The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-24
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CITY TOPICs.

As the days roll on and the 25th approaches,
indications of the coming Of Christmas multiply.
The stores which two weeks ago were filled with
every thing, now show eigns of having been drawn
upon to q considerable extent, and the answer to
an application for q thing, "a Pm sorry, but it's
all sold." warts buyers to hasten their remaining
purchases. We are glad to notice that the retail
stores are doing very well. The articles sold
may not individually amount to much--for, in
truth, there are few handsome presents to be
made to- morrow-but their number is large, and
the daily receipts foot up very well. One gentle
man has assured us that in the fifteen years in
which he has been 10 business in New Orleans he
has never before known his sales at Christmas
times to be so large. Chrstmas.trees, too, are
beginning to appear. Yesterday three or four of
these winter vegetables bloomed out in fascinating
beauty on Camp street, and we're by many child
ish believer in Santa Claus. looked upon with
longing eyes aud bated breath. while the little
ones Thought Of the expected joys of Christmas
and OF the reverent respect with which the long
bearded old gentleman who Is to bring them toys
Ia Ia nish. viii their visions
of happiness and sugar plums be realized, Tor
tonight will be Christmas Eve. Can any two
words In the language express more to children
than these two do! IT'S that to which for 1854
DAYS every year they look forward and which
they, when 1t comes, enjoy with zest and hear
tinest 10 which, alas their elders are too often
stranger. Tonight will Canal street and Royal
be thropged with buyers of Christmas presents;
tonight will many loving heart try to express
its love for others Ia the purchase Of some token
Of the season; tonight will many and many
little curly headed child proceed In the most elab-
crate and particular manner possible to hang up
its stocking, having IT near the chimney for Santa
Claus convenience and leaving the mouth wide
OF en- 30 that be cannot possibly overlook it to-
night many a fond mother, after seeing her dar
hinge safely to he'd aud asleep, will cram their tiny
stockings TO overlooking with toys and sugar
plums, murmuriDga blessing perchsnce over each,
and breathing out her mo;her-love in prayer
for her chjldren's welfare In many heart to-
pieht, here in New Orleans and through all our
country in our mother isle beyond the sea, in sunny
France and vineyard-c vered Germany, where
Russa's eternal SHOWS form perpetual landscape
of elistening white, and where the bamy breezes
of Italy sweep over plains perennialy towering
amid the spicy groves of Ceylon. and under the
feathery palms of India, where the Nile flows
through fertile deserts, and where the ice-bound
AMOR lies like huge frozen snake along the
plains and stsppes Of Asia-nay. even where rise
the nlinArets Of Constantinople, where floats the
dragon banner of the Chinese emperor, and
where the dusky savages sport in the surf Of
Otaheite--in every place and in every cline,
where has been recited "that sweet story Of
old.r and where Christian men and women live
10 many a heart will be thoughts betting the
.oaerau Christmas season-thoughts Of that first
Chri,tmas Eve, nearly 1000 years ago, when some
.hepherds, Who wearied with their days work
and undreaming of the mighty things in store,
had laid themselves down to sleep on the plains
of Judea, were suddenly aroused from their
slumbers by the heavenly music Of chorus, the
echoes of which have not yet ceased to
reverberate throughout the world. and
were told by angelic voices that grand
story, which men have not yet become tired Of re-
hearsing ono to another; in many heart vii
there be deep thankfulness for mercies vouch
safed. and earnest resolutions for future deserving
i Of them and in many howell. called house, Il
this city, where men live like dogs--no wors'
than any respectable dog lives--and where, amit
cursing and obscenity, and filth and depravity
sickeniDg to witness or even to think about
children are brought into the world and grow 4
be men aud women 10 all such places Their
are many in this city-this night there will N
Christmas Eve-only, perhaps, a little NOR
whisky, . little more drunken mirth, without
whisper or Q thought Of what the night is. an
after whom 1t h called Turn we from such cor
temptations, and let Ms trust that amid the man
glad and happy hearts which VIII tonight beat /
"A the Crescent City, there will be found some
which throbbine IN true Christian charity. wi
xy 70 make themselves happier by giving I
Others. less blessed By the Great Father, tbs
which al His children who know Him alv sy
hsve-s happy Christmas Eve.
As an Instance Of the utter Indifference in whic
the authorities are held by those who on Tussds
and last evenings were arrested a. dangerous IN
suspicious characters. il may be stated that on
Of them. when asked By the station clerk how
made living. replied, "by stealing " anothe
when arraisned, told the recorder (Becksr) thu