The New York herald., 1862-12-26

made Tor GsnsrI ncUcvsn 70 LOngstreet 8
o. tns side = Thorouehfass Gap Does or does not Go
general order mentioned 1ikes provision for meeting
TS Court shso adjourned 70 yrsaay.
JME CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL.
~~~~~-~~~~~>~~~~~~
General Observance of the Day IN This
Oity.
The good old Christmas festival was observed vester
day tAs city with all The agreeable ceremonies and
exercises that have the day since the time
Of our primitive Dutch forefathers with whom il vas
Of tho most important occasions In the whole caen
dar. OF course we do not mean TO say that the old
fashioned tea parties the solemn exhibitions Of crocksry
the philosophical circles Of phlegmatic Pipe
smokers in which the first settlers OF New Amsterdam
were wont TO indulge TO be witnessed yesterday
but we do mean that the spirit which animated
Dutch ancestors, and many Of the good old customs
which derive from their English successors,
not found wanting And among these Dutch and English
customs deserving Of perpetuaton than that
Of the reassembg OF old friends and the gathering to-
eehsr OF the scattered members Of families around the
entail resdes for the purpose Of mutual congraula
lions and Thanksgiving These annual reunions the
osses n.the desert q e they are the green spots in
and dsapp0inmens Of life look forwards them with
the same ardent longing that the weared traveller feels
little spot Of shade wherein he may shield himself II
only for few moments, othe sunlight Such reunions
were plentiful IN New M York yssssds and Joy and mifh
AS % the celebration IN other respects II most
general and hearty In spite of somewhat gloomy sky
and murky atmosphere. the city wore most joyous and
animated appearance The stores always excepting the
toy depots, were shut but II the gay decorated win
dows OF thriving shops were missed they were more
than replaced at least the estimation of Young Ame
ca, by divers stands the sidewalks which loaded
down with every description Of articles suitable
r,~C Ch-trtr h~Atn
guns, pistols, swords whips, monkeys, fancy caps
dies cakes trumpets and thousand other1thngs that
among vaiuabes vended by the stand proprie,ors
Papas and mammas made many halt before
these collections, and to the delight Of their wishful
youngsters by the logic and coquence OF
the venders to open their and invest in OF the
Christmas presents spread out tempting array
before them The delight and happiness thus afforded 70
children worth whole mint OF money and compen
saed parents more than tenfold for whatever outlays
they were put TO.
the old. The streets presented cheerful spectacle OF
smiling humanity. Thousands Of people were out 70 enjoy
the holiday either on their way to visit some friend Or
such as the Central Park or one Of he thea
tres.
The religious portion Of the celebration was also quite
general The churches were crowded with fashionable
congregations, and the music and eoQuence listened
TO with due attention Many Of these edihces were deco
rated with Christmas greens and other appropriate
mentations and looked almost enchanting.
n tine midst Of the universal Joy the poor not for
kindly cared for by their friends and many
tho military hospitals splendid dinners furnished for
the patients particularly at Bellevue and the New England
Relief Hospital in Broadway In fine, altogether the day
was celebrated as II should be-n innocent enjoy ments
private and public and 10 praiseworthy works OF charity
Chrissmas Day ON the Central Park.
appears to bs the fate Of Christmas holiday folks
that they shsud not be enabled 70 skate in the Central
Park Christmas Day. The weather yesterday was far
too close and uggy for the SPORT and the ice
quensy covered with sheet OF water plainly showing
70 al that totally unsafc for stating purposes
Every one appeared satisfied xIh The reason why the
people were excluded from the ce although many were
Of their fun.
Several hoands q persons visited the Park for the
purpose q taxing stroll and the long line or carriages
with their richly dressed fair occupants, did not show
much evidence Of any suffering being experienced nNew
While there is time Il would be advisable II plank
walk could be made from the Fifth entrance OF
tho PARK the lower pond the fair visitors the
trouble Of walking far round TO the ice and also 10
prevent agile members Of the other from break the
Park rules by making short cut the grass which
breach Of decorum no single Park keeper could entirely
ADDITION TO TIE ksNAuRRn OF THE CENTRAL
PARK.
O. Granville White En-. Brooklyn has added to his
previous valuable donations the Commissioners the
Park pair OF gazees from Syria and pair Of dwarf
deer, from Nepaul, In Asia.
The gaEeles are about the size OF goats, with beaut
fu delicate agure
The deer are OF the "Himalaya" Nepaul musk spe.
cies without horns have smooth brown hair and very
slender legs and marked On the breast with white
radating stripes They are Of full growth not over one
foot In heighth.
They feed vegetables, grain, fruit, berres &C., and
The gazeiles win be placed In the deer park In his
letter Of presentation Mr. White, who 10 distinguished
amateur in interesting Geological specimens, says:-T
glad to nDc success procuring interesting
objects for your Park and the excellent locations
and provisions for your animals"
Christmas Day ON Beekman's Pond.
There skating at Beekman's pond, that is II it could
called skating but the OF the was anything
but agreeable to any who delighted in good skating
1t like skating sand but, man ex-
pressed it, HaDg IT, is better than nothngn Some
persons had out to skate and skate they would and
did. Some few paid for their temery with cold bath
soaked with the surface water Perhaps some few will
find they have to-day nasty cold" to complete their
yesterdays sport The toot oot Of the Christmas horns
to be heard from different parts OF the pond aud the
hitting shadows OF the moving masses made the
very lively Several thousand persons skated on the
Of this and the neishborng ponds and goody crowd
occupied "the heights" 10 look on even they did not
feel inclined to join IN the fun
How the Soldiers Spent Ohristmas Day.
Christmas Day generally looked forward to by "Uncle
Sans nephews" with pleasurable emotions. The weary
ing routine Of pork and bean SOUP boiled beef and SOUP
dry bread and mikless coffee is agreeably broken by
dinner Of turkeys geese chickens and roast mutton with
the welcome addition Of beer and pies In all companies
Of the regular army and at all military posts considera
BILE funds accumulated by economical disposition
Of the ratons allowed by law These company funds
and "post funds as they are respectively called are
supposed be used the benent comfort OF the
soldiers Special appropriations made from them for
the Fourth Of July Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day and
Nan fanr nj hnltd anAn
these days the feast the unwonted deicaces Of
poultry and mutton and have also general license 20 i'm
bbe much OF the cup which both cheers and inebrates
they without the customary prospect OF spend
ing night the guard house. Accordingly they seldom
fail 10 avail themselves OF the opportunity OF following
the advice OF the poet who said rather say
A little alcohol IL dangerous thing
Drink deep or taste not the Beeriau spring.
At the various military stations In this neghborhood
Init Qiaiaa nl