The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1841-12-31
Mem Torh Correspondence.
LETTER XVII.

We have had unusually gay and "merry Christ
mas" The weather was delightful, and every body
was abroad in HOLIDAY attire and with HOLIDAY faces
The numerous, magnificent Episcopal churches Of
this city astefully dressed with evergreens and
thronged during the hour of service. The number of
Children in the streets day and evening, was won
derul to see, and promises much for the future popu
latye prosperity of Gotham. The day and eve pre-
cedng Christmas, the shop-keepers had all become
toy-merchans, and the Bowery converted for
half its length INTO a turkey mart. The city was
overrun with market people and market carts, like
some English town on Fair day, and toys and tur-
keys, tin irumpets and fat geese Christmas cakes and
penny-whstles were the order Of the day. Christ
mast eve, the children and fairly took posses
sion OF the sidewalks and crowded the shops. Many
was the little fellow who sat up for the first time in
his life till nine o'clock and long will be impressed
upon ahousand juvenile minds the brilliant specta-
Gle which the Illuminated shops presented with their
gay windows, filled with toys Christmas is pecul
arly the children's HOLIDAY in New York and they
enter into its privileges with zest that must be in
fnitely gratifying to Santa Claus, their patron Saint
of the day, What New Workers. bosom, however
far he may have left boyhood and its innocency and
delightful ignorances behind, does not throb at the
mention of good old Santa Claus, who, the night be-
fore Christmas used to fill his carefully stretched and
cautiously suspended stocking, with bon bons, and
then
" He sprung TO his sleigh, to his team gave whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle"
The enjoyment which this holyday brings TO chill
hran ,e h,,.a . 4
with It's social effects The members of families long
severed are now reunited beneath the paternal roof:
friends long parted or whose friendship some one
other of the evils of human nature has marred
and are reconced. The spirit of the day is forgive
ness and peace Feuds are forgotten at the remem-
brance of Him whose birth is celebrated and who
pardoned world, restoring on this day. to his BOSOM
offending man, with all his offences forgiven. As
religious festival, this day holds the most distinguish
ed place in the Church calendar Till within few
years past it was exclusively held religious cele-
bratlon by Protestants in America But, of late we
have caught the spirit of the Roman mode, and now
| 1t IS as well as holyday, holiday. This differ
ence in the mode of honoring the day but shows
that tendency characteristic Of the times to encroach
upon the sancy Of holy seasons especially the Sab
day of religious repose and elevated devotion one
Of sports and idle pastime.
! II Christmas be the HOLIDAY for the children Of
Go ham, NewyeaIs is the hoyday for the men of
Gotham allude to the good old Dutch custom that
obtains here of general visiting on that day 1t is pc
cuiar 10 New York and New Jersey though at
temps have been made introduce in Philadelphia
and Baltimore. The day is now at hand and every
body is preparing for it. The gentlemen by giving
particular oideTs to their ailcs consulting the Direc.
tory for the addresses Of their acquaintances and
curing cab or carriage for the rounds: the ladies at
home by taking more than usual pains with their
dress and personal appearance for there will be none
OF the adventurous and ilateling aid of candles
an evening leyee, and by preparing suitable refresh
ments for their flying train of visitors The stores
this day all closed the Sabbath for every
man of whatever degree id society must cali in his
/ own circle even John the footman upon Patty the
chambemald at the next number, or Patty the cham
heimaid don speak, but turns up her pretty
John the ioolmen for the remaining twelve months
About ten o'clock The streets begin TO fiji with well
dressed men whether gentlemen or laborer By half
pest ten Broadway is black with coats Knots Of
young men who have mutual acquaintance, are
city to begin their calls, each with list of names in
his hand Not a lady is to be in the street All
is broadcloh! A sea Of hats and waving of clooks
meet the eye throughout the whole length of the
lhronged streets Every gentleman that has female
acquaintance now seeks her out Half forgotten
friends arc remembered and fading ntimacics re-
vved If GOODNESS has existed from some tri-
vial causea Gala vow, happy Newyear," a
| "A. 4 - .n -
stores good feeling
/ In so large place New York j, is a good day s
work to call a hundred families before dark Gen
ilemen who have several hundred acquaintance man.
age drop in, bow, smile, bow again and retire with
a precipancy that but New Yorker with an
universal acquaintance can equal If he negects,
through forgetutness otherwise one of them, the
family strikes him from their list for the year: ye
custom has given three days following Newyear's TO
redeem failure on Newyears. But it is so plea
SAINT give, atleIing to receive call aerthe
legitimate season has passed If persons wish to drop
an acquaintance this day affords them excellent
opportunity without giving offence. They have only
to pass By the door without entering.
To stranger, this one of the most interesting days
that one can experience. Every house is thrown
open every lady holds levee with her daughters
if daughters there be, either hand, while side
table prolusey loaded with refreshments offers
its tempting luxures The form of a Newyears
visit is as follows The viscr, if he has any calls to
make in neighborhood, drives and alghts at a
central position leaves his cab carriage and hur-
rics up the steps of the first number his list Be-
fore he ring footmun stationed at the doorthrow
it open He huries with cloak and hat and cane
in hand TO the drawing room, where he discovers the
lady seated in state on sofa placed where she can
most conveniently receive the homage of her visers
supported on the right by daughter some young
relative. The viser rushes toward her as if he was
going TO embrace sister mother long absent stops
short, bows saysrapidy "The mpiments of the sea