The New York herald., 1871-12-26
cONNoLLy's FESTM DAY IN PRISON.
Hsw Christmas Was Kept in Ludlow
II Street Jail and the Tembs. eaa
cHRIsTMAs DAY AT THE THEATRES.

An0ther t0yOuSiy celebrated CnrIstmaS IcstiVai
Ass ned away among the things OF the past. Every
thing conspired to lend It prightness-prof0
peace, general prosperity, pleasant weather and .
universal determination to DO fitting honor TO the
season. Our special reports show that these oppor
saniues were worthiy improved, and this psrticur
lar ChrstmasTide viii be jealousy stored up BY
Of our people In that most precious Of all trea
sure houses-ene whose contents never suffer from
che attacks OF time and change--that IN which are
fendly and sacredy kept the tender memories Of
pure happiness unmlxed with remorse. aeaw ia t
In happy homes the flame OF social restivity burned
brightly and cheerfuliy, and reassembled fami-
es gayly kept the feast with permissible giutsony
and harmless fun and merrlment. Many re-
turned wanderer thrilled with strangely pleasant
emotion as he found himself sitting once more at
the board OF his youth surrounded with familiar
faces which reflected with beaming smiles the glad.
ness which filled his heart Such reunions are
among the brightest aspects OF the celebration OF
xns greatest Of Christian festivals and perhaps the
Founder or the Faith OF love and peace ANA good
vii to men could not be honored more than by such
pleasant rites. Do A01a9 laia 3e esAstttsf sa.
Many homes too, that are not always happy were
visited with CLEANS OF the gayety that IS the pre-
dominant spirit OF che time, thanks 10 hearts ana
hands that memories or the Good Shepherd had
made strangely liberal and tender. Never before
70 take lung care OF the unfortunate and the help
less the widow and the orphan. AT a the principal
Institutions q free feast was held. whose bonn
tful liberality was eloquent OF that brotherhood
OF mankind which Jesus made 30 marked o
doctrine OF his teaching. The 0amtns and
cify arabs were especially well cared for and some
si them may have been redeemed from untold evil
BY the consciousness thus inspired the interest
felt Ia their welfare by their fellows Battling with
grim energy for the hardest food and the most COM
fortress shelter aud bureted each day BY tho blows
Of ptless Ill fortune, 1t may easily be guessed
that they should sometimes be tempted to lose heart
and should. indeed, come to regard themselves,
what In fact they have been termed, the Bedouin
OF the citYtheir hand against every man and every
mans hand against them. But q common ENJOY
Ment Of the birthday OF the Christ, the means for
which have been provided by the open hands OF
their more favored fellows, VIII in most instances
sonvfnce them that they need but persevere to reach
happier times.
The religious services were wen attended, ana, as
viii ne seen from the special reports, the discourses
were appropriate and eloquent The decorations OF
the churches also are stated 10 have been excep-
tionay good, and even though 1t be true that this
decking OF the temple with cheerful evergreens be
but relic OF paganism, 1t cannot but be generally
felt that Christianity mas done well to avan itself OF
sncn pleasant custom. divine once asked why
the devil should have all the good tunes. The same
suggested Philosophy might be applied to this
Christmas adorning Of the churches. Why should
we not borrow all that is good even IRON corrupt
source as the old Roman Saturnalia so long as we
leave behind the obscene license and hideous sen.
suality OF heatnenismP ta NtT# hfA
Perhaps, however, the theatres drew even larger
audiences than the churches At some OF the
homes OF Thespis indeed, the houses were perfectly
terrific. One could not help shuddering at the
shouRht OF what might happen should there occur
one OF those unreasoning panics which so fre-
quenty seize upon large assemblies. Everything,
however, passed OF without accident ana many
thousands Of pleasure seekers improved their taste
and Delighted their eyes ana frightened their vita
with the various excellent bills that are the theatr
cal pabulum Of the hour. Many among them, TOO,
belong to that unfortunate class OF toilers who
have but scanty opportunities OF fuduisIng In this
form Of recreation. gs efs. srfn
The weather was perhaps, scarcely seasonable, If
we accept the traditional theory or snow and frost
and keen winter winds as most appropriate pro-
vocative Of Christmas jolty. The day was bright
and sunny, and the air was at times almost sultry.
Indeed II seemed rs though spring had already come.
The Streets thanks to the rain OF Saturday night,
were again passable and they were therefore
thronged with constant streams OF pedestrians,
who seized the chance OF taking pleasant con-
stitutional stroll.
Altogether, yesterday was sure proof Of the
added strength of the hold which Christmas IL
yearly taking In the affections OF the American
people And as we have at present BY far too rev
holidays this is q cheering sign of the advance OF
civilization. This is all the more pleasant TO reject
upon since the character Of the day entities 1t above
all others In the year TO respectful and hearty
observance. 7nH nNn 20 "a srinas at