Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-12-26
CHI RISTMAS EVE AND
CHRISTMAS DAY.
Observance in Davenport

day Of Christ, THE day hss bsea sss sf re- /
ligieus fsstivisy and domestic merry nah
Ing. The sbssrvsoss Of he dsy he's chang
cd a. ehristianity developed asd advanc.
ID, but snly 10 csrsusnials. fer ths custsn
insugsratsd BY the "Thrss Kisgs Of Colo.
gns." who, when they nrst saw the stas
IN tine Eass, Travelled twelve days without
rest 70 make their gits Of frankiacsnss,
geld and myrsh .is still the sustsa ofts-dsy,
and, probably will coatinus - Issg % civ.
iliza.ion itself The srsn snisls sf The On
| clients were fsnciful in the extreme, ,aud en-
tirey different from those 81 ts>day, per-
vadsd ~ they are, by the deep religious
feeling Of enlightened and refined eiviliza-
tion. lives then day sf beistsssus rev.
slry, endisg 10 The Feast sf pesls and
Assss,' the very sasurnalia Of indsosnsy.
WsAmerieans, however. held much 10 the cid
English susssos Of religious fsstivty and
universal nsrry-making. Though more
formal aud lsss hearty. Here in the West,
~ ars'gradually throwing 81 ths restraints
ineulcatsd int ths Yankee mind BY The
opposition Of the early Puritans 10 relig-
ieus pastiass, and ksnss The extent and
variety Of the observations here 10 DAvss-
pert.
10 many private houses and 10 nearly
oil the churches Of the city. beautiful christ |
mas trees. laden With presents, brought joy
and gladnsss y the children. Neither wss
the ancient Druid custom Of decking houses
and churches with svsrgrssns entirely e. !
nsrsd, whether through ths belief that
sylvan spirits would come and dwell In TIE
boughs till spring, ~ through lsve Of such
surrsundings, " know net.
The mythical German Kriss Ksingls |
rsgned supreme among oil classes. OF bis
doinss in Davsnpsrt it 10 impossible ts
write. The happy little snss oil over the
city can tell better than We how they
found their stockings crsmmsd with nice
things and hidden in out Of the way places.
Then there are children Of larger growth |
Who long ago cherished the beautiful illu-
sion Of the '.jolly old fellow" travelling over
the earth presenting oil good children with
beautiful presents, they, too, were rsmsm-
bnsd BY . father, husband, wifs:a brother,
sister Or ssme dear friend in gift, around
which may cluster the bright memories
Of ysstsrday's bright and joyous day. Ne
fsiry's power brings 10 us oil Of ysstsrday's
doings yet the many Of various kinds, that
time permitting us 10 attend the following
were perasps the most worthy eirscerd.
TRINITY cHraca FESTIVAL
elsssd At the Opera Ilsuss on Christmas |!
Eve with an excellent supper, . happy |
social time and the distribution Of nearly |
I've hundred costly presents from their
magnificent Tree" Ofcourss there was
unrsstrained delight among the happy re-
cipisnts, aud more Of pleasure 10 the eivers
who witnessed the scene. The fair and the |
festival have besa . success-ths public |
have been entertained, pleased and salts
fed and the sssisty has na6s seine 800 |
il grsenbacxs.
Vas net forgotten BY the many grateful |
people throughout the State. Superin
tsndsnt Pierce and lady. assisted BY sev
eral ladies' from this city, arranged .
ChRistmas Tree in one Of the csttagss,
and other entertainments equally Is in
tsrssting in other cottages, and the eve
ming vac enc Of genuine pleasure to al
whe we're fortunate enough to be present. |
Many we're the little stockings that waited
for the coming morning. The hands that |
we're won't to oil them could net do il, but |
there were others jsst - rsady-juss as
willing, and yesterday Was . merry
Christmas," indeed. 10 all. There were
happy, smiling faces in every cottage, and
grand dinner during the day. Thus may
il b, and each returning Christmas day
hnd their band unbreksn, jsysue, and ever |
blsst; and, in the years to come. a. they 70
forth frem sbs States protecting care, to
meet lie and ito duties, may they knew No |
such sorrow - has been theirs in the |
| past.
younrsRSSn sfRRsr cnuRcn
festivities we're all that could be expected. |
II was combination Of Christmas dsings,
exhibition, festival and Christmas Tree, al |
in one. The chsrusss, songs and declama-
hons we're gssd, aud everything passed Of |
pleasantly.
BisHoP's cBUacH
vac handsomely decorated for the oeeas-
len, end in the evening Bishop Lee dsliv-
cred an excellent ssrmen fer the child, On, |
Yesterday forenoon smother sermon vas
had for the cid felix's, and on Monday eve |
ming the Christmas Tree festivities will |
take place st The Bursis Opera House.
fHB CATHOLIC cnuncHr
were also dseksd with svsrgvssns, and ap-
prspriats csremeniss, in 6cesrdancs with
their religions eustsms, we're he'd in each
sfths churches. A I've s'clssk yesterday |
morning the sheir Of Ste. Nargussits's |
church assembled, and uadsr the leader
ship Of Nr. W. b. Lybs, sang Mosart's
12th Mass, the Credo, and selections from
Merssdants's works The eject was grand.
We have net heard the great masters
aatchlsss composition - cssdibly pssfsrn-
Cd these many years in Davsnpsrt. Miss
Motto presided - the organ, and Allsd her
part admirably.
MYRfLB sf1DBf MISSION SCHOOL
wss nads happy with sseh splendid tree.
~ithsinsiae, ,spssehss asd sscialsius, - to
cause the I've hundred children present 70
remember With plsasurs their Merry Christ.
mas.
There were many ether lesser scenes,
fully as enjoyable oil over the eity-uagui.
6csnt dinners, family rsunisss, social and
convivial parties. We have ssldsm seen
. Christmas 90 merry with % many. The
whole city seemed - relax iate msrrySmak.
ing. There we're paslor parties whore
"Kissing undss The mystlstss' VAS not
unknown, thee we're banquet halls and
dances, gay pleasure parties improving
the smssth hard reads, and at the skating
park and along the rivers bank hundreds
were giving thsmsslvss up 70 the excite
| m ant of the aport Anain - aav uMevrv