The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-25

| Though Yesterday came in with q lcaden
sky and an atmosphere uncomforlubly raw, II
was easy to see, from the movements on all ScS
| that Il was nc ordinary day. Al an early hour
the streets were filled with people, all anxious TO
procure some luxury for their loved ones. Al,
were gay, smiling and happy, from the benign
grandsirc to the little pratilcr by hls silc, and all
| apparently intent upon the same crrand. Green
| backs were brought from some hidden recess, aud
| the secret hoard was spent in procuring some
| long coveted Christmas gift. 1t was evident that
| tho vast host Of buyers who throngcd the stores
| during the day were convinced that sit was far
more blessed to give than to receive" and their
purchases were made with liberal hand and
| without n thought OF self. All cares were for
| gotten, and the only business that engaged the
| attention was TO make u selection from the
mcrous articles that were prcscntcd in lavish pro-
| fusion.
| or KING STREET.
| This, The great emporium OF fashion, anu the
| favoric haunt Of Santa Claus, was the centre OF
attraction, and WAS thronged with happy
crowd OF all ages, classes, cOlors and conditions,
| eager to exchange their currency for Christmas
| gifts. The toy stores were soon transformed into
| miniature Bnbcl', where II was n vain effort to
| keep quiet, and almost Impossible 10 be heard.
! Ing TO bi,le his time. Tile numerous clerks were
kept blsily employed but 1t was Il llbor OF love
| Into which ail entered with Il ZcSt that made
| shopping for once n pleasure TO both parties
| Won Santcn's, ktnsman's, Flcming's Wards, and
| the other toy ana confectionery stores along the
| street were prepared for the occasion, and pre-
| sented 10 their bewlllcrcd customers an array OF
plain, fancy and useful articles that far exceeded
| any similar display that has been made for years
! Toys however, were not the only attraction, the
older ana the wiser heads remembered the Christ
| mas dinner, and devoted some OF their time to
| the purchase OF the necessary groceries, while
others were buslly employed in procuring an out
| tit fOT the New Year at the different cioIhng
| and dry goods stores. Prom Line street to the
Battery the streets presented q busy appearance
! entirely consistent with the joyous Christmas
season.
on THE STREET CARS.
These were immensely popular, and were
crowded with parties whose purchases had been
completed, or with those who were OIL their way
| to the busy mart OF SANTA Claus. The platforms
were occupied by packages OF every description,
Which were watched with o tender solicitude by
the little passengers. Each trip was success, rs
fractional currency was Mt discount, anu ten
cents too trllllng sum TO he saved.
| IS THE MARKETS.
| The markets were supplied with more than their
| usual fare, but all In abundance. Game was plcn.
tifuI and the prices reasonable. The first market,
where the fcnthcreu tribe are kept, was the most
popular, and the loud remonstrances Of the
geese, turkeys, ducks and fowls, showed plainly
! that they dtl not appreciate the summary fate
| mat was In store for them. No Christmas dinner
Is perfect without n turkey, and the gobblcrs
were gobblcd up by anxious customers
who feared they might lose this dclicacy
ntI svVals
| the fowls were reserved for ordinary occasions
Meats OF different kinds were dlsnlavc
| III tempting profuslon, beef mutton ana pork pre.
| dominating but the more savory venison was
found nj many attractive stalls. Farther on tho
vegetable market attracted attention. and the old
maumas. In their Christmas turbans, anXlously
solicited the passers to purchase. Their stalls
were fllleu will everything that was In or out of
season That could he procured for Christmas
dinner, and their appeals were not UNDECIDED.
The fruiterers had each converted their sian,ls
Into green booths, where apples. oranges and
bnnnnas were suspended from boughs OF pine or
Christmas bush, which shadowctl their stock.
Still further on the shri cry or "eycster, denotes
that the fish market has its claims on the Christ.
mao nnrsn whiin tho --...S'vuo .uUcs spread Tor
the freedmen sent up savOry odors that were by
no means dsagreeable. Throughout the entire
length OF tic market the moving throng had ap-
parently but one objcct-Chrstmas was coming, a
good dinner was necessity, and 1t must be oh.
tanned.
THE HUCKsTERs.
These formed an important part OF the body cor.
porate on this occasion, and certainly succeeded
In making themselves heard. In every portion OF
the city their shrlll voices, calling their stock in
trade, rose loud above the din or drays and OTTER
city noises. These itInerant vcnders were mostly
q ctrnt tunr hal, etfa
pose OF raising money by the sale OF their pro-
duce, which consisted principally of wood, pota.
toes and game. Their prices were far below
those asked In the markets, ana they soon eject.
cd an exchange, which filled their pockets and
sent them on their way rejoicing.
CHRISTMAS TREES.
In the suburbs number OF persons were en-.
gagged In cutting and preparing Christmas trees,
| and the green boughs that were borne through
the streets were signs that the gooh OLD custom
was still In force, and the trees would soon be In
position to produce Christmas fruits.
At THE CHURCHES,
More especially the Catholic, Episcopal and Lu.
theran, tho younger members OF the congrcga.
| tons were preparing the Christmas decorations,
and their nmblc fingers were employ ed In twin.
Ing the eyergrcens into tho proper shapes
Wrcaths, garlands and festoons were soon form
cd, and letters OF living green Informed the wor.
shippers that unto them "a Saviour was born
who would take away the sins OF the wordn
From carly morn to dewy eve the streets and
| stores presented .he same animated appearance,
and 1t was not until late hour that the purchases
! were concluded, the preparations made, and the
busy throng retired to dream OF the coming
Christmas.
PASDEMOSIUM OF NOISE.
The confusion OF tongues at Babel must have
| caused war OF words ny no means harmonious
but proper Idea OF genuine, wclauthentIcated
discordcan only be formed by those persons who
70 ltured on King street last night. Bands of men
and boys, both white and colorcd, in grotesaue and
fantastic costumes, paraded the streets and made
| night hdcons by repeated blasts on horns and
J trumpets Of ali sizes, shapes and sounds TO add
II possible to the confusion, the prohibition o.!
| Mayor Plilsbury was completely Ignored, and fire.