Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-01-20
rROMLONDON.
rcorre.poudeneo of the wheeling Intellisencer.l
CHRISTMAS IL LONDON.
LONDON, 3Oth Dec. 1859.


LONDON, 3oth Dec. 1859.
Christmas is waniug-going fast. A
week of festivities, such as London only
could produce, has passed, and the coming
year is advancing with portentous bear
ing. Side by side in the newspapers, are
glowing accounts of the customaryamuse-
ments in Merrie England, and grave sur
misses as to what will the French Emperor
do 2''-and "what become of Italy and the
Pope?" Truly, we live in stirring times
and God, alone, knows how Europe is to
stand the impending storm!
The weather, which, few days pre-
vious to the 25th, was fine and frosty,
ushered in the great holiday season with
rain and mud. Monday was universally
observed as the day of the feast and the
"yule log" and "mistletoe bough," with
slog," which consists, fguTatively, in city
heqrths, though doubtless ornnmenting
many q huge fire place in the county,
Notwithstanding the rain, plcasure-seeS-
ers went in crowds to Theatres, Concerts
and Pantomimcs, of which new and
splendid ones are brought out in all the
theatres. Frikel, prince of Magicians,
bewitches young and old; Campbclls Min
strels burlcsquc Julien, whose glory has
departed, to delighted audiences in ST.
james Hall; and other popular resorts, in
GLIDING Meseums, Picture Galleries, Zoo
logical Gardens, "Rarey" shows, Fancy
Fairs, and the varied attractions of the
Crystal Palace, all are JWk2, in spite of
, wind and weather. These, with the fine
plate glass fronts, richly and showily
\ 1,n In Of
peerless Regent ST., and attract the pedes-
TRAN in many another busy mart of this
commercial city, render the time one of
great interest. Like our New England
Thanksgiving, this is the season of family
gatherings and social visits OF presents
giving and alms-giving. Our little family
circle was invited to join some London
friends living in Oxford street, and for the
first time, having for the two past years
been in Edinburg in Edinburg on New
Years, partook of the "roast beef and
plum pudding" &C., of a real English
Christmas dinner. In this festive gather
ing were eighteen children of all ages and
sizes, and q mcrricr group never crowded
around "Christmas tree" After dinner
the rattle of the Juveniles commenced, and
the ticketcd toys so temptingly displayed
upon the green boughs, fell one by one in
to the hands of their lucky owncrs.-
The twenty-ffth happening this year on
Sunday, and Monday being ':boIing night, u
she evening had special attractions to out
e;ders who could be induced to leave in
door comforts, and while the children
| were entertained with the tricks of pro-
fessed conjuror, and the ladies slipped
their tea, our gentlemen went out to E1-
ctcr Hall, where John B. Gongh, for the
nth time on boring night and eighiy.Grst
in order, addressed an enthusiastic audi
cnce on his favoritc theme. l must
explain that the day after Christmas is
called choking" from the custom of the
portcrs and servants of the trades people
calling on their customers for "Christ-
mas box" or gift. The postrnan-thc
lamplighter-the Green grocer-the wash
er woman-&c., e., all come with smile
and '.pIease"-a "Christmas boXI You
will hardly be surprised to hear that from
| the universal drinking habits of this whole
community and the prevalence of the gin
palace and beer shop, these extra gifts
combined with extra temptations Of n hoIi.
| day, prove sad boon and the cause of ru.
in to many n poor tempted soul. car
never walk the streets of this great city
without being constantly and painfully
impressed with the presence of an cvi
that is sapping the very foundations Of So
ciety and driving the masses into barbarian
aud the gravel 1t is fearful to contemplate
this hydra-headed vice of intemperanct
and mark the trail of the serpent eVery
sOhers!! Now and then, a feeble barrier i!
raised, and the voice rs of zone crying il
the wilderness" is raised here and there, t.
warn the people that swine is Il mocker,
and that IA drnnkard shall not inherit tn,
kingdom of Heaven" but to one longing
eye, the progress of "truth, temperance
and righteousness" seemed slow and thu
"goOd time coming" far off But ou
hope is in God, and the continued aud un
wcaried efforts of the London Nationa
Temperance League, and the Scottish TEN
perancc League, in Glasgow, are by hi!
blessing, beginning to tell apon the public
sentiment. A great and marvellous sue.
cess has attended the laLors of Mr. Cough
who is engaged by these Societies, anC
whose mastery and eloquent advocacy o
Temperance has drawn public attention tC
this great Reform and its necessity.
short tour in Ireland, amid the scenes o.
the Revival, awakened genuine enthusi.
asm and reultcd in organized efforts and
the pledges of thousands to total absti
nencel IT0o thousand signed the pledge ir
Belfast, during and after the meeting:
there. Every meeting in Exeter Hall, re.
suits in the conversion to the principle ant
practice of abstinence of scores of per.
sons, many of them men and women o
high position and aristocratic influence il
the land, and thank God, many victim tc
the cursed Alcohol has there broken from
his cups and taken his deliverer by the
hand, cried out, "God bless you, Mr.
Cough, you have been Rly snlvationI"-
Hundreds in Great Britain are this day
mingling his loved and honorcd name in
their prayers and thanksgiving. Great is
the work here opened for him, and the
loud calls to keep him. I believe nothing
will induce him to postpone his return to
his home beyond next summer. Both Mr.
and Mrs. Cough; for she in her sphere is a
! co-worker. will need the quiet and rest o!