Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-23 00:00:00

♦
THE CHRISTMAS MARKETS.

The advent of summer is not more surely followed by
the appearance of swallows, and scarcely is sunrise more
invariably preceded by the glimmering, yet opening
twilight, than Christmas is indicated in its approach by
a thousand minute symptoms, which affect housewives
and households. True, in their case, as in that
of most other periodical visitations, various dis-
turbing influences are brought to bear upon the
general system. Artists and artizans of all degrees ap-
pear to have set their imaginations at work to devise
something which shall be stimulative as well as in-
vigorating to the moral and social constitution at that
welcome period. To the honour of our fellow
men be it said, that even the most eager and unceas-
ing in their pursuit of personal aggrandisement, at
the hallowed period of Christmas, relax in their con-
centrated selfishness, and bestow at least a semblable
consideration on the condition of the poor. Large-
hearted benevolence also feels itself at this season justified
in bestowing a share—larger than it ordinarily bestows—
of attention to the needy and disconsolate. Clergymen
exhort their flocks to an additional exercise of the virtue
of charity, and fortunately the appeal at this season, as
in most others, is never made in vain. Christmas-trees
and church collections are made the happy media of
contributing to praiseworthy objects. Private charity
treats its protegjs at that blessed time with even more
than its usual kindness, and the community seems im-
pressed with a desire to make Christmas an event
fraught with hope, redolent of kindness, and savouring
with the sweets of brotherly affection. In consonance
with this truly Christian desire, the inmates of public
charities, institutions, and asylums receive extraordinary
attention from those whose daily care watches over
their interests and well-being. The domestic hearth
also at this time assumes an unwonted indication of co-
ziness, comfort, and enjoyment, and friends long sepa-
rated and far apart prepare for joyous meeting at the
period of this great social festival.
While all this is going on in public and in family
circles, no small amount oflabour, ingenuity, and judg-
ment are being sedulously plied in furthering the object
which all seem mainly to have at heart--the desire of
affording and reciprocating social and rational enjoy-
ment. Traders of every grade vie with each other
in affording such means of personal adornment as will
meet the taste—we had almost said the fancy—of
every order and class of the community. Book-
sellers, toy-men, and proprietors of exhibitions
find pleasure—and let us also hope profit—in con-
tending with each other for • supplementing the
flow of enjoyment which custom decrees shall attend
this happy period. By no means slack in this competi-
tion we find those who cater for the more material
wants of the community—grocers and fruit merchants,
confectioners and sugar bakers, provision dealers and
horticulturists—all contribute their pleasing quota to
the general harmony and richness, which, taken as a
whole, constitute the happy festival of Christmastide.
Conspicuous among those who minister to our
"creature comforts" at this and other seasons, are the
butchers, poulterers, fruiterers, and vendors of such
commodities who, concentrated in masses, or spread over
the town, tend in no small measure to increase the
comfort and secure the convenience of our fellow-
townspeople ; and let us add, of our neighbours
in the surrounding townships. Having said so much
by way of preface, and while expressing our
regret that want of space prevents our dealing with
all the cases involved in so comprehensive a review,
we proceed with a cursory notice of what is to
be seen in our general markets, commencing with
ST. JOHN'S MARKET.
This market having the prestige for Christmas shows,
is this season, as usual, the most attractive. The pre-
parations which were yesterday in progress for to-day's
show—and the crowds of curious spectators, who found
much to look at, though the displays were only half
complete, combined to form a busy scene of bustle and
activity, only witnessed on the approach of the truly
English festival—Christmas. Though, by order of the
Markets Committee, the tenants were forbidden to illu-
minate, as it was thought that the illuminations, by
attracting crowds, obstructed the avenues of the mar-
ket, the press was last night not less great than on former
occasions, nor had the market less the appearance of the
approach of Christmas ; for on no other occasion would
tradesmen have specuated on such stct•as of beef and
game—at no other time would there have been seen
such large quantities of holly and anlitietoe. This
year the show is said to exceed considerably that
of any former year, not in quantity only, but in
quality also. The display of meat is particularly