The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-27
CHRISTMAS DAY.-H getting tight

early in the morning be any sign Of
happiness, then were the people Of
Wheeling, or a great many Of them,
supremely happy on Christmas Day; for
they were glorioasly fuddled, and before
ten o'clock. Nor was this inebriety
confined to any particular class or con-
dition Of men, but extended to all ages,
stations, and kinds Of people. We saw
a party of half dozen boys, the oldest
not over fifteen years Of age, so drunk
they could hardly walk. Ifa man had
thrown q stone on the street he would
have hit at least a dozen men chockfull
and running over.
A woman took in too much Christ.
mas, and made an exhibition OF herself
on Main street to quite a large crowd OF
persons, drawn together by her antics.
The police took her in.
But there was plenty Of jollity and
enjoyment without inebriety. In the
early morning the little ones made the
air ring again with the squawking Of
tin trumpets, Christmas drums, and
penny whistles. There were but few Of
them who did not have their faces cal
somined with candy, and their hearts
beating with happiness.
The churches were filled with wor-
shippers, those where services were
held; the Episcopal and Catholic
Churches being very handsomely
trimmed with evergreen.
The annual celebration Of Christmas
by the children Of the John street Luth-
ern Church, in Washington Hall at
night, was fully up to previous exhibi,
tons of this Sabbath School. The hall
was crowded to excess and the exercises
delightful. We noticed the execution
of the "grasshopper movement" As
passageway after passageway disappear
ed in the general hauling OF seats for
ward, we could not repress the thought
that should a panic take place from fire
or other cause, not a child on the stage
could escape. The audience, who prob
ably were the fathers and mothers Of the
children, never thought that they were
penning their little ones in.
Long before the hour OF commencing
the hall was crowded to its utmost
capacity. The scholars and teachers
to the number of 800, were arranged on
an amphitheatre stage, the children
bearing banners Of rich device and bril-
liant trimming, each bearing some
name given by the Bible to the Son o
God. Two powerful "head lights
threw their brightness upon the stage
and Illuminated the hall, and "fol
once" Washington Hall did look cheer
full. As the curtain rose the sight pre-
scented was one which will not soon bt
forgotten, and such was the effect upor
the audience that many started to theil
feet, and all joined in one heartsom'
sound of applause. The singing was
fairly thrilling. and for spirit and &C
curacy, really remarkable.
The little ones at the Children's Home
had a jolly time with their Christina:
tree. These little orphans could not bt
more carefully tended were the lady
managers bound to them by the ties o.
blood.
The hall of the Clarkson Boat Clut
was a monster affair. Turner Hal
never had SO many people in it before
nor more orderly, happy and wei
conducted ball given in it. A pleasan
feature of the evening was the presenta
ton OF a silk flag to the Club. f. G.
Cracraft presented the flag ON behal
of j. P. StMyers and other gentlemen
in a neat and graceful speech. The
flag was received on behalf of the Clul
by Mr.. Clarkson, OF the REGISTER. The
gold headed cane was voted to Thomas
Denny, OF the Riverside mill. The
ball was a success in every way. The
receipts were $60T.
There was assemblages Of friends q
private houses, where mirth and jollity
ruled the hour.
Taken as q whole, and excepting thu
drunkenness and the shooting Of pistol.
and fireerackers-a horrible nuisance
that ought to be suspendeI-Christmas
this year was success.