Evening star., 1944-12-31
BY John Clagett Proctor

BY John Clagett Proctor.
Tonight, at the stroke of 12, the new
year will be ushered in with enthu-
saesm, and those who are awake at
that hour may hear the customary
shouting of tunultuous voices, the ring
Ing OF bells. the blowing of horns, and
even recognize the singing of Aud
Lang Syne, as the strains come floating
over the air.
C course, this greeting of the new
year will not be, and cannot be, shared
by all. for this is wartime. and the
tragedies of this great conflict have
brought sadness and grief to many
American homes.
But after all, there are many things
We can be grateful for, and join with
others in rejoicing on this New Year
Day, even as the martyr Lincoln did
toward the close of the Civil War in
greeting with gladnesS the new year of
1865.
This most unfortunate War Between
the States was a long -draWn-out affair,
and for nearly four years the blood of
the best manhood of America had been
shed that this Nation under God might
have new birth OF freedom Many
thousands of soldiers had gone to their
long home, leaving many broken
hearted wives and mothers behind to
mourn their loss. But the sun at last
had begun to cause the silver lining in
the clouds to shine. just as it will shine
again when the war we are now en-
gagged in has been brought to a sue
cessful ending.
During the Civil War
Naturally, it was happy time for
Mr.. Lincoln. and he displayed in his
manner and his conversation his keen
satisfaction and qualification as he and
Mrs. Lincoln welcomed the callers who
came to pay their respects and to wish
them happy new year.
The Washington press did not print
nearly as much social news in those
days as it does at present, since this
class of reading was probably crowded
out by political and war news. mainly
the latter. But the writer old come
across good account in the columns of
The Star, which follows:
In accordance with the time hon
ored custom, the President held his
New Year reception today, and We do
not remember of ever having seen a
larger crowd in attendance upon any
similar occasion.
Twelve o'clock was the hour desig-
nofad hn oF {Lo
ministers and members of the cabinet,
but 20 minutes before that time they
began to arrive, and the first to enter
tho mansion was Mr. Alfred Bergh-
mans, Secretary of the Belgian Lega-
ton, and several Attaches of the same,
followed by Senor Miguel Maria Lis
boa, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of Brazil accompanied
by his secretaries. ="
after the officers of the Army and
Navy had been received by the Presi-
dent the gates of the inclosure were
thrown open, when general rush was
made by those eager to gain admittance
to the mansion.
Lincoln's Cordially
Marshall Lamon introduced the Wis
itors to the President, while Commits
sioner French presented them to Mrs
Lincoln. The President received all
with the greatest cordialty and took
each individual by the hand. The crowd,
after passing through the red. blue.
green and east rooms. emerged from the
mansion through one of the side win
dows, over a substantial wooden plat
form leading to the portico.
THE Marine Band, under Scala, was
stationed in one of the anterooms and
discoursed excellent music during the
reception hours.
I'm order to prevent the handsome
carpets of the mansion from being
soiled by the mud and dirt brought in
by the crowd, canvas was spread over
them
THE police arrangements for the oc-
casion were admirable and reflect great
present in person. The detail consisted
OF 80 men, under Sergt. Cronin Of the
fourth ward, who had been well posted
throughout the building, so as to direct
parties in which direction to move and
prevent crowding and jostling after the
crowd had gained admittance.
AT half-past 2 o'clock the jam was
terrible. and many pressed so deter
minedly to gain admittance that several
ladies and children were nearly suffo-
Gated, and in some instances ladies and
children were raised above the crowd
by their male protectors in order to
shield them from the pressure.
"One lady reached the door in sucl. =
dilapidated condition cher bonnet be-
ing smashed and her shawl torn nearly
In twain that she said she would not
go into the presence Of Mr.. Lincoln In
that condition, and she inquired thu
nearest way out.