The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-06
Ghr gsu ORLEANS Grsstent.
MORNING. JANUARY 6. 1853.
CHRISTMAS IN NEW YoRA.


spee.a Correspondents Of the New Orleans Crescentl
NEW YORK, Dec. &c, 1865.
This festive season, which, In New England and
wherever else the old puritan and non conformist
element predominstes, is but slightly esteemed, is
observed with great unanimity in this great cos
mopolitan city. The large infusion of Celtic and
German blood in our population and the tolersble
sprinkliDg Of other pstionaiiIes will readily &C.
count for this. For Christmas with its large sym.
psthies and genial sociaties is specially dear TO
Teutons and their English ofshoots, and in its re-
ligious and Christian aspect, its charities and
works Of peace and good will its practical receg-
milton Of the bond of universal brotherhood is pre-
cious to the grand old Church of the nations, with
her Epscopalian and Lutheran step children, on
whose hearts, though they deny her authority, she
has enerafled her sentiments snd traditions even
as al go back to the early teachings aud simple
usages of childhood and the mothers knees. Cal
yinism and Puritanism tell that life is but vale
of tears and that Standardization is the whole
duty Of man. From an Episcopal pulpit heard
on Christmas Gay the permission, or rather the in
junction, to spend merry" Christmas; being
thankful the while in our own lghtsomeness Of
heart 10 make it also season of rejoicing and
thsnkfulntss 10 ali dependent on Us or to whose
happiness we could minister.
The past week has been one Of great liveliness
and bustle in New York. The weather. though
very cold, has been very brilliant aud seasonable
and although the wholesale staple trades have
been unusually dull, there has been great activity
in every department of retail business affected BY
the holiday demands. Broadway has been throng
ed with promenaders; aud the costumes aud styles
of this world -famous thoroughfsre are as gorgeous
any street in the world. For an aggregate of
visible wealth there is certainly nothing to CON.
,,tl No Vol falfa ,frIs
Queen ElizAbeth's courtiers, who wore their for
tunes on their backs. Tie sidewalks have been
crowded the whole week and the great magazines
Of luxury jewelry, china art toys, confectionery,
dIess and all the Ihousand nick-nacks which make
up modern outside show, whether of home or
person, have been full of visitors, if not custom
ers.
The general use of velvet in every tasteful
variety of coat, mantle, sacque, or other gar
ment etimes in foil suit, with its appropriate
trimmings of rich ribbon, heavy braid or fur, en-
haDces the eect-for velvet is at once picturesque
and cold. By its depth it contrasts well with
other fabrics, and its known value gives it an air
of responsibility. Then add the jaulty Vatican
skirts, with their elaborate folds and bows and
loops, careless art, which shows while seeming TO
hide with the many-hued underskrts their we'll
turned ankles in dainty br odequiues of morocco
or kid in Colors 10 match and we have a collection
Of walking pictures nowhere 10 be surpassed. As
for the much abused Grecian bend, and the pa
nier. although you may once in day meet some
woman may come TO, fIightfH example-the
fashion has never been so prevalent or SO exces.
sive as 10 deserve the eXtravagant rdicule that
Writings and weak caricsturists have leveled at
il. | will be second TO none In my admiration OF
long dresses-but all things in order. However
graceful aud elegant a train, or an empress trail
may be in a saloon, on the streets il is filthy TO-
yention- gathering up all indescribable dirt aud
nasint So, 10 say nothing of the prOhgate waste
of valuable material in sweeping up the streets.
In this respect the Vatican or shepherdess style
is an immense Improvement as a walking dress.
Heavy furs are not much worm mutfs and collars,
of course but not many clOaks or tippets. Perhaps
the season is not sufficiently advanced. The hats
are as pretty, as ssucy and as useless as ever
airy nOthDgs. II il were not for the profusiOn of
false hair, IN bTaids. tresses and chignons half the
women would be laid up with neuralgia or tic
6oloureaux. As it il, ] can only look and won
der. See the men hurrying along these bitterly
cold days coated, booted, hated and gloved as
they are aud yet suffering, while the women only
gather fresh bloom and brighter eyes by their
ole-hesrted defiance of old BOreas, with his
snow clouds and biting blests. But "pride feels
30 psln." 50 To be out Of the fashion is TO be out
Of Tie world I admit il useless to moralize on
the fitness of things, in relation at least to female
yanities, for