December 31, 1899

The Globe-Democrat fondly recalls an old German tradition: huge piles of wood are placed in the town center and townspeople pile on the things they wish to leave behind with the old year, most commonly love letters and keepsakes. Alas, for tha writer, people in America were much more focused on the new year.

The faithful attended watch parties in the numerous churches. Typically, these began at 8 p.m. with music, prayers, and addresses, culminating in communion for the Protestants and a solemn high mass for Catholics at midnight.

The more social folks celebrated with festivities, either public ones like the masquerade ball given by the Car Wheel Molders and Helpers Union or private parties in homes. These differed depending on the interest of the host and guests but often included games, candy pulling, or euchre (fondly known as “the queen of card games”) followed by a midnight supper and dancing.

And then there were the “jokers,” who, after imbibing spirits, chose victims to dance for them. These unfortunate men were forced to remove shoes and socks and dance to the encouragement of bullets the men shot all around his feet. It being New Year’s Eve, the victims forgave the shooters. At midnight, revolvers cracked all about St. Louis, a noisy tradition still popular – but illegal — in some parts of the area.