The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-26
CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES.
Celebration Of Christmas Ray In the city
General Suspension Of Business Services
IN the Chursnes-Trial Of Steam
Fire Engines Target Com
panles and the FaEtassi-
Gals Skating in Central
Park.

Christmas was never more generally Observed in this
city yesterday Business except such us Was
done by few toy and the public saloons was en-
Arely suspended and tho great marts o. commerce IN the
,ower par, of ,he city which on other Saturdays are
threugea with busy merchants and almost imposslo'o
from the multitude OF vetiees> that choke up tho
thorouh,ares were yesterday deserted as i IL was
midnight or the Sabbath In fact an New YORK was at
home enjoying TO the fu sweet influences OF the
Christmas and dispensing Us KINDLY oharnes 70 an
she members Of the household. The growing favsr
with which Christmas is regarded is worthy Of
not, and due, doubt partly TO the large accessons
made yearly the foreign population Of the city 70 whom
Christmas is the grca. holiday, and partly 70 the in
creased felt day itself and the beautiful
associations connected with As the community adds
10 its wealth. holidays will necessarily grow favor, as
shcy give opportunity for the display OF private mun
Scence and public charitable demonstrations
Thank sgiyng associated with family reunions at the
old hemesead Fourth Of July for ts patr otto demon
stra,ors New Years day Tor ts friendly character rs
Tetrospeets of the past and hopes Tor The iatnre out
christmas Is the home holiday, when children freed from
the routine OF school du,es, bask IN their parents
smiles and become iubant the gifts OF the good
SAINT, Claus, whose visit night creates so much
delight among the "tte people, Little children were
the delight OF Him whose nativity celebrated in the
peculiarly appropriate the attention paid 10 their com
fort and happiness on its yearly return.
The weather yesterday charming-hrght and clear
and cold became the season, with nothing unpleasant
abou, i.--somehing unusual for Christmas day To be
sure there necessity for ne weather aChristmas
As people ought stay home any event but the day
is mnrky and unpleasant without much the more at
rac,ye is the warmth and comfort Of home
The Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches claimed nc
~ apart any religious association connected with the
day fom beauty Of the decorations and the attractive
and iubilant character Of the services.
The charitable institutions also reaped rich harvest
yesterday and the home of many poor family was made
glad by the Of the munifcent The children on
Randas and Wards Islands forgotten in the gen.
sral fes,sity.
The fremcn enjoyed the day in their own way yester
day by trying the capacity Of some or their engines at the
public liberty polls. The most interesting Of these ex
hibitions was at the corner Of Franklin street,
and West Broadway where the two steam ire engines
recently constructed the city az the Novelty Works
made most crcdtabe display Of their capacity 70 throw
water height and for any length Of time We
already noticed the performances OF these came en-
gncs given detailed accounto of their pecular
tics that viii be unnecessary 10 repeat II here. Old
Sreunen who have heretofore been 'down on these ma
chimes and disposed underae their value,
much aStOnEhId yesterday W sec u sticaIu num t"o
and quarter inch thrown ten feet above the Fifth
ward liberty POLE which is 1s5 feet high Ono OF these
engines threw stream OF 30 feet horizontally from
spen butt II really TO be hoped that there win be no
further delay putting these machines into active use In
the department.
Harry Howard Engine Co. No. 36 para,ed yesterday
with their machine and made ine display.
The target companies did not turn out in their
usual number yesterday for some unexplained rea-
son. Uusualy Christmas day has tho eject
o. bringing ont crowds OF target companies,
who make the streets with martial strains and
keep up continuous rattle Of muskctry at the hotels in
the vicinity Of the city This year they made bu, poor
show During the day, however, number OF faniatcal
companics paraded the streets, Grating much notice
and mcrrinent. They dressed In all kinds Of
Outludlsh attire and called by In keep
ing with their garments. " falstafs Army the "Tre-
uacndous Curbsionc Guards tho "Ragged Back Cadets
and c like be confessed that the pcrsonaton Of
the parts assumed very perfect for as general
thing the Ishmcn, clowns, negroes Punch and Judys,
and puschucn, were scmbrc melancholy individuals,
while tho IIancts Macbcths and Richards, monofolzed
all tho laughter As q burIcsquc the regular target
companies some a them had prizes strung on roc, con
stug OF penny Whistles icwsharre, bunehcs of ONIONS,
,n trumpcts and PANS and the Ike, instead Of the plated
ware figures often IN streets s the object q
these ganta,cas Is 10 laugh against thomsclves,
Il may bc source satisfaction % them 10 know
iiiat They generally succeeded.
EARLY SERVICE IN An EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Fary service took place yesterday morning al hafpa
six O'Clock a the church Of the Holy nnoccnts, Thirty
seventh street, The Of the cdGco beautifully
decorated with branches q palm tres and wrcahs ~
other cvcrgrocns considerable pro'usiop. The cScr-
cses witch commenced with tic "Gior in Exccisis.
and included ilark the herald angels sing anu several
Christmas hymns and anthems were entrcy chorll
shc hole body the congregation participating, and the
organ assisting very ittic \ sermon very apprupri1te
90 The Christmas esiiyai then preached BY Rev IT.
Mafcn Considering the early hour a which The service
..opnenccd the congregation quito large aud the