THE NEW YEAR IN LONDON.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1919, Page 1

THE NEW YEAR IN LONDON.

LONDON, 'Jan. 3. The gaiety of London lms been eclipsed for four years by the world war. Doutbless that was the justification for

occasional lapses from good taste in the revels which inaugurated this New

Year There was the usual boisterous gathering outside St, Paul’s Cathedral, including hundreds of Australians, New Zealanders, and Canadians in their distinctive military hats, and not a fowl men in hospital blue. -Most of the I great London hotels had special festivities, particularly the Savoy, where, 2000 guests were entertained, after (>OOO applications for places had been refused. The Palm Court at the Carlton, the Waldorf, the Berkeley, the Regent Palace, Claridge’s and Prince s -all had the special attractions. But they were, eclipsed by the cosmopolitan gatherings of soldiers, sailors, and city men, and their womcn-folk at the Savoy. Many Australian visitors will recall the reputation which the Savoy Hotel has established in recent years for its revels. Oil Now Year's Kve the dining tallies overflowed into the hall, the Cafe Pa vision, and the restaurant foyer. Then came a dance, in which the brilliant costumes of lightly attired women had great opportunities for display. There was no evidence oi war ceonoinv here. Clearly the Irevellers meant to regard the night as part s oi the peace celebration. Many Americans joined their English and Australian cousins in the noisy festival. Just before mid-night the lights went down upon these scenes; the hour of midnight boomed from many a steeple ; the orchestra struck up Anld Lang Sync ami the National Antelun. All around Loudon hundreds of hoy scouts sounded the bugle call of “All Clear.” At tl„. Hits every lady guest received ; luuulsome fail as a souvenir, and flit New Year was heralded by a fan-fare o trumphets. The Food Controller i still supremo over restaurant meals, si the New Year feasts were loss genorou than usual, but they wore not a whit less expensive; LJ Us a meal is quit

It'.SfS IWJWIKSH' y , a common price. . , While the classes were spending their money so freely at the Savoy and Bitz.j (he more economical masses were usher- , big in the New Year under the dome of St. Pauls. Tn times past St. Paul’s Churehvard on New Year’s Eve > vas essentially a Scotch gathering place, and it was chiefly notorious for the generous manner in which the “wee drap was offered to all and sundry. But it is not easy to celebrate hogmanay with

Scotch whisky at 12s (3d or 15s a bottle. These figures put a stop to indiscriminate treating, and the fact that publichouses closed soon after 9 o’clock om Dec..3lst mado 1919 practically a ‘dry’ New Year. Apart from the Anzacs, there were many American soldiers and officers who had come to see how democratic London behaved on New Year's Eve. They soon found hundreds of “Wanes” and other women war workers who were willing to join in an impromptu dance. Strings of these girls serpentined a way through the crowds in follow-nty-leader style until they were joined by the men and broke up into inevitable couples. Every civilian could bo sure of one girl. An Australian in khaki or a sailor lad in blue might have had two or four at once. And most of them took their full privileges. It was boisterous, but it was honest fun. “Tickling brushes’’ were whisked in the faces of solemn passers-by. A snatch of a popular song was started, and taken up by hundreds of merry girls and men. Then perhaps a jig was commenced to the tunes of some street musician. At the striking of the great bell of St. Paul’s there was a terrific shout, a great waving of flags, hundreds of caps were flung into the air, some fitful cheers, and a few lines of “Annie Laurie” and “ Auld Lang Syne.” London had welcomed in the New Year.