The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-22
How to Get About 1t ana
Where to Go.
the PHIL oSOPHY OF GIVING PRESENTS,
Animated Appearance Of the Streets-A
Brisk Season for Trade-Ncw
Toys-The Markets-Christ.
mas Good Cheer.
OUR CHRISTMAS LIST OF TRADEsMEN

Christmas comes but once year, but what otner
festival in this wonderful land OF divers and hetero
geneous populations excites so Wide and general an
INTEREST," Tennyson mas sung for Engshmen In
Single line
Norman and Saxon and Dane are We,
hut the American poet of the ripened future when
The whlrligig of time shall have welded us together
Into ,ne grand homogeneous people, VIII nave TO
lake whole and not very short stanza In recount
lnr the various sources from which the great repuD
nc has been recruited. Only very small anu In
considerable element OF our population, however.
can be truthfully supposed TO have no interest In
the merry season OF Christmas tide. Even the
Israere finds his account In 1t as with joyful heart he
computes his gains In added business and swollen
purse. john Chlnaman our last acquisition, and
the noble untutored savage VINO. with questionable
chyalry scaIps our explorers and frOntersmen.
may, indeed experience no stirring or tile pulse, no
quicker movement OF the blood, at the recurrence OF
this blessed holiday But they are perhaps the only
exceptions to the general sentiment. Every man OF
European descent, every child Of the Cross, wner
ever he may be, welcomes gladly the advent OF this
GROWING festival Of the year. The Puritans for
few generations ventured to ignore It's claims ana
expressly forbade the observance OF the '.Popish
custom" OF eating plum porridge on the 18th OF
December, but they have been compelled TO yield to
the better oil the vast majority Of the peoples
Of Chrlstend0m.
This year we are happy In the enjoyment OF what
has been In all times considered seasonable Christ
mas weather. Tue ground is covered with snow;
the air Is pure and oraclng with the wholesome,
though sometimes 0ver.keen. cold OF winter;
and the cheerful ring OF the sleigh bells and the
laughter OF pleasure making lads and lasses win
combine in musical harmony with the rejoicing
chimes OF the churches. We shall thus probably
have a Christmas Of exceptional merriment and
Yladness Let all resolve, and keep our purpose
with an equal mind.n " make 1t the brightest and
Hayest season OF yuc we have ever known
For the past two weeks the preparations for the
coming festival nave been earnest and thorough.
The great OF trade have been thrOnged with
purchasers. and all classes have We'd with each
other In the good Work OF providing for the mpend.
Ing feast, ;. :. $50. ,onu 100, ;, .,..,
The writer OF freud Yesterday.
'yust the hardest days work have done In the
whole year. i have ocen ever since noon buying
my Christmas presents. have only laid out about
hundred dollars but Christmas gifts make good
show for q very little money I'd like you to Just
take look round my rooms. There are heaps OF
stun OH every Ia lie and in every corners the mantel.
piece is loaded up with pretty holiday books 1
scarcely know which way to turn"
"Wny don't you send them direct to your
friendssn
Of one essential principle Of Chrissmas-,hat gifts
should DE made either on the eve OF the day
or on the day itself. And then, besides
that, there Is another very sufncient reason
: for s~sptug the things by me- You see AIN
getting OLD lMr. Fred bachelor OF twenty eight
ana being now past the season when can .njov
anythlpg very vIvIdly and keenU myself my PIN
tipaf source OF enjoyment ~ In gioauog over Inc
pleasure am gong 10 make sr others. And on
coming home after business Just like to look round
and philosophical pipe contemplate in silent
revere the immense sum OF enjoyment that IN con-
fused heaps surrounds me on every hand. little
fifty box OF oonDons for my foury niece.
Mary, dollar steam engine for her brother Fred
is mental food enough to last through that great
Turkish pipe OF minc, loaded up to the brim For
am stu as much o selfish sybarlte as when we
were IN Paris together i've years ago, though In
little more harmless and reputable way. And the
best OF 1t Ia that nnu 1t even more deig htfui."
And Fred il but y specimen Of very numerous
species OF the american homo. There one thing
that Americans enjoy even more than making
mOney-and that IS spending It. Pure generosity
as distinct from liberal almsgivlng Ii not dignled,
as among the Moslem, with the glory or religious
duty; bur 1t Is cardinal principle OF that uuwritten
law TO which we all subscribe more heartily than to
the precepts OF the pulpit Professional phrenol o.
Vsts have all found this out. and In making out their
CuAtuCtcES lucy iHNdtiuuy tcii tucI Clcut, dmOuH
much sensible ADVICE, and few shrewd guesscs as
to his favorite virtues aud vices, .you can make
money much more easily than you can keep IT,
This is always q trump card; the being sitting for
his moral, intellectual and spiritual portrait IN
stantly cries out, 'srnsts So" and Is on the whole
convinced that though practical phrenology may
not yet be perfect and complete science Il must be
nj least founded on many truthful and carefully
studied out facts and observations
But perhaps the same thing Is true, in more or
less marked degree, OF all mankind. ut Is more
blessed 70 give than 10 receive said that Saviour
whose birth we are In o few days going 10 CON-
memorate. In many other lands however the
hardness OF gaining Q livelihood has hardened
mems hearts and narrowed them into a sad but not
unnatural selfshness. But here. IN this broad and
beautiful land. even the poorest can with industry
health secure something above the bare cost OF
food and shelter while to some the surplus income
that may he expended In the renneme nts and COM
forts OF civilized life Is simply enormous We must
not, therefore. take 10 ourselves over much credit
Tor giving way under these favoring conditions to
the universal impulse TO open ones hand aud taste
the sweets Of un-elnshness.
To him who wishes 10 thoroughly enjoy Christmas
there II employment more delightful
than a stroll at this season through our great
thoroughrares OF commerce. The stores seem lit
ny by the time INTO an exceptional gayety and
brightness. Fuller than their wont with all that
can cnarm the eye or tempt the sense-many OF
them. indee d. strewlng the sidewalk with their
wares-crowded with purchasers and noisy with
the pleasant murm urs OF buying and seling-they
are, indeed, In the happiness and kindly, genial
who have been distempered by the rough usage OF
y pitiess world. Even = defeated politician might
look upon the show and take heart again, and oe
Ieve In the goodness aud humanity OF the great
mass OF his fellow citizens. Apart however,
from oil sentimental associations, and regarded
simply as spectacle, SUCH street as Broadway at
Chrstmas Is worth careful study. The gaudy
c0ors OF the holiday gifts. the moving crowds OF
gghtseers And customers; the stir and hustle and
confusion and noise and busy lie that animate the
picture, make up q scene OF sinRularly pleasing
brightness. Vow Mr.. and Mrs. Bonn would De
delighted they could but enjoy o saunter through
these realms OF maryland We can Imagine tho
Golden Dustman wanaering In wrapt admiration
through the splendio realms OF Tinany or inspect.
ing the humber wares OF the fancy goods ware