Evening star., 1924-01-01
TALKS and TALES
With and About
CAPITALS GUESTS

nized as a year; for no sooner had the
cuckoo chirped the midnight hour
than a fresh twelve-month burst
through the shell and blinked its
baby eyes on nervous but hopetul
world.
And such welcome as was eXteno-
ed the newcomer, especially here in
the heart of the nation, where 1T
seemed as though the entire popuia-
ton, irrespective of race, color, creed
or condition We'd with each other TO
greet the little stranger.
As per usual, the great hotels OF the
city were the chief centers or attrac-
tion, and at several OF tnose uomas
town so immense were the thronss
clamoring for table room that more
than one maitre dhotel had to cry
out for assistance.
X II = 4
Following time honored custom. the
management of the New Willard
Hotel left nothing undone that would
augment the pleasure of its guests AT
the annual dinner dance held on the
tenth floor of the house, and most IN
spring was the sight when, at the
witching hour, more than a thou-
sand gayly dressed men ana women
showered each other with CONFETTI
footed horns and gave way to other
forms of revelry in honor Oh the oc-
caSion.
While all this was going on up
stairs more than goo young people.
assembled in the willard room loI
the annual dance of the Delta Sigma
Phi Fraternity. chose aneit oMn M
newly crowned king, and, while thelr
entertainment was closed one,
Judged from the sounds OF merTlment
that waited through the portleres,
they. too, did all possible to welcome
the new year.
X 4 x x
Across the street the New Ebbltt'
notable camping ground for many
New. Year parties of the past, heio
s1eadfast to tradition. and its famous
crystal room and downstairs cafe
we're crowded with revelers from 10
o'clock last night until 2:3O this
morning.
Seated in the far end Of the his
torical dance room one old-tlmer.
who'd left an arm at Gettysburg'
stroked his long whiskers ana stla:
"Why. SON I remember the night
when this room was filled with WASH
ington's fairest. Gen. Early was
but just then shower OF conIetti
from the hand of a present-day bud
drowned the rest OF the sentence anu
the band played on.
Down at the Raleigh elaborate
preparations had been made for the
entertainment of the Elite Club, and
when, at the stroke of II, the in
sniring strains of "Auld Lang Syne"
burst from the large ballroom, sew
eral hundred other diners in the
house picked up the refrain, and a
mighty chorus continued the old ia
vorite until thrOats became tired.
). :; X
At the Hotel Washington Manag-
ing Director Downs entertained a
vast throng in the Salon des Nations,
and previous to general dancing an
attractive vaudeville program was
presented by many well known per-
formers from the local theaterS
Here, too, confetti played a promi-
nent part when old Mr.. 1923 pulled
his farewell, a long farewell. to all
my greatness." and one pretty little
one said. why, even the snowstorm
- q hundred per cent American"
X x x
ment at the Powhatan or La Fayette
hotels. Large crowds filled every
available space, and, notwithstanding
the fact that tables had been sold"
days before. happy revelers continued
TO flock to both houses to participate
in the dancing.
!: + X =
Around at the Lee House, which is
fast becoming a miniature "wigwam"
for many of Tammany Halls bravest
Resident Manager Shanahan did all
possible to make things attractive for
his guests, and here. too, the 1924
youngster was properly ushered in.
X x X X
A brilliant gathering assembled at
the New Hamilton, where the large
dining room and dance hall were
beautifully decorated for the event
and 1t was not until early morning
that the last guest had sought the
solace of sleep to revel in dreams of
an evening well spent.
x < !:
A hurried trip up to Meridian Man
sions, the recently opened 18th street
hotel, disclosed more than 400 guests
assembled for its initial New Year
celebration, and well were they re-
paid, for. aside from the enjoyment of
brilliant dance in the spacious BALL
room of the beautiful house, hand
some souvenirs were given all to COM
memorate the occasion.
X x x x
Because of it's vast space the
Wardman Park Hotel unquestionably
entertained the largest outpouring
of merrymakers. Fully 1000 couples
took advantage of the attractive pro-
gram arranged by Elmer Dyer, man.
ager of the inn, and Irving Boern-
STEMS stringed orchestra was still
playing Three O'Clock in the Morn
ing. when the clock in the office
registered 4:30.
The place was simply deluged with
confetti, and seldom have such noisy
nofse-makers been heard since New
Year celebrations first started. Mr..
Dyer presented all the guests with
souvenirs.
The night also witnessed the open-
Ing of new cafe when L'Aiglon. at
18th street and Columbia road breafhed
its sweet baby breath on a joyous com
munity. This new addition to the city's
fast growing list of high-class restau-
rants is owned and operated by a
local company. and If well-wishes ex-
TENDED, those behind the enterprise by
the large attendance at the New Year
celebration last night are a criterion,
then success is assured
X X X
But of all the care-free jewellers
who sang, danced and made merry
none was more blissfully happy than
one pretty little chestnut-haired girl
down at the Hotel Washington. n
dainty ingenue. who played her first
part in a real, honest-to- -goodne ess
New Year production. at the Shubert-
Garriclx Theater Ia nj