, 1862-12-25
: -Chftsffa1M.

OF the church it has been ono of the most |
noted Of Christian so1emnities. The estab-
lshmcnt Of the 25th Of December was based
upon an investigation ordered by Pope Julius
L During the middle ages, Christu1as was
celebrated By the fanta&tica1 spectacle Of mys-
tcries and moralitlcs, performed By, persons
in grptesque masks and costumes represent
ing ScrIptura1 character. In the Protestant
districts Of Germany and the North, Christ
1nas is called The Children's Festival md
Christmas Eve is devoted to giving presents, I
between parents aud children.
Tie common custom Of decking houses and
churches at Christmas with eyergreens, is do
rived from ancient druid practices. It was au
old belief that sylvan spirits might flock to
the evergrcens and remain unnipped by frost
till 1nilde1 season. The Christmas celebra-
tio1s in England have lest their primitive
boistcrous character, the gambols aud carols
are nearly gone by, and family reunions and
evergreen trimmings are nearly all tlat
remain st the various rough n1errirncnts which
used to mark the festival.
To-day will he more generally celebrated
here than eycr. For . neck past tue shops |
have tccmcd with presents, from gaudily
painted toys to jewel1cd caskets'ard elegant
luNuries. Yesterday The streets were crowd
cd with ladies, and 1he shops fairly jammcd !
with prescut-buyers- Last evening Christmas /
trees were erected in almost every house, aud
the Christ child smiled benignantly abnve the !
cleaning tapers which spangled the gift-laden |
| boughs. TLis morning thousands Of little |
stockings, pendent to bed-posts, will be pie |
tl,oric with the donations OF the little wrinkled
! old man from the far North. whose steeds are |
tiny ::reindcers, flying upon their benignant |
and gracious errand with the speed Of thought. |
| Joy will bea1n in many a household upon
| this day OF our Sayior's birth, and cherry
! greetings aud merry Christ,nases go round
i the world, for once linking mankind in chain
IF love
But there will be many to whom the Christ
| mas bells will chime sad e3rols. Many whose
evergreens will be the cypress aud not the
myrtle; many <clrc1es missing son Or a
brother BY the sad fortunes Of war: many
absent ones beneath Southern soil or pining
in hospitals; many iresides bleak with tic
cold cmbcrs ii poverty. In our merrimcnt,
remember our gallant boys in the field; in
our rejoicipgs, remember our bleeding and
dying brothers; in our gifts, remember tho
poor, for whom no tree blossoms with pres
ents.
To all Of our readers, upon this birthday
] Of our Lord, who have journcycd with US
through the year Of grace now closing; to all
c men everywhere, except traitors, we wish q
c ve1y MEnnr CaE1s1,dAs.
The Concert Last Evening.
: The third Gottscha1k concert Last evening
was largely attended in spite Of the home at
# fractions of Christmas eve Patti Was in good
+ voice, and sang delieiously, especially in the
& "Shadow Song,:' which gained for her an
r encore, to which she replied with Auber'E
Il Laughing Song.'' The aria from Linda wa*
). rendered sp}endid]y, and with power ani
rou1dEcss which compelled applause. Patt
improves upon each appearance, and La!
$ gained a firm hold upon concsrt-goers. Colts
y chalk, Of course, played well, and was cnth1
8, siastiea1ly applauded, The prelude and walt
er from Chopin we're delivered by him like
n true artist, the same applying to the Funera
d March ftcm Beethoven, the solemn chords o
which reycrberated beneath his touch with
Z. sympathy and feeling VIC have never hear
10 cxcc11ed. It is in these works the true artis
Is reveals himself Gottschal,z of the cap1ices
Su DANCES and refrains, and Gottschalk Of til
N :.rand works Of the masters are distinct ind
" viduals; tile one, brilliant, dashing, elegant
~ ehower1ng eound in ripples; the other, calm
eN and get passionate, sympathetic, wrapt up
the mueic, rolling great waves Of sound
his measured harmony, or evoking from b
,,o thunders the still small voice Of melody.
m. is The true representative Of that cl.as
Of which few gain ad1nission-the artist
n- Staab. although he had difficult task b
md fore him, played well in the Norma duet, 81
At acquitted himself in q manner which gain.
for him the appreciation Of the audience.
is no small credit for 3 pianist, however got
ion he may he, to play well with Gottachalk les
& ing him. The pursuit requires rapidity Al
Sd, care, extremely difficult.
80 - Sanitary matters In Chicago.
l'7' The Slate Sanitary Agent, in his late repo
> =. thus speaks Of his visit to Chicago, paying,
- will be perceived, a deserved compliment
o'' The ladies OF Chicago and to DR.. 1saam
the g. s. Marine Hospital:
.- Proceeding to Chicago. and striving in that ",
yssf u tie t hour upon
Mr.. | Honor Judge Skinner, the We'known and n
excellent President Of the Chicago Sanitary ca
,ent Yanizations and whose zeal efficiency. aud imp
tiality,in III conveying and distributing the con
coI west to the camps end hosptals Of orr vast an
d he nstS ns eTsrY patriotic heart IN the land. ~
uec- The Judge gave me a very pleasant receptio
Introduced ne te several Of his eolaborers-al
Or profered all the aid at his command TO facili
din ny labors WIZ surgeon iehan a. o. tne N
iday. mcnt, and found upon it's books the names.of
6 Tn Illinois soldiers, 1888 Of whom had been dschert
returned to their regiments, deserted. Or died:
= II This small proportion Of deaths speaks; wen
49,. the physician in Chicago, whose scientific r.
aoTn- under fhe coatfoi o1 sne MEMe1 feeiangs an
the scnsc- am warranted in making this staten
lis patients, their frequent expressions Of til,
oo,,, fulness for the carc and kindness extcndes
cum them. and the clean condition Of the floors, clio:
New furniture. bedding, clothing, and eook-roon1,
gan ,,er1 saed the eutire nstaliebment IN short
I'd at eIyting about it was IN such good order t
eh who had been 20 fortunate aB to become its INN
hast in their atliction.
ander T Ffs x ,esp mde pd1o rom ~ tc Mapin
filthy tai The principal hospital Of this place
poso1 6tss a ne
ei%R di'ian q he sieE IN theze tents @ Tss tny
noon @ were Int slightly Elevated above the bsre 9
'nged and were crowded so closcly together that to
ed In between them required considerable effort
- - tience. Here saw many brave mon seeming
u L1e the laEt Stage Of disease while others who
4 he Just closed their eyes forever were about
carried away to their final resting place
>nc OF could but rcaTd tncec tents aud their loo
ID lad as being vesy unsuitable ior men @ who Lao
store. sad pcplcd 1ser health. lie and cherished b
for it, ii defense Of that country glory and the d
lcnce, t,1sat.heaTted. omen. .hanicd women Of Chi
artcr Their presence and kind offices at the bed al
The suffering inmates, kept theae hospitals
being time ost dismal Of places. Being assnT
tie surgeon il charge, thst he wae doing all th:
tAst means III his power would enable him to
Ire to make the condition Of his patients as comfor
kind Fl ,F ,naG for ~ fhrr eaIIy Teo1a1 70 hctter
&c, tcrs. and learning since that he has happil,
i. ccedcd in his efforts to effect change so lesi1
1teem it unnecessary to advert to any other p
Friday u1ara connected with this post. From the s
oe+h. | stores Of the Chicago Sanitary Commission
" e through other channels Of bcneFolence. those
ankGu pltals were generously supplied with Whatey
and fcles OF food clothing the soldiers were fol
need.
ckens
TuELAs7 GoT7scuAIK CONCERT
concert to be given By Gottschalk occurs
divine evening at Bryan Hall, upon which oce
ParR) The following fine programme is offered ::
rector, ]. Overture to William -Gottechalk.
h and | 2 Rondo nale-Sonpambu1a
- 49," s. AnaHnte and M4uctto Of tho MQauligh
In the | ata of Observation-Disclosures.
suo5avl T. Po1acca (Puritanih-Patti.