The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-12-28
CaaIs1aAs.-cLristrlas has passed and 4

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. has passed, and the
name docs not merely refer to a date ia tbs
calendar, but to al event in the onward mo-
gress of the times. By means Of the petition
which had been generally circulated and sign
ed for some time previous, our leading whole
sale merchants (besides the customary action
of Custom House, Post Office and Banks) eavs
their clerks the day, and also New Years.
The world moves. How, since the days of our
musty forefathers, has the genial world crept
inside Of these Pnritanic New England cities
Christmas, a festival ignored in the old DAYS of
the blue laws, has become season of hopeful
expectation and pleasant retrospect. The COM
ing day Is heralded by unmistakable indica.
tons; for several days previous, in dwelling
and church, evergreen festoons have begun TO
creep around the wainscotings, over the doors.
and wreaths to appear in the windows; no one
sees when it is done; fairy hands have been at
work, but they are fairy hands of substantial
| mould. All! if some of those old gentlemen in
| three-cornered hat and ee-breeches, portraits
| of whom adorn the walls of many of our old
| homesteads, could Jme forth from their worm
eaten frames and speak, no doubt their denun.
| cations of these "Popish deviltries" would be
as cIQpDatiC dS LHOSG al tutiT ancestors who
read, horror depicted upon every lineament of
their stern countenances, of the celebration of
the feast of Elegabalus, the Sun God, on the
18th of December, with the long train OF priests
and priestesses, of patricians and equities, the
gorgeous chariot drawn by six mllk-white
| steeds, the black conical stone covered with
| jewels lying on the seat, and Roman Empe-
Tor holding the reins.
All! "the holly and turkey, and roast beef
and plum buildings" of an English Christmas!
| who has not heard of them? and the evening
games and jollity, the romping and racing, the
shouts of laughter that fairly rock the old
paternal mansion, tie tales over the ale BY the
freside,-all are as familiar to US as household
words Aud has not each returning YEAR of the
last quarter of century given stronger and
hearter welcome to Santa ClausNin our or:h-
odox Forest City? When the little dapper old
man, In his quaint garb of fur, with his pack
thrown over his broad shoulders. enters (more
in accordance with modern fashions Though
the hall door) does not q cheerier smile beam
upon his weather-beaten, honest visage, as the
expectant children all spring forward to greet
their generous, kindly friend?
| But what day it was to be sure. Bright,
sunny, with snap to it in the early morning
that made the pedestrians look out sharp for
ears and noses, but while the mercury sank
low in the Fahrenheit thermometer, it rose in
the human spirit thermometer in correspond
ing ratio. After nine o'clock the principal
streets began to fill with people, and the human
| tide ebbed and flowed far into the evening"
Services appropriate to the day were held IN
several OF our churches, the First Parish, the
Episcopal Cathedral, st. Stephens. the Catho-
lie Cathedral Chapel, and st. Dominic's. An
found in another column.
| At the First Parish the pastor preached
very fine sermon from Luke, second chapter.
and twelfth verse. The music was OF the first
order, as railways is at this church, and con-
sisted Of the voluntary, "Christ is born in Beth
lehem;" the quartette, 'Hark! what mean
these holy voices" the chant, "Benedic, ANNA
mea;" Kotzschmar's "Te Deum," and "Christ-
| mas Vesper Hymn" We have one little sug-
gestion to make, and that is that the choir
shoald practise some new music. A.maguifi-
cent bouquet of rare hot-house flowers adorned
| the communion table
| -A' siAS oaehohO ShapSk pu SuuUtTlduu
street High Mass was celebrated at midnight
Christmas Eve, and Low Mass at ten o'clock in
the morning. The services were very impress
sive, and the rendition of Haydn's Mass in B
fiat very beautiful. The church was crowded
almost to snfocation at night, aud in the morn
| ing thete was no spare room
! In the afternoon we looked into the theatre
| and found quite good audience collected. In
the evening large audience was present, the
actors all entered into the spirit of their parts
and appeared to give great satisfaction.
Some of the religious societies had variety
entertainments at their churches, where the
children were all made happy with the gifts
| from the Christmas Tree.
The Ocean Association, at Lancaster Hall,
| had splendid timei large crowd was in at
tendance; the music by the Portland Band
was most inspiring, and the party given by old
Fezziwigs was nowhere compared to it.
The B. F. C.'s had nice party at Congress
Hall, and there were many private Christmas
| gatherings all over the city.
Thus endeth Christmas, 1868. The old years
life is almost spent. But few sands are left
in Times hour glass for the feeble old man,
and all eyes are now turned anxiously to greet
the young babe, the New Year.