The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-26

Another Christmas, Win ali IT. pleasant associations to
youpg and old has been cded 70 the past and one brief
week will see the end OF the holiday There WAS
but little recognition Of the day In public yet Il
was very geeraliy observed privately, and any bust
ness was done 1t done In quiet way. Stores were
closed ard private houses opened while the streets had
all The stiffness and socmnity peculiar to the Sabbath.
Tine little folks mad good tue OF santa Claus
this year proptous and most generous TO his
little iavorites orkeepers say the sale OF toys
enormous-there never the like Of II before. This
circumstance 10 doubt due 10 the fac. that trade aud
business have been good during the and people
have money spare toys and indeed ali kinds OF fancy
goods People usually look TO the stock market and bank
returns for indications Of the prosperity OF country bu
after oil they do not tell truly do the sales in
ewslry and fancy stores Broadway. Tn slightss
cIeud the business horizon shadow upon the
to begin with, for the hrs! impulse after business
verse with most people Is toitopthe buyag Of trnkets
and the amount OF money a1oa in the community IL east
~ gauged by tue sales in the Br oadway stores.
The prosperous season. therefore, was good for the
little folks, and for all who had friends with money
enough who cared 10 give them presents.
The weather exceedingly pleasant yesterday, and
very unlike former Christmas days, for though the
associations Of the joyous and bright the day
Is generally murky ami gloomy outdoors in latitude
But yesterday II wasa marriage Of the earth and sky,
and all nature seemed TO rejoice in the brdas Our ci
zens ought 10 have enjoyed the day. for imme
number Of turkeys were consumed. The old song Gtly
supplied the motto Of the day -
Without the cold let sorrow lie,
And il for cold il hap 10 die
" Ana o sner more On S ch msrrr pie
This holiday has long been a favorite one with
Christians OF all countries yet strange to say,
savior Nor was il the first which was observed In his
honor Easter is the most ancient, and deameo OF
vh tputh nd oOrh
doctrines rested. His birth would have been little
consequence 70 mankind Il he had not trumphantly
rAen from the grave. The feast Of the Nativity or
Chritmas only introduced about fourth century
at the core Of which the festivals and fasts OF the
rather their origin and meaning than to their chrome
logy. SO the churohmen Of those days arranged their
ginning and ending 1T particular periods commemo
rtve OF Christs ministerial history and his ascension
But nisa very curious fact that we are by no means
certain on hat day the nativity Of the Savior actually
occurred the Eastern church 1t was for hundreds Of
y.aIs celebrated on the sixth day Of january the
Western church regarded the twenty fifth Of December
IS The correct date and observed accordingly. The
latter opinion nay aied, and the Bishop Of Jerusa
lem adopted the Roman custon 10 the year 4c. 1t GER
tanly attended at tst without any great devotional
taste Of Ire age for festivals holy days by others
a. an Offset to the heather Saiurnaa which attracted
| too much the weaker brethren.
Itcertanly was at once marked by merry making and
me Interchange Of presents, which are not usu: upon
Any S Sre, Gorsn BOLDLY Very many cnrou. tracts
which are noticed by Brsnde In his Popular Ansiqui.
ties text book 10 great demand by Cnrsmas critics.
The old Scotch Presb ians could endure Christ
mas Thcophsny One OF this Sort preaching asainst
Its observance, pitched into it ~ follows
Ys s. say sd sS0 Ga sss FSos old Y0uday
tel soai IS ! brave srei belly Ry" day.
And the quaint Old parson was pretty nearly right II
not only day fer the church but roIc for sthe rest
Of mankDdn More eating and irinking aud playgong
occur en- Christmas than any other day In the year
In New YORK n Cause OF large expenditure Among the
resident Germans orets OF mimic seen IL cir
The French not % FUN o. legends and Old prsoces Be.
Now their Gins on New Years day. The Auerc ans do
10 this city AID Abary for the servants Of sontemen
particularly they were blacks, TO 90 round among their
practice led gentecl families not 10 rive or receive
presents tn emseives on that gay.
coa n9,e who were Broadway on Wednesday evening
OF the toy and confectionery shops until late hour Of
enough. Parcels were sent everywhere 10 wrong al
dresses, snd presents came anonymously to wondering
People. Al, blnnoen were probably rcctaed in the
with Christmas day. Orders OF great value exc.
cuted and BY aIge houses with sole reference to The
prices Of numerous articles win fall twenty ave per
ocnt.
or holidays too lev belong 10 other columns than 70
| these o. the "briei ohronclers Of the times"
CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS EVE.
| The religious observance OF Christmas eve was
connned 10 Roman Catholic and Episcopaksn
| churches. The midnight mass was duly performed
| in horror Of the birth OF Christ. Formerly
/ twelve o'clock At night the time chosen for
performing this service but Of years the tr,c has
pen cn.nssd 70 O'Clock on Christmas morning, and
cbuIcnes were crowded 10 witness the high niass In
the Church OF the Third street Fathera
Becker and Heluprsechi and assistants went through
auditory. In ST. stephen,, in Twenty ernth sirec
dense crowd assembled to listen the splcsdid vocal
bisted, 10 the cathedral In Mott street. high MSS was
raid by no Very Rev vioar General star ct O'Clock
q ~ Francis Xsver in sat,cnta street the ma,o
Was superb and the crowd 70 vcn TO II very great.
In the Episcopal churches also there were MANY inte
resting exercises on Christmas eve
We understand toai for the first time In this city sort
Of high mass vas also said, al the hour with
Catholic, In Trinity chapel generally considered Protes
Ant Epds copa eeihce. Il ccraloly nrounced %
about 10 take placcthai iArse number Of the clergy
be ntoned in the bet style OF modern Puseysm This ia
pretty good 'ep EDWARDS In the Via Roma and we 90
cordiueiy wait 10 see what will be the next
In Trinity church there pleasant time A being
the sDnivcrsary o. tho down Msson schools The
R.v. mr. Bcrrisp. rector REV Dr. Hashi: Rev Meg,rs'
0gby Young, DIX, Peune, assistant mln,.ora 40 and
Board Nctsr, COBB, and scsrbsrcngb ,aderta Of nc
General Iheoosca Seminary, had the scaera arrange
mcSi q TIE schools, and kr s accompanied the singing
Ihe children connected With the Chur III of the Iuc,rna.
| ton alro had an anniversary,
The DAY IN THE cITY-MILITARY PARADEs.
ssrvce was held In gres; number or our cuurescs
yesterday morning Tie OF the day wa. mostly oe
cupicd with roast beef and plum pudding and turkey and
mirce pic.
In tho evening the places Of amusement Of ali kinds
we're Tiled .ih pleasure seekers, Tor "ohrrmsf come,
The only charitable society observed the az vas the
'Home Tor the Frendiess,f whose Friends r,ven az
nation yst At the Institution. No 81 Eas, Thirtsarh
street, from which handsome return was prade witch
viii dcrtbess be most worthily bestowed
1he target companies usual lad rood lime AtpouS
then we observed the following oompanics-
1he sew York ledger suard. Captain John Sco,t turn
ID out 100 muskes, and looked pendldy nod sorih's
mi ntnd OF ~ pieces acoomosned them. This guard
s1ot ior = number Of magnificent prizes At tho River
hFhy ,lstd With their day sport This is . Gne corrs
and are worthy the name they pear.
The Mcmahon Light Guard nsis their FIRE, animal
parade 70 HoboStn under the command az John A. Ks.
vsnnsgb.
kets ock ned all - ~ f~-