The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-25

Heaven bless the nappy Omels vi tiiis uay
II reunites the hearts of men from Iceland to
Australia and nowhere on this little, toilful
planet OF our own, swinging around the
circle Of ages through celestial space, is there,
perhaps, so complete and varied a representa-
ton of the human family, in all its branches,
from the flat-nosed Esquimaux imported by
Captain Hall to the "heathen Chinee' shipped
over by Koopmanschap, as on this
fair and noisy island of Manhattan. The
Dutch-not the whole Teutonic tribe 80
designated by thoughtless scribes-but
the genuine broad-built, wide-breeched
and all the dams from the Scheldt to the
Zuyder-Zee have tarried in this pleasant land
since the days Of Hendrix Hudson and left
their names, their influence, their hearty GUS
toms and their progeny In every ''coigae of
vantage" from Coenties slip to the farther
most ridge Of the Kaatskills. Schnapps,
'krullers," roast geese and grand old open
6replaces, heaped high with fragrant back
logs and faced in front with colored tiles
| enamelled all over
With pictured stories from the life OF Christ.
still remind us, at this season, that New
! York was once "Nieuw Amsterdam,@ even il
| the welcome visits of ''Santa Claus" and the
merrymakings of the Saint Nicholas Brother
hood did not recur about these times.
Genuine Deutschland proves her presence
in thousand ways. She has temples,
societies, theatres, concert rooms, club
halls, newspapers, banks-all opulent
and successful among us-and one
hundred and fifty thousand of her
children quaff lager and the best of
Rhenish wine, and make endless vocal and
instrumental music in scores of cesey places
redolent with the fumes of good Kanaster, and
hung with the photographs Of Koenig Will
helm" and "Unser Fritz
France, too, has her thousands here who, in
spite of home depression beyond the seas, re-
tain their cigarettes and "cat1 noir" and
''petits verres" with undiminished inclination,
and lose none Of their local gayety because of
those "sacres" Prussians who are playing the
deuce on the soil Of the "grande nation"
Nor is the "roast beef" Of Old England at
discount in New York. Many secluded
table will be surrounded to-day by registering
John Bulls, who will carve luscious saddles of
genuine Southdown mutton, fanked with the
latest turkeys and capons from Liverpool,
with desserts Of plum pudding and
mince pies compounded three thousand
miles away, and dance and frolc tomorrow
under real mistletoe and holly decked with
scarlet berries that grew on the slopes Of Lam
cashire. But in the midst Of their wassail,
and with the Yule log of other days blazing
on the hearth, there will be honored, with
trimming goblets and in fearful silence, the
memory of one who has peopled the homes
and holidays of the passing generation with
quaint, tender and loving creations that have
become part of our lives, and may, by their
genial influence, have made us gentler and
better men. All, while his own countrymen
do him lasting honor, there will be few fire.
sides in America where the shade of Charles
Dickens will not seem to hover near in the
celebration of the merry customs and the re-
vival of the kindly feelings which he did 30
much to halow and perpetuate in all our
homes!
But then there, too, will DO the Nor5eman,
with his Swedish punch" of steaming arrack,
somewhat stronger than the foaming mild of
the days of Thor and Odin; the Russ, with
his caviar and brandy; the Italian, with his
maccaroni and his Sagestano wine, and his
relshes of tunny-ish and Parmesan-all in
force, all heartily celebrating the day, all
patronizing numerous restaurants and hostel
ries kept by their own people. Spaniards,
Portuguese, Weshmen, Greeks and Orientals
are in less number; but, no matter how few,
or what their peculiar education, all seem
to unite heartily in Christmas frolick-
ing, and whether it be amid the
organ melodies of solemn Christian
worship or sharing the jollity of a brief release
from toll and care, all feel and celebrate the
season. Such is the glorious thought of
universal love which fills the hour that every
heart acknowledges it spontaneously, enthu-
sastically-the first bright streak of the hoped
for lasting dawn, let US endeavor to believe.
As in New York and throughout this wide
| Continent so all over the world, our friends
are of every tongue and race. In the epitome
of their representation in this metropolitan
city is figured the result that, some day, light
| and truth will have worked out for the world
Let us, men and brethren of every land, enjoy
it, then, right cheerily, and let our descendants
still say of us, as we say of those who went
before
| twas Christmas preached the mlghtiest ale,
Twas Christmas told the merrest tale,
And Christmas gambOS still would cheer
The poor mans heart through half the year.
GENERAL BUTLER.-Lay up your battle-axe
and don't look both ways for Christmas.
CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE YEAR -
1t does generally, but it comes twice this