Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-04-07
LOCAL NEWS.

~ j X
Holy SATURDAY. TO morrow, the services
at St. Mary's Church, begin at half past eight
and are of greater length than any others dur
ing the year The lights-kept constantly burn
ing before the tabernacle having been extln-
gushcd when the Host WI! removed on Thurs
dav, new fire is kindlel aud blessed at the
door of the chutCh, together with live grains OF
incense afterwards used III the ceremonial.
From this. fire, G. taper Dis lighted, and proces:
sion being formed proceeds to the high altar,
a bright candle being lighted from the taper at
the entrance and middle Of the church and at
the foot foot of the altar, in memory Of the
resurrection Of Christ The paschal candle, 4
wax taper some three or four feet high, Is then
solcmnly blessed. the five grains OF, incense be-
ing fixed in it in the form of L cross, inmemory
of the five wounds borne by our Savior after
He rose again This candle, together with the
other lamps, &C.. of the church, is then light
ed from the triple candle, and is Kept burning
during every solemn service until Ascension
Day. Next, there are read t%eRe-lessoll from
the old testament, called prophecies, intended,
uncicntly, fer the. Instruction of the catccllu-
mems who were then solemnly baptised on tins
day after the water in. the .baptlsma font had
been consccratcd, Now, converts and children
being baptised at any time, baptism IS seldom
thus publicly administered, but the blessing or
the font is retained in the service, and part OF
the water, taken out before the more solemn
conservation, and given 10 the people to DC
kept in their houses. the rest being retained
for baptisms during the year. The thames arc
then cllaatea and, lat length, the sable cover;
ings being removed, the high 'altar-ls adorned
with lights and flowers, and Il Solemn Mass be-
Gins. Attic chanting OF the "Ctioria in Excel.
lis. the bells are all rung, the organ peals
forth it's triumphant strains. and the. church
begins by anticipation, the festivities of Easter
In ancient tines. I'LL these services took place
in the evening, terminating after midnight, land
the word night is still retained in the liturgy
in CONTEMPLATION Of IT, though, en- account OF
disorders which frequently occurred, the night
services have long since, been prohibited. :.
WASHINGTON FREE ScHool.-A final meet
ing of the Board of Guardians of this school;
TO settle up its affairs: was held this morning,
present McsSS. Uarne. Boush and, Snowden.
The first named; .as President, stated that ne
had exchanged the Holmes Readers, belong
inc to the school for text books authorized by
the Board of Education; and that he had III
his possession IL quantity. of other text booE 5
which he proposed to sch, in order to furnish
all the public school teachers with text books.
His action Was. approved aul. authority gwen
him to sell the remaining books and apply the.
proceeds as suggested. \ claim OF Col. Shay,
late Principal for money expended tor turnt-
ture. &C.. and for list Of furniture, WAS present
cd and ordered to be paid. 1t w;ss then dlrec-'
ted that the money remaining. in the treasury,
after settling all claims, jprobably about S4O,)
having been derived iron, fees paid forihcident-'
al expenses by tho parents Of the pupils, be
used at the discretion Of the. County Superln-
tendent of Public Schools for the benefit OF the
school in such manner us he may think best.
The minutes were. then, signed by the R'reSl;-
dent and Secretary, the minute book was hand
cd over to the County 'sup'erinteudenttef pres
vrvatou; and the act of Council ereatipg Il :hays
ing been repealed. 'scIhe Board. of & aardiads'
Of the Free School :: utter an official existence
of more than forty years, adjourned sine. die
Coal. TRApE.-Business at both the upper
and the lower coal wEarves IL brisk,
coal coming down. the canal freely and vessels
arriving daily for cargocs. Three large schoon-
ers were loading this morning at the lower
wharves and the same number at.the upper,
for different ports, .alid large feet Of Vessels
is expected up in Il dayor two, thirteen to the
American Coal company. In consequence ot
the resumption Of caual navigation CARRIER
this year than usual It is anticipated that the
coal trade will exceed that Of any previous
season. the agencies here having made prepa-
rations for "a largely Increased BUSINESS, j a and
from present prospects their. expectations are
likely to be realized. 1872.
TAxEs.-Under the provisions of the act
passed at the last session of;the Legislature au:
thorizing the city collectors to desrain for taxes
and gas bills, a. number of dclinquents have
been compelled ito walk up to the. CAPTAIN
office and settle Though 1T first sight this may
seem hard, Yet is dFhav "a contribute to thu
general fuad there is no.rcason that somc
should pay and Others, be let, off, Bach one
who fails to bear his share Of the burden makes
it lust 50 much harder on tho oshers;:so let each
one pay iip, - and in the. end it. will come
easier upon all: - e ....: e: .....: '...'
FIsHTowN. Affairs at Fishtowls, this 4aern-
ing, were very lively aud trade brisk. The
receipts of fish exceeded thoAe.of any one d "
so far, this season, and the 'wharycs we're
crowded with boats sail and steam while the
arrivals. and departures were 1fcqnentt: Pack
crs and dealers were busy aud the demand for
fish very active" Best quality Of herring and
shad sold at IS so pei. thousand for the f&rmcr.
and so3as2o5 per hundred for the latter Very
few persons from The country haye come in Jet
.,,.,l;o, Lut- IL liz. .:cut4. cnu1iuuns