Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-12-26

and lit up by numerous tapers, To give
the tree effect, the gas in the church was
lowered, when to the great Consideration
of the little ones Santa Claus marched
10 aud put out the lights. He thendis-
appeared, the gas was suddenly put on,
and all the presents on the tree distrib-
uted. 1t was most happy and beautiful
exhibition rejecting great credit on the
ladies' Of the church who organized and
carried out the feast and frolic We learn
that the Central Baptist Church had
almost a similar festival, which passed
offvery happily.
THE OPERA HOUSE
matinee, given by the Hanlon Brothers,
was hugely attended by the young folks,
whose joyous outbursts of laughter at
the tricks and tumblings of the dogs and
monkeys was as delicious as plum'pud'
ding Indeed we never heard such roars
of innocent, hearty, ticklish laughter;
and we do not remember Of ever seeing
such happy, humorous and enlivening
scene. 1t seemed as if all the children
and nurses in the city were present in
groups and clusters, their gay hablli-
ments and sweet faces making the Opera
House appear like gray horizon gem.
med with rubies and stars.
THE NEW MEMPHIS THEATRE
was crammed with delighted crowd,
who evinced their appreciation Of the
performance selected for their entertain
ment by frequent rounds Of deafening
applause. So well was the drama OF
The Streets of Ne,o York received that
one or two scenes were vociferously en-
cored, and had to be repeated in order
to silence the yells of the gods" who
seemed we'll pleased on the occasion,
especially with the scene where the
newsboys and firemen get into "muss.
Mr.. Gulick deserves great credit for the
admirable manner in which he has pro-
duced his scenic properties on so short
notice. Those of the Park opposite
Tammany Hall and of the East River
view of Gotham were remarkably accu-
rate, though little rough for the want
of sufficient time to finish them in Gu
ticks peculiarly neat and effective style.
Miss Keene may assuredly feel proud Of
her success at the New Memphis.
THE DAY
was delicious-the warmest, clearest and
most pleasant enjoyed In this latitude
for series of Christmases. Old Sol
shone out with genial lustre; neither
snow nor sleet visited us and even
Boreas kept his blasts in check; so that
Heaven smiled while Earth rejoiced
Outdoor festivities, however, were rather
dull. To the Taller the outward
show of the occasion was very fat.
There seemed to be no heart in the en-
joyment-no gushing Of friendship and
hospitality like in other days, when the
souls of Memphis people outpourcd their
pleasantries in a stream as broad and a:
bountiful as the Father Of Waters. There
seemed to be mingling Of muddy waters
in the spirit of the time-a sort of Qua
kersm and Puritanism so stiff and
stately as almost froze the genial current
of the soul. Even the poor darkey, tt
whom Christmas was wont to be the dawr
of all that is happy and joyful, was yester
day left out in the cold, without either
gift or present from master or mistress
Clearly the times have changed; and the
Taller now fallen into the sere and vel
low leaf of life, thinks it nearly time thai
he should sleep with his fathers.