The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-01-07
9pme Gorresgonbsnet.
OUR PHILADELPHIA LETTER.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 2, 1860.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 2, 1860
Mr.. EDIToR:-The death knell of 1889
has been sounded, and new year is born
in its stead-a year which | hope may
bring us good cheer and Tighten the hearts
of thousands now in sadness. 1t is usual
to pass the compliments of the season, "a
merry Christmas "a happy New Year."
and to press our friends to feast around the
festive board, while many INDECENT poor
are literally starving and freezing for want
of the necessities of life in this and other
large cities. Another custom obtains
among certain religionists of meet
ing in church capacity on the eve of the
old year, and ushering in the new with
prayer and calculations of joy. This is a
time honored custom, and is hoary with
age; but many who practice it should put
on sackcloth, and sit awhile in the dust of
humiliation for their sins of omission and
their sins of commission, until they can fee.
the weighty responsibility under which
they are placed as servants of Being who
is all goodness and love. Some persons
persuade themselves, and that Chassis grow
ing larger every year. that preaching, sing
ing, and praying are tho chief duty of
Christians, while charity, benevolence, and
their kindred graces bear with less weight
upon their minds. Thus many have be-
come "as sounding brass and tinkling
symbal," being without these requirements.
These considerations press themselves up
ON our minds with more than ordinary
force at a season like this, whee nearly ev-
cry avenue for gaining subsistence is
closed against many, and they are driven
by stern necessity to beg or starve-per-
sons, too, of whom it may be said, "the
world is not worthy" In early autumn a
search was made among the poor of Phila-
delphia, and many were found in squalid
wretchedness, while in the deep recesses
of their hearts they possessed a jewel be-
yond price-the Christians hope, the love
of God, and calm resignation to His will
and Providence. Boreas knocks hard at
our doors, and clothes the earth in win
try garb, the fleece of the northern hills,
and while our hearts are filled with cheer
round our happy fircsides, let us not for
get that there are many deserving souls
who would be glad to have some of the ne
cessities of life, of which we have enough
and to spare.
In addition to want and starvation, it is
reported that there have been persons found
frozen to death during the present cold
term, which has been with us for some time.
The streets are literally sheet of ice, and
pedestrians find it very difficult to walk up
on the sidewalks, and some, for safety,
take the middle of the street The cold no
doubt has an effect upon the times, for be-
lieve the holidays have passed away thus
far in an unusually quiet manner.
The chief sources of amusement just
now are the fairs (which are being held in
various parts of the city, mostly for the
benefit of churches. At most of these
useful as we'll as fancy articles are exposed
for sale, but of course no one acquainted
with such things expects to get the worth
of his money. They are expected to give
for the sake of religion. Young people
will spend their money, and they might
as we'll spend it where it will do somebody
some good as elsewhere.
This day is not so generally observed
as holiday as was Christmas, but there is
one pleasing feature about to-day that is
worthy of notice Evans, the originator
of the gift book enterprise, distributed one
thousand loaves of bread to the poor from
the steps of the Custom House. Sanford
even surpassed this generosity, for he dis
tributed three thousand loaves, and by an
| duh6TlISeLlcllL SCo lIldL OuC lHouooHu iioI .
will be distributed from the steps of st.
Stephens Church tomorrow (Tuesday)
morning. These acts of generosity are
well timed, and the donors deserve great
credit l look upon the two former, how
ever, as business cards; but that does not
detraet from their merit.
The census Of the Almshouse was taken
on Saturday, and shows a decrease of IS
since last year this time, there being now
2,863 occupants. This is no doubt owing
in part to the manual labor system intro
duced into the institution.
The number of deaths reported to the
Board of Health last week was 1873, IL of
which were colored. BANNEKER.
OUR ALBANY LETTER.
ALBANY, Dec. 81, 1859.