The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-26
CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY,
How il was observed-The Streets
The Churches-TheT Thea
tres, Etc. Etc.

StlGtIo WSAC lCSS OlOWuCu anu lCNNA VI Viz
churches we're open than has been the custom
heretofore; in the places of public amusement
alone were there the usual crowding and the
usual animation. Nevertheless, IL was, i'll all
respects, a merry Cbristmas-a dt precursor OF
a happy New Year.
The distinctive feature of Christmas-eve was
noise. We believe there is no other city in the
Union in which the horrible din OF tin horns is
considered essential to the due Observance OF
this occasion. But here every urChn who can
fairly stand upon his legs becomes the posses
sor of one of these delectable Instruments. On
the morning before Christmas he sounds few
preliminary toots, just to try the capacity OF his
lungs, and the dscOrdanCe OF his trumpet. Then
he waits patiently until the setting of the sun,
when he enters upon his carnival oi noise, SEEM
ingly with no other purpose than that OF making
Monday evening these youthful "lords of mis-
rule" were i'll their glory. The din that they
made was fearful-it was holrible-nSy, we may
say with truth that it was head-splitting and
hear.-rendng. 1t continued until midnight
and early on Christmas morning it was renewed
to be kept up during the greater part OF the day
But this species OF amusement was not con-
fined to the youngsters who have no better
sense; it was found attractive enough for many
whose years should have given them grain of
wisdom. We noticed, in particular, tullgrown
man who had on either arm woman-we
scarcely feel warranted in styling them ladies'
and each one of the three, as they walked
leisurely down Chesnut street, blew with all
their might and main upon these obnoxious
trumpets. There was on the street another
character who dealt in horns, but his manner OF
dealing was such rs to send thrill OF gratitude
through the heart OF every man and woman
who was not brought up in boiler factory.
The man in question was OF gigantic stature,
and his limbs SO well rounded out that he must
have inspired the Infant of the Reserves
with respect if not with fear. Such
being the case, it was not to be
supposed that any ordinary mortal would
attempt tointerfere with his operations Behind
the stawart knight stalk ed his faithful esquire,
bearing on his arm market-basket OF huge
dimensions. Whenever the twain came upon the
possessor of horn, the giant deliberately trans
ferred it 10 the keeping of his attendant and by
the latter it was duly deposited in the aforesaid
market-basket OF huge dimensions. When we
encountered them on Chestnut street, the basket
was nearly piled with the dlstractlug baubles,
and at every few steps a fresh acquisition was
made to the stock already in hand. S"H heartily
wished them "a merry Christmas" and its re.
gular return tor every horn they captured.
Another feature OF our Christmas Eve Is the
crowding and pushing which is resorted to by
sundry youths, whose refinement is so limited
that they are incapable of resorting to any more
rational amusement. The principal scene: OF
their diversions are Chestnut street and Eighth
street, the latter usually having the preference.
On some occasions this practice has been car
ried en- so extensively that the shop.windoWs
have been broken, and the shops themselves, It
the propr1etors did not take the precaution of
closing them in season, filled with a surglng
mass of men and women, who sought thus to
escape from the miseries to which they
were subjected on the sidewalks. The Mayor Of
the city wisely determined to put an end to
these proceedings, and with this OBJECT IN view
an extra force of policemen was detailed, with
instructions to oarrest every person whose passion
decency. The knowledge of this fact, without
doubt, deferred great many from attempting
to amuse themselves in accordance with their
inclinations. About o'clock, however, hare
Drained youth was caught in the act, and forth
with taken into custody. Between that hour
and midnight over thirty arrests were made,
the delinQuents beng marched to the Central
Station and kept in close quarters until they
could be offered hearing. Shortly after IL
O'Clock Alderman Betler took his seat, and sum
marily disposed of thirty-one cases in all. On
most of the offenders fine of two dollars was
imposed, bail in $500 to keep the peace being
further eXacted. About one-third OF them we're
able to summon the necessary bondsmen; but
the remainder were obliged to resume their un'
comfortable quarters in the cell for the night:
1t was much-needed lesson, ana we nope IL
will not soon be forgotten.
Among the malttude of people which
thronged Cnesnut and Eighth streets were
many who sought to create a diversion in a
much more rational manner These were
arrayed in all sorts OF fantastic costumes, being
Verltable "mummersn of the traditional Christ
mas type. Among others we noticed two char
acteristic personages disguised as Italian brl
gands, and having about them all the struts
and sWaggers Of the denizens OF the Cdmpagnd.
One twanged away upon discordant harp, and
the other upon an equally dlscordant hddlej
while both lifted up their voices in song that
was neither Italian nor English, nor scarcely o
mixture OF both. Such was Chrlstmas-eve in
the streets of the Quaker City.
From the appearance of the weather the day
before Christmas, almost every one had feel
lug of depression, rs If the dag would not be one
of pleasure. But towards night the sky cleared
mp, the clouds here rolled away, and the sun or
retiring to rest cast few golden beams upon us
to assure all OF clear and bright morrow. The
promise was not broken. The morning opened
clear and fair. At an early hour people begaI
to pour forth. At all the Catholic Churches
there was very lair attendance at the early
mass at 5 o'clock.
Many of the churches we're handsomely deco
rated with evere reens and flowers, and brig h
adornments OF silver and gold service. The Cathe
dral, especially, was magnihcently beautiful.
All through the vast auditory and the alcoves
wete beautiful wreaths Of evergreens that huns
in graceful festoons. The altar was tastefullN
wreathed with the bright green, and the brillian
hues of flowers, in many handsome devices
The bilth of the Saviour was appropriated,
celebrated according to the old-time tradition
of the Catholic Church.
The most imposing service OF the da'
began at half-past 10 o'clock in the morning
At that hour the sky was considerably overcast
and few flakes OF snow felt, TO the alarm OF al
those who were anticipating merry christina
But II proved to be a false alarm. A long Whu
before the hour appointed for the observance o
grand mass, The Cathedral began to fill, and, a
the time the imposing ceremonies of the alta
commenced, there was hardly standing room [
TO be found within the vast building. The chol
sang Hummel's grand mass, assisted by tn
C;eImania Orchestra. The poDtihcal mass wa
Conducted by the Right Rev. Bishop Wood.
Ex.Bishop OConner, of Plttsburg, delivered
most impressive sermon.
Catholic churches.
y AT st. Mary's, in South Fourlh street. ap0V
Snrnee, the choir under the direction of Pr
lessor Dos Santos sang Hummel's grand mas
AT ST. Joseph's Church, in Vikings alley, q