A Round of Gaiety in Shanghai's Many Cafes on Saturday To-day will find everyone back at their usual daily tasks, and, al though on Tuesday tne banks wee closed, many of the business houses, especially the retail establishments, carried on a meagre scale. A few letters were dictated -and several cables coded, but it seemed on th whole that only the newspapermen, the police and firemen really were at work.
The New Year was ushered in the usual Shanghai -manner, this year more elaborately perhaps, and Somewhat more vociferously, owing ge number of guests with= idst. There can be no mis-that more foreigners, and Chinese celebrated the occasion in Shanghai than ever before.
At the Astor House the main event of the programme was the concert during dinner, which the band of the Green Howards render td, under the masterful direction of the ever popular Mr. 'T. Francis. During coffee and liqueurs they suddenly switched to dance music, which entranced the crowd until they played "God Save the King,"
the early hours of the morning. This was the last indoor concert which the Shanghai public had the privilege of hearing. Just after stroke of midnight, the usual cere= monies of "Auld Long Syne" being varied by more popular war tunes, the crowd spontaneously gave three rousing cheera and a tiger for the departing bandsman, The Majestic The Majestic Hotel saw the largest crowd in its history, both the main ballroom and the Italian Garden, and fun and joy filled everyone. There were about 1,500 persons present. Whitey Smith's jazz orchestra, playing during dinner and afterwards, provided solo numbers, which the—assembled guests appreciated, and did not hesitate to show their approval of.
The newly opened Plantation celebrated most successfully their first New Year's ball, and patrons, well pleased with food and entertainment, wished the management many repetitions of the occasion. Jack Carter's symphony serenaders were equal to all demands, and responded heartily to all request There is something about the ch and variety of the dancing and singing of the Misses Snow, Valnda and Lavada, that attracts, and they, in company with Carter himself, and Didley, provided such a round of entertainment which so fascinate ed cafe goers, that only carly arrivals could find places. "Bo" Did-Joy's encore to his second number, a genuine imitation of Earl Wile liam's "Poker Game," showed him a master in mimicry' and facial expression, The Carlton There was nothing lacking in the quality or quantity of mirth and merriment at the Carlton Cafe.
Every table had been booked for dinner, and after dinner guests so filled the huge room that dancing tually was impossible. Every tone was good natured, however, and no one resented toes being trodden upon, The Parisian Revue offered a special entertainment, and per formed a well received and a highly decorative midnight show. Mr. Koletz and the "Modern Syneopat= aided materially in making the celebration a success.
A particularly pleasant time was also spent at the Little Club, which was crowded with enthusiastic guests until the late hours of the morning.
The Del Monte and outlying' cabarets, including all those from the Lodge to the borders of the Prench Concession, kept open house all night. At the Del Monte hundreds were turned away, An attract ive show, the star of which was year old girl, was interspersed dancing.
Although the sun shone brightly before hundreds -of Shanghai residents turned to their beds, no one seemed sorry for having fittingly received the
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