The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-02

nave SlVeu place 70 new names, ana suffers
stores and houses of entertainment now oc
cupv the places where, but so short q time
ago, were substantial mercantile establish
ments. Of the three frst-class hotels We
could boast, but one continues to furnish hote
accommodations The others have been ap
propriated to military purposes, one as a bar
rack. the other as a hospital. Alexandris
has undergone another change-how long
before we chronicle another?
The FIRST SUNDAY OF W1NTER-Winter
came in appropriately yesterday. The At
mosphere was chilly, and sombre cloud,
threatening snow, hung over the heavens all
day. The streets were nearly deserted, ex-
cept at the time for religious services, and in
the immediate neighborhood of churches.
The congregations at the various churches
were generally large, considering the lower
ing aspect of the day. At the First Presby.
terrain, Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Prot.
estant and Baptist churches, the usual relig.
ious exercises took place, with discourses
from the pastors. The members of the Prot
estant Episcopal church resident here, gene.
rally attended the resumed services at the
lecture-room Of St. PauPs church, where the
service appropriate to the first Sunday of
Advent was read by Rev. X. j. Stewart, and
an excellent discourse preached by the Rev
Geo. A. Smith.
At ST. Mary's Catholic church. Advent
Sunday the opening Of the ecclesiastical year,
was observed with the usual ceremonies, the
altar being, as usual in penitential seasons,
clothed in purple, and an appropriate dis
course preached by the pastor.
There were, as usual, rumors-false and |
nevertheless were sufficient.
in spite of the cold, to gather small knots on ,
some of the corners to discuss the "proba.
bilities." Night came down as cheerless az
any night of the year, and the town was soon
silent as cold and sleep could make it.
APPLICATIONS FOR PAssEs.-Among the
recurring incidents of the present
state of affairs here, few strike the passer-by
With more force than the very large crowd
hat gathers, on each Monday morhing, at
he door, the military headquarters, on St.
Asaph street, opposite the Post Office. Hun.
lreds ofpeople wait there for hours for .pass
IS" making the sidewalk impossible for
considerable distance. Men, women and
'hildren-white, black and mulatto--all form
compact. mass which collects about nine
'clock, increases until about ten, and then
gradually diminishes until the last applicant
heard, the "pass" granted or refused, and
hen all is quiet as before.
These passes are asked for various purpo-
les, and they are little less than essential for
ne transaction Of any kind of business, or
he pursuit of any sort of pleasure which re-
luires an extended sphere of locomotion. 70
% to the camps-to visit Washington-ts
ross the river into Maryland-to sail upon 1
ne river-to "duck upon the Potomac, or
unit In the woods--to pass the guard at
ate hour Of the night-all require passes"
7hich are granted only upon the condition
nat the holder of the pass declare that be is !
loyal citizen Of the United States.
These "passes" generally require week a.
renewal, and hence the crowd and conse. :
uent excitement on the Monday mornings !;
each week.
A SOLDIER SHOT.-On Saturday r;rb+ q