, 1872-12-26
CHRISTMAS IN CHICAGO.
Happiness and Good will Ill Over
the City.
The Churches, Theatres, and Saloons
Well Patronized,
Plenty Of Presents for the Little Ones. and
Consequent Joy Among Parents.

Everybody is aware that Christmas is pnst.
but they can reconcile themselves with the
knowledge that there will be another holiday
next year, if nothing happens. It is probably
as we'll that there is an interval OF 8 year
between Yesterday and next Christmas. per-
petual session Of Christmas would be awful
perpetual plum-pudding, roast turkey, cham
pagne, egg-nog, ETC., would ruin the digestion
and mako dyBpepsia epidemic. There would be
no quarreling, husbands and wives would live
in harmony, mothers-in-1aw would be on con-
stant visit, and feel bound to behave them
selves; human nature generally would be in the
same quiet, insipid condition as before the
Fall, and there would not be the
fun and excitement Of an occasional TOW. No, it
is just as we'll that Christmas las gone,-good-
bye Christmas farewell, adieu, the best of
friends must part, as the rodent remarked to his
tail when he left it in the trap.
Before utterly dismissing Christmas, it may
be Haid that tho day was fine in this part Of tho
foot-stool the weather moderated in the morn
ing, and, though the sun hid his face, and snow
threatened to fall in the afternoon, there was
nothing to deter the average man or woman
from going out to places Of amusement, to
church, or elsewhere. The theatres were well
patronized, and the services in the Episcopal
and Roman Catholic Churches we're unusually
interesting to the crowded congregations that
attended to do honor to the natal day OF the
Savior. A majority Of the population did not go
to church, ,-a majority seldom do, but indulged
themselves according to their tastes and money.
Some drank hot-scotches, lot rums, and raw
whiskey, the better part OF the day, and the
toast Of "heres to all your hair coming off
WAS honored frequently enough to cause half
the scalps in the city to be barefooted
this morning. Some went to their sweethearts,
it being day of reconciliation, and many o
hitch in the course Of true love was relegated
to the past, hostilities were suspended, peace
proclaimed, and everything made serene. The
number of kisses exchanged WAS LOS, ,314, By ac-
tual count. It is good and pleasant thing for
brethren to dwell together in unity. Tho
lovers had not it ell to themselves, by any
means. The old folks we're gladdened By the
sight Of their children around the family
board, and many wanderer from the domestic
fold returned from afer to spend tie day among
those who loved and wero loved. The children
we're happy,-we hope they we're al happy,
every one; they received presents, Santa Claus
deposited his gifts, and few away ont OF sight
for another year.
There were some, OF course, there Always are,
to whom the day brought no joy, but memo
ries bitter by contrast Of other Christ
mases in the past when they wore better
Off in this worlds goods, or when some
lost one vas living. But sorrows are part Of the
lot OF man. There is no sweet without some
bitter. Itis so and though We may 1epine, and
think it tough, ne must grin and bear it.. Wo
hope anybody, except Rafferty,, Peri. Perfect, Ct
al, (of the Eind) who was alive yesterday will
be alive next Christmas, but the probabilities
are against the realization OF such hope. Such
is life.
The city was very quiet, business being gener-
ally suspended. There was comparatively little
drunkenness. In the various public and chari-
table institutions delicacias were served up to
to many heart. It is possible to continue
writing in this strain for d week, but that would
be New Years, so we won't say anything shout
it. "suffcient unto the days" etc.