The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-26
CHRIS 7 M AS
Brilliant CommemoratiOn Of the Great
Christian Festival.
@-~>~~---~~~~~-~~
IMPOSING RELIGIOUS CEREMoNIEs
-e>>s>->~~>>~~~->~---o--~~-
The Masses, the Carols, the Chimes
and the Charities.
-~~>~0~~~>>~~~~~~~~-~o~~>~
The Day Among the Skaters, the Fantas.icals
and at the Fireside.
>~~~~<~~~~~~~>~~-~~~~~~~-
Merryrnalxing In the Pub
lie institutions.
Yuletide in tho Metropolis, the Su-
burbs and Elsewhere.

Yesterday-the most eagerly anticipated ana JOY
fully celebrated holiday Of the year-was observed
In New York and Brooklyn with quiet and domes-
tic pleasure that speaks well for the many happy
American homes daily widening the circle OF our
social geniality. The day opened with dusky mis-
tiness, and the atmosphere was heavy with gloomy
fogs hanging over the city in thick and cneerless
patches. BY four O'Clock tne half nude youngsters
began to crawl out OF their cribs and their loud
appeals for the reights Of Santa Claus disturbed the
gentle slumbers OF the maturer sleepers. While the
streaks OF dawn were just beginning to diffuse the
eastern sky small male insect tumbled out OF his
cradle in an uptown mansion to take clandestine
peep whereof he was to be the future monarch OF
all he surveyed The stiffness OF midnight is IN the
chamber. The night lamp burns low Then there
IL patterng OF nfantile feet the carpet rustic
or juvenile drapery, loud crash Of toys. patent
blast gun makes sharp report, a mlnia-
ture engine rushes frantically about the
room. q box OF nnepins is Knocked down
with all the perfection OF the art cornucopia is
discharged in the hollow Of his night shirt Noah's
ark il dsgorged OF its inhabitants, a hobby horse
undergoes the treatment Of bare backed rider, and
the baby winds up by sounding reviee with a pair
OF tongs. Under such pressure, such an unearthy
DIN, the superioN OF the infant are ready to drop
their eyes on the floor with astonlshment. They re-
monstrate they persuade they coax, they caress; at
last they command, and In hood Of angry tears
base bawl Is added to the delightful confusion.
WEAKNESS soon expenditures sleep. The breakfast
bell finds the inmates yet oppressed by dreams.
Such Is our positive Young America, who rules the
roost on Christmas day. Throughout the city the
condition or domestic affairs was much The same
among the less mature population. That large ele-
ment, the young ladies, all appeared happy wherever
they deigned to show themselves, and they inva-
riably exhibited something new-evidently souvenirs
but few hours old-the token OF old friend, the
remembrance OF a parent, the reminder OF
lover. The latter predominated. The presents
this year were lavish. From q candy whistle 10
brown stone front or generous settlement the
catalogue was complete. Congratulations the olt-
repeated "Merry Christmas small talk and excited
cOuntenances-all told that yesterday was the
happiest day OF the year. Everybody, in one
form another, was remembered business was
generally suspended Wearied clerks took the
day for suburban journey. visit to their
dulcneas, long pun at their meerschaum, toss or
two at the forbidden bowl tournaments ut billiards..
calls on particular friends, an hours repose at the
rooms OF the Young Mems Unchristian Association,
loaf at the hotels hours OF companonship with the
HERALD, and they made away with good deal
OF the day IN flirting with young ladies across the
street. Matr0ns and demolseles went to church,
when they rose in time, and the churches were full
Christ church ana numerous other temples OF wor-
ship the solemn Feast OF the Nativity numerously
and enthusiastically attended. The day gded by,
and early dinners were the style. All the
richness OF cuisine was observed in the gas
tronomy employed. The mouth watering salads,
delicate sweetmeats, Widow CllquOt Meet and
Chandon, long partagas and the most delicate
OF all liquors prevailed in the elevated circles.
There was plenty everywhere. Even The poorest
fnral m nj al md
columns TO point out the evidences OF that noble
generosity shown to the humble and helpless. In
the evening there were the fashionable family gath
erngs Relations as remote as the consangulnity
exlsIing between Adam and the Cardiff Giant
gathered about the sldeDoards OF the family piO-
neers, and among juices ricn and wines rare made
merry the parasites OF Old about the grooming
table OF TImon Of Athens. Cosey little eplcurean
assemblies sat beneath the comfortable mediations
OF crate fire and drank hard cider with tart apples.
All the best shades Of life were brought out Dy the
glorious Christmas day. The weary ceased from
work, the wicked from troubling to the extent
shown by our police reports, and the most romantic
must have felt "tne ideal s less than the real fan
cles poorer than facts.n The fantasticas were
out in all their hideous and grotesquc costumes,
galloping along on aded animals, dressed in the
most outlandish styles, endeavoring, as far as
possible, TO group the ludicrous with the
promenade OF the day, the most compact figures,
delicate little features high compexions and we'll
turned ankles being visible Rich toilets were borne
by little bodies VINO seemed TO carry cosmopolitan
variety stores along with them. The Park, the cars
the stages, Harlem lane the ferries, on the river
down the pay, Jne slanu, at HlSn Cnrlst.
mas was truly Christmas. 1t was one OF those days
all over New York wherein there was little sorrOw
but there was STILL underneath the vast ocean OF
Joy, silent current OF sadness running toward the
memory of that pure and distinguished ex-War
Minister whose record or patriotism and great deeds
nas by his untimey death, been closed from fresh
additions forever. The Innexibe ana sternng worth
OF stanton was the theme OF every tongue His
praises those OF grateful people To just man.
II ID among the best traits III the human character
that there yet while lestvity and revery resound
by day and by night green spot for the virtues OF
q great but deceased citizen.