“Among the Germans the advent of the new year was joyfully celebrated last night by numerous soirées and entertainments, which were principally arranged under the auspices of the various vocal and musical organizations, consisting of balls, the presentation of holiday gifts, and other social pastimes and amusements, known as Sylvester… The Beethoven Mænnerchor gave a ladies’ festival at its clubhouse, in Fifth street, including a distribution of holiday presents among the ladies, which excited a great deal of hilarity.”