The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-25

which come only at long intervals Of time.
Christians.
Christmas comes but once year, according
to the old song. When 1t comes, however,
nowadays, it is more widely and more heartily
celebrated than ever. No longer mere
Church festival, 1t still retains the sanction Of
the Church, while 1t has extended its influence
over almost every household in the land.
Evergreens and organ music, plum pudding
and Christmas gifts, have become a. common in
Puritanical Boston as in Baltimore, where the
founder of the Maryland colony planted
Catholic traditions in New Orleans, where the
same traditions prevail to this day in Rich
mond, where the holly and, at least, the memory
of the old mistletoe bough are still reverenced
by families Of pure English descent in Phila-
delphia, where in modern days the width of
brim of William PENIS old hat has been per-
ceptibly diminished, and in New York, whose
patron saint has always been Santa Claus.
Christmas is now universal holiday
throughout the United States; and in
this cosmopolitan city, whore every
nationality is represented, the salutations Of
the countries Of Northern Europe, Christ is
risen," and Of Great Britain, al wish you
merry Christmas" have been repeated over
and over again since early dawn. The Christ
mas tree and the Christmas stocking are es-
tablished institutions among us. The Christian
churches of all denominations are open for
worshippers The Christmas chimes ring for
all ears. High mass in the Catholic churches,
almost equally imposing ritualism in Episcopa-
liam churches, with operate music and fashion
able toilets in churches of every NAME attest the
observance Of this holiday by all "who call
and profess themselves Christians" And to
the credit of the religious community be it
added that ample provision has charitably
been made to enable the inmates Of our public
institutions and many of the poorest inhabitants
of the most destitute quarters of our town to
share to some extent in the festivities Of the
day.
AS we have intimated, Christmas Day has
somewhat lost its distinctive peculiarities as
religious festival. Few are shocked at finding
how largely the theatres as well as the churches
contribute towards its enjoyment as a holiday.
at Is too bad" said the sensible Wesley,
"that the Devil should monopolize some of the
prettiest tunes" And he did not hesitate to
set many Of biz -pious hymns to such profane
s;lrs o. xssd him. Christmas Day opens not
only the church doors, but the doors of al, the
theatres. During the day and in tho evening
the managers, as well as the parsons, are i'm
pressed into the service of enlivening the joy
of the public. To this end the " Grand Duchess y
and her court must appear to the sound of
Oaenbach's sparkling melodies. Old English
plays, some of them sterling and some Of them
stale, must be admirably cast at Walack's.
Mile. Janauschek, at the Academy of Music,
must challenge comparison with Signora
Ristori. The Midsummer Nights Dream must
supply Indifferent acting by fine scenery at the
Olympic. LADY Audlsy's Secret must be
revealed at Barney Williams Broadway thea
tire. "Our Mutual Friend" must be "found
drowned" at Banvard's. "Nobody's Child"
must share with Anew Pantomime" the
ready applause Of frequentsrs of the Bowery.
Pau, the unrivalled Russian athlete, must
repeat his marvellous exploits at the New
York Circus. "Under the Gaslight" must be
exhibited ct the Worrsll Sisters theatre,
although, alas II might seem that real railroad
tragedies have been too frequent Of
late to require fictitious representations
of them on the stage. John Bunyan's
"Pilgrim's Progress" must be illustrated at
Transformation Hall" on Union square,
Burlesques and pantomimes and all sorts OF
mirth-provoking spectacles must be given,
from the Fifth Avenue theatre and Tony Pas
tors Opera House to the smallest of the minor
theatres throughout the city. Negro minstrelsy
must swell the concert. Even the "Devil's
Auction" at Niblo's, with its crying bittorn, It's
chirruping frog, Its yelling alligator and all its
other "water fowl" as well as its captivating
nymphs Of the light fantastic toe,' must do
homage to the day. And the day must be
wound up not only by festive gatherings
around the family table, by cheerful parties
and brilliant balls, but by the grand oratorio
of " The Messiah" at Steinway Hall.
Let the music Of this oratorio at least and
that which we shall hear to-day in the churches
remind us Of the angel song (which announced
to the shepherds watching over their flock on
certain night somewhat more than eighteen
centuries ago, "good tidings Of great joy that
shall be to oil people y "For unto you is born
this day in the city Of David Saviour, which
is Christ the Lord "And suddenly there was
with the angel multitude Of the heavenly
host praising God, and saying, Glory to God
in the highest, and on earth peace, good win
toward men,"