New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-25


here with great spirit; but with The downfall of the
British power came stronger infusion OF the Puritan
element from New-England and az the Puritans
tternly ret their ices against Christmas pasmes, the
good old customs fell into comparative dsuse. But the
conviction is becoming stronger every year that our
HOLIDAYS and times of relaxation from the allabsorbing
pursuit Of profit too few, and are gradually
returning 10 the faith of the fathers and at no distant
day we may hope 10 zee Christmas, Like Thanksgiving,
New-Year's Day, and Independence Day, legalized
holiday.
In the Southern States IN Canada, and in Europe,
Christmas ia Of all seasons the most gladstone IN the
wear. At the South, even the slaves, when they are
held BY humane masters allowed a holiday at TINS
time, which in some States Lasts for whole week,
during Which the negroes are at liberty TO enjoy them
selves az they please their masters furnishing ,bcln
with food and drink with which TO make merry.
Epscopslians and Catholics among us observe The
festival with oldime heartiness, and other religious
sects are gradually ncning toward IT, To all mten's
and purposes il is holiday, although not 50 dehned oy
law. An business il practically suspended, the conrt
do not s tie schools are closed the newspapers inter
NIT their evening" and some even their next morning
editions. the bulls and the bears no longer below ana
qroyl over the hard times, and all classes uneend
Themselves from the Of business and 90 III iof
GOOD time A Sabbath quietness falls upon The ei'y
broken only by blarng young New-York, whose norm
inst now il sure 10 be exalted; and while the young
.,e. are off footing away as if for dear life, or skim
ming over the CLASSY lake at Central Park the 0dFok
sit down for day of quiet, social enjoyment
And that hey mean to enjoy 1t was quite evident
Yesterday from the vast preparations apparent on every
band Business, however dull il may have been for
some time past, was brisk enough on Christmas Eve
Some Of the shopkeepers in anticipation of the good
time coming vreatbed their decr-pOsts with pleasant
eyerrcs and set fragrant irs and pcrucs and bright
FURNISHED holly branches about their stores, as If to
welcome tie glad season. Toy-dealers, eonoconers,
and jewellers all Ieapcd rich harvtst, and no
doubt the little rogues at home will be up bright
and early this morning TO what that pleasant ic-
ton, Santa Claus baa been doing for them over night
Nav none of them find themselves disappointed.
But the knick-knacks did not exclude the more solid
comforts Of the season. Yesterday the great show
holiday Of the butchers who exhibited their Christmas
meats decked in all kinds of ribbons and Christmas
green's 10 the eager gaze of adnirng muliitudcs. Nc
only were all the great markets tine sight,
but Al many Other stands had great pains been
taken 20 procure materials for fine CANAL show.
TIE spois Of pasture, barnyard, woods, aud
fields, were shown in many Il huge tide OF
fat. streskv beef, hundreds Of gigantic sheep,
and other younger offspring Of the sheep family that
were fullgrown mutton in size and weight but were
sweetest and iuiciest lamb in age and Tenderness;
turkeys that bad gobbed their last sad gobble geese
that had given their last indignant hiss and whole
brools OF chickens iha, had al bid fond farewell TO
their sweet, sweet home only the day before, and now
offered themselves toOtbsome Christmas sacrifice
sucline.pics tha, bad been tom Tuhlessly from MT
turo ppiuc fount and been sadly slaughtered with
the white drops Of their last lactea Tepast s wet
upon THEN dainty pglng lps rabbits, Aacs and every
soft II feathered preventative from wood and ,icke
were present in glorious and gay multitude, and in
| short everything in the way Of meat and poultry
whereof civilized Christians may pariaLe, present
everywhere in piles in nui.itudes, in huge heaps; aud
busy multitude all day engagedin handing over
countless dimes and dollars and procuring therefor ten
der, glorious and juicy material for multitutnOus
Christmas Dinners.
The grealest "pouluy chow" ever held in this
country came on yesterday al he Erie building at the
foot Of Readc street. in this city. II was, il is
| tue dead show but it dead beat all other
Elbows ia the line in former years. Itis show
tiat should attract great de, of attention, by way of
| comparing the trade with what it was in former years
| in this important branch Of food for the million Well
NAV il be imagined that il Is food FOR the million, when
| We note the quantity, quality, and price, The very
top price Of fancy turkeys yesterday was II cents It
pound while very good ones were sold al 10 and ~
cents and some al = cents. Geeso were abundant, fat
| and good al md 10 cents pound. Common fowls
| sold Il, 80 II cents-scld no, ia ite parcels of a
dozen a. IL I'D times in this city, but by the bar
rel. box, hundred eight, tuD-yes, hal! dozen tuus
| 1T time.
We saw one man RI Miller Il Carpenters, one Of the
Beatty brothers u Cayugs County, who brought in
| alou. Two and bali us, which was AL sold ont at
| an early hour in the morning. These men have the
| greatest poultry mandatory in this probably any
o,ler country. They bought, ls year, Of The farmers
Of tai county 1850 head OF turkeys which they lat
and prepare for market 70 command the highest
! price. Al the above house, and another in the same
! building Drew u FIonehs We SAW about dozen
! st worn hard m they conid dive, and they
worked all day long, selling poultry at wholesale, often
one tSo tens ina lot. Both Of these houses have
| been Tor years very largely engaged in tbis
| trade, aud both ;hey have never seen
ANYTHING like The prcscDt Christmas. The quantity is
beyond al precedent al any period Of any former year.
and get the price keeps up at a very fair point ia the
scale Of food priCes, Yet the great Western supply
has not vet reached the market 10 any considerable
tent. The present stock is in great from the
State Of Aow-iork. IN "a few days, ii this weather
holds the great West will pour out it supply. 1t win
not be remarkable then 70 rec the American Express
Company unload two cars dsy-tuns upon tuDs, by
tbs one line while oiber lines will furnish much;
in al pcTags more than hundred tuus II day. Think
of 81 you that eat Christmas poultry ard tnle walk
Inongh the city and among the great poultry commits
gioI house, and SIT how immense the supply il that