the White
House in gala dress.
Even II one did not attempt the
White House the streets were always
gay with diplomats in full dress uni
FORM and all the military and naval
attaches in their picturesque full
dress. and our own army and navy
men in theirs, not brilliant in color
but brave in gold lace. They all
scurried around busily in cabs or
motors or on foot during the early
part of the day from the time they
had paid their respects to the Presi-
dent until they had made all the
proper official calls. and after that
making personal calls. winding UP at
one or several of the big dances that
always ended the CAV.
Ancient Custom Doomed.
But all that sort of thing seems
doomed. What survived the Presi-
dents abolishing of the state levee-
which had survived more than a CEN
tIry of Presidents-the war inter-
rupted. and one wonders whether the
cid customs will ever be revived.
Then there was the Secretary OF
states exclusive breakfast to the dip
lornats, for which he had to disengage
himself early from the line at the
white House. and after which he gen.
orally joined his wife in receiving all
corners. And the Secretary of War
and his wife. with a few army digni-
taries: and the Secretary of the Navy
a I'd his wife. with few navy disnita-
,ies: and the Chief Justice and Mrs.
Chief Justice-each of them. and each
oI the Cabinet heads. receivins-any-
body who wished to come. with always
= certain number who were almost re-
ouired to come.
but last Wednesday-it was a dull
drab sort of a town. One realized as
never before that much OF the tradt-
.ioral picturesqueneSs OF the Wash
irgton New Year ceremonial was lost,
md Washington loves its little official
iorrNs and ceremonies.
Probably the most brilliant and sig
rlhcant event of the day was the re-
ception which the Secretary of the
Navy and Mrs. Daniels gave in their
wyoming avenue home In honor of the
.Adrrirals and Captains of the overseas
fleet recently returned and the women
of their families. Among them wer'
ADMIRAL H. T. Mayo and Mrs. Mayo,