Evening star., 1938-12-31
Reservations Show
District Plans Gala
New Year Celebration
White House Family
To See 1889 In at
Executive Mansion

Led by the White House family,
Washington will extend the glad
hand of welcome to little Mr.. 1899
at the stroke of IL tonight.
While thousands in the Capital
merrily kiss the old year good-by
at night clubs, theaters and lavish
private parties, President and Mrs.
Roosevelt plan to stay at the White
House, entertain members of the
family and a few friends at dinner
and wish each other a happy New
Year in the Presidents study.
Meanwhile, hotel and independ-
ent night clubs-most of them COM
pletely filled by reservations-pre-
pared to start their celebrations
earlier than usual to give celebrants
their NIL OF the season spirit before
the midnight curfew on public con-
sumption of liquor calls halt to the
merriment.
Washington's weather is expected
to warm up slightly for the arrival
OF the New Year. The Weather Bu-
reau predicted a minimum of 80 de-
grees, with skies somewhat overcast
tonight.
Not All to Stay at Home.
The RooSevelts' family circle cele-
bration does not mean that the
White House will not be represented
at some Of the city's gayest parties,
however Miss Eleanor Roosevelt,
debutante niece of Mrs. Roosevelt
from Boston. will attend a debut
dinner for Miss Margaret Lewis
Byrd, niece of Senator Harry Byrd,
of Virginia, and a New Year Eve
ball given by Mrs. Demarest Lloyd
The dinner, given by Mrs. Henry
D. Flood at the Sulgrave Club, and
the dance to be held at the Lloyd
home at 1925 r street NV. will sup
plant the traditional New Year Eve
dance and ball of Mrs Evalyn Walsh
Mclean on the program of many
Capital socialites.
The Presidents youngest son,
John, was expected to bring his
bride, Anne, home from Boston to-
day for the holiday. Mrs. Sara
Delano Roosevelt, the Presidents
mother, and Mrs. j. R. Roosevelt,
his sister, -in-law, are already at the
White House.
Mrs. James Roosevelt, wife of the
Presidents eldest son, also is here
with their two children, Kate, 2,
and Sara, 6. But there wasn't much
hope the little girls would greet the
new year until they get out of bed
tomorrow.
Throughout the city, some SEM
blance of order will be kept by 1900
police offlcers-the entire uniformed
and plainclothes force with excep-
ton of men off on emergency leave.
Detectives to Be On Hand.
Many detectives will make the
rounds of the night clubs, donned
in full dress and tuxedoes, to see that
the dispensation of intoxicants does
not result in enthusiasm to the
extent of damage to life and prop
erty. They also will aid the Alco-
holic Beverage Control Board in de-
tecting any breaches of the Sunday
liquor ban.
After the hands of the clock have
licked over into 1899, hundreds of
the celebrants will desert the dry
environs of public night spots in the
District and journey to clubs in
nearby Maryland where the cap re-
mains of the jug for several addi-
tional hours. Others will adjourn to
private rooms in hotels TO continue
their merry-making.
Night club owners, who have kept
prices almost uniformly the same as
last year, are anticipating the largest
number of guests in years. In most
spots the traditional New Year
Eve trimmings-caps, noise-making
gadgets, balloons and confetti-will
be furnished by the management.
Managers of theaters offering
midnight shows tonight and tomor-
row night are complaining because
their houses have insufficient seating
capacities to accommodate the ex-
pected throngs of movie-goers.