Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-01
WASHINGTON HALLS
BIRTH OF NEW YEAR
Thousands Pay Formal Calls,
While Florists Rush to
Fill Orders.

All was quiet along the Potomac to-
day-after a few hours of fitful sleep
until Washington awoke to realization
that the lusty-lunged founding 1t had
adopted in a moment of rashness at
midnight was clamoring for renewal
OF its christening festivities.
Leaving the politicians to settle the
mooted question as to whether last
nights christening of 1890 was the
"wettest or driest" on record, the resi-
dents OF the National Capital turned
out in full force this morning to pre-
pare for return of time honored New
Year formalities. Oficially, the cele-
bration began with the reception at the
White House, in which the public took
part, at ! o'clock. Connecticut avenue
once the scene of brilliant New Year
parades OF the fashionable, again took
on the appearance of former years as
round of New Year calls.
The Police Department NAV have its
own opinion about the sobriety of
WaShlngton'S New Year celebration. and
was checking up today on the casualties
OF the night and early morning hours.
With special details of detectives on
duty at all public places where
''whoopee" reigned supreme, the down
town police precincts entertained
long list OF unwilling guests.
Many Church Services.
Washington celebrated the birth of
the new year in its own way-and that
way was determined by individual de-
slreS. Not all OF the population packed
the night clubs, hotels and theaters by
any means. Almost every Protestant
church in the city had its Watch Night
service, and at the stroke of midnight
the chimes OF Epiphany tolled the glad
tld1ngS throughout the Capital.
President and Mrs. Hoover, reserying
today for their official recognition of
the New Year, spent last night quietly
at the White House, as did thousands
OF other families, despite all the in
ducementS offered to draw them down.
town. Mr.. and Mrs. Hoover had a few
friends in for the evening and dis
pensed with the custom of Marine
trumpeters to herald the birth of the
new year In the picturesque man.
ner inaugurated by Mr.. Coolidge.
The ticker tape showers with which
Wall Street greets celebrities were
rivaled today by the paper and past
board deluge with which Washington
welcomed the new year. Calling cards,
mounting into many thousands, figu-
rativly eddied and swirled and sifted
about doorsteps like snow flakes. Every
body went calling.
One leather goods house was COM
pletely sold out of card cases Yesterday.
owing to the unprecedented demand.
antique Roman seemed to be the IA
vored lettering used on the cards. Most
OF them were of plain white, while a
few were Of the most expensive parch-
ment.
The Capital paid tribute to 1880. too.
with about $4,000 worth of flowers. A
leading florist estimated this amount as
fair New Year percentage of the en-
tire holiday trade in flowers, which he
says was between $4,000 and 100000
Some single $500 orders for New Year
flowers were placed with local florists
orders for $50 and 500 worth of
flowers each.
Gardenias, orchids and roses were
usually included in the boxes which
were dressed up with fancy tulle and
ribbons. The 1880 debutautes' par
TALLY for gardenias worn on the shoul-
der has sold many of these blossoms at
So apiece.
One Of the largest New Year orders
ever given Washington florist was for
$4,000 from a countess who is now in
Europe. The check was accompanied
by list of names to whom she wanted
500 boxes of flowers sent.
Telephone Operators Busy.
Last night was a hectic one for the
long-distance operators at the tele-
phone exchanges. There was hum of
organized activity on the part of the
$50 special operators who handled the
greatly increased number of calls
which we're made to every section of
the United States. The local telephone
company had increased its operating
force to more than five times its usual
number to handle the peak load of 1000
calls, which occurred between the hours
Of $50 pm. and 3 am. today.
Among the switching centers which
had increased circuits connected with
Washington were Albany, Buffalo, New
York, Philadelphia, Hartford and New
Haven, Conn; Salem, Mass; Cincinnati
and Cleveland, Ohio; Milwaukee, st.
Louis, Charleston, w. Va, and Rich
mond, Va.
United States Attorney Leo A. Rover,
upon whom falls the duty of prosecut-
ing dry law offenders, will have some
thing pertinent to say about law en-
forcement and observance in 1880, when
he speaks today at the Young Mems
Christian Association. The central
branch will keep open house during the
afternoon and after Mr.. Rover's address
at 2:30 O'Clock, there will be a general
reception, followed by athletic games.
A committee Of hostesses, headed by
Mrs. Leonard w. De Cast, will assist
in receiving the guests.