New-York tribune., 1868-12-25
CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA.

essentially American n fresh and young character with
an aroma abou; (; az Of ths wholesome, reslnons pine
tree aud w free, forest flavor Of bearneat butter
nuts and the produce OF the polntbapE wood
land bee. There Il ebowroom for Christmas IN this
capaeous land Aud Christmas rs various, mere In iIs
outnttngs aud gettugsnp, and goingsoh II familiar
with ST. Anthony, whose falls on thc Uppcr Miss!Srrh
ices for him with comnendabo punctualiy just abcat
this time o. year and steers aown that wonderful od
stream on RATS. and bTOadhorns, and IN huge house
built steamboats, with exTloyo boilers, ard all the othoi
modern conyeniences. until It arrives at Nevoreans
where sts upon balls OF cotton and sets GisSy feet
atiancng TO lis banjo strains. On the breadth OK the
land, too Christmas is sure 10 crop out some where %
another II should fall to be very conspicuous at Port
land Me- at least It show up somewhere be
tween that Francisco, Cal 1t will run train on
It's own account soon the Union Pacific Railroad;
and train seeed by old Christmas, you know "a always
sure to he "on t.me-arryal, Y O'clock LiGughi, Dec
25, any year you please
As festival Christmas is not very specially Observed
throughout the NewEngland States Thanksgiving
Dov ia more of time for tie true Yankee
folks OF tho regions Down East. siapjachs arc
better observed IN New-Englani than iniice pieS
Tie November turkey has national Character
there but by time Christmas comes round, the edgo
for turkey has been taken OF the tongue and the bra
that was eanonzed ia November lies cold aud rigid on
the dsregarded shelf when December vhtens the roof
Such is fame Such tho way IN which real genus 700
frequently sheved by cold, cold world, Whehaas'
that we should t bur too apt TO cast overheard
the friend by whom It's own head was Just now kepf
above water.
In tho ongago-aud much later than that-Od Vir
n,a was the plaeo q all others this continent Whee
the strong ghod OF Christmas Tas built Nd with g"od
cheer We have before now, picture " Nrginian
hospitality Ia the oden time-a Christmas picture
merry group Is assembled for the occasion In tie
house OF some wealthy planter. The walls are
decked with evergreels, the table is loaded with
Christmas fare. Cystra goblets sparkle on the festive
board tie wine NANTES In tie cuteiass 6eeaners
Ike the blood ln tie cheek OF bright quadroon gi Tie
usage Of the Yuc Log observed IN Virginia. tben In
the ck.grouud mon are bearing 1t In on their
,houlers with yelocipedallcokue character who sts
astride of il and waves cedar boueh young hunter
hss Just arrived the Joyous circle, ana he Is dVess
himself Of his buckskn coat, while the negro servant III
livery takes from him tho Wild turkey ald WOO par
trdgcs with which he has come eden. The pason has
doled bis cassoc FOR the time, and 10 bus!ly engaged I'd
brev,n vast bowl Of punch The floor covered Win
reasonable presents, the boxes and bags containing
which tie greeting "herry ChrstmasV Is marked
negro servant, with rings In MS ears
TITS u great basket. tho cloth on tho top %
which doubtless good things that are on Their
way homes and hearts OF neighbos less Opt
out than the vcrs OF this Christmas feast There arc
stately ladies the groups, and the juvenile Clements
marked by much unIn0dern propriey OF department.
fully appecatiye the while. or all tho good things thas
are spread for t. but reyerenty and with bated maH-
That nowadays NONlu DS ceNSlu'icu elo". Nt''
much OF tie traditional air OF tho eastern hemisphere
nbou, H. the revelation OF how Christmas used 10 be kept
IN the Old Dominion has q very distinctive American
character too one smell the fresh woodland odor
through the fumes that come from the kitchen without
ReIoeut Of the free American forest fe is the staYare
young hunter IN TIE irnged buckskin coat Quite Ok
this Western land Is the negro character, giving
to the scene somteudal coloring that fitted the cir
cumsances ana place better then than 1t would now
Twas merry in the hall" At Christmas times VIXEN tho
cavalier spirit ruled the Old Dominion. As time went
on the observance OF tho festival became modhei to the
nsages OF modern fashion Christmas has always been
hept as a standard festival though throughout tho
southern States generally, as in Virginia. The negru
took prominent part in the Observance OF IT, ana mo
traditional feeling FOR Christmas is yet strong among the
blacks OF the South sambo expects that Chrstmssis Is to
be holiday for him. II IL IA only hog aud honiny, he
put. IN an supply Of it for the Occasion ~"
hoeoake nzEos louder moro savOrily Tor him
st Christmas than az other times IL IL KIND OK
big Sunday for sambc only :" more so
Chloe puts on her brightest calico To GLADDEN.
his artistic eye FOR color, and. If she has been
brought IN 10 rich family che usually turns her el
perience OF mnce pics other Christmas daintes 10
practical account.
Though for tho majority Of New-En zanders rs va
have already said Thanksgiving Day is the great Winter
festival yet all through the Eastern States there are
neghborhoOds and circles from which the tradition of
Christmas has never died out In these here In New
York In Pennsylvania, NewJersey. and so on westward,
Christmas s yet kept in somewhat OF the old style, and
yet aier fashion and with accessories that types
Of America and truly American In their features Any
where In tho State OF EewYork, the Of Christmas
arc observed with . gusto that is heightened
by tho braciug frosty weather and bright blue
skies with which usually favored az
this timo Of the year. Snow ON tho ground
mostly and the tinSe Of the sleighbells making sweet
American music IN the crisp air II there Is anything
thoroughly American than sleighng party about
Christmas times we fail to sustain recognition OF the
fact Tie merry "hi bil" as the swift troters rush
past tho hard white track the hutter OF rbbons
the uttsr Of rich fur robes the utor OF hopeful young
hearts All Is fuiter when the has fallen for
twice welcome Is the Christmas that comes TO Young
America clothed II not ain white samite mystic, beam
tful" yet in q robe far whittier than any fabric from
human hands and fun OF mystic poetry for all who have
that sort Of thing in their inner life.
And then. out In tho village street there Is stis
that has no braw In its movement. Quito another
thing from the turmoil OF the Fourth OF July is the gem
Ito stir that marks the Christmas morning. stir Of
good olafashloned folks, who keep up the custom OF
going 10 church. and return from 1t with hearts mada
larger for all is human by the good words that they
have heard there. stir among the utensils OF TN, the
copper set tho knives the forks and the spoons upon
the Kitchen dressers very general stir among cooks
other domestic creatures and crockery reminding
quito Of remarkable OF feats recorded n the
old distich. when "The cow jumped the moon The
little dog laughed to the sport Aud the dsh after
tho spoon. Green wroaths and fesoons everywhere,
exhang forest perfume that gratefully TO the
lungs. Hero. along the market stalls, seem TO be
moving In grove OF spruce pine, cedar ami hemlock
trees Chnstmss tree for everybody Is tho iea and
something hang ont it for all comers wa it Hen.
1rck Hudson. or, II not who was IL, who first
planted In American soil the Christmas tree
No matter 1t has taken root there at sny
a.. naft tfuf.nV Voft t,a