Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-12-28
Christmas at LOudOn.

EDITORS CHRONICLE: Having had the
pleasure of recent visit to the live and
growing village of Loudon, now the coun-
| ty seat of the new county of the same
name, it may not be uninteresting to
your many readers along the line of Rail
road to compare Christmas notes, as am
sure have not in many years witnessed
more pure enjoyment on such an occasion.
The one witnessed does great credit to the
good people of the place and especially
those having the affair Immediately in
charge.
The war having left the churches as we'll
as the various focks who occupied them
in their devotions, in bad condition, the
buildings were greatly damaged, the fur
niture carried off, and everything had to
be commenced anew to provide suitable
places of worship, but nothing daunted,
willing hands and with hearts in the cause
these people began with will. All denom-
nations joined in the organization of a
Union Sunday School, with S. A. Rogers,
ESQ.,, who is we'll known to us all in
Knoxville, and who never fails in his un-
dertakings, as the Superintendent put the
matter into practical effect, which is
now under the well directed management
of DR.. J. T. Blair. as Superintendent, and
a large school has been in successful oper-
alton for several years. 1t has been the
custom of those engaged in this work
always gladdens the hearts of the little
ones and adds new life to the older to have
a Christmas eve entertainment. The great
feature of the evening being q Christmas
Tree. l had the pleasure of looking in
upon the preparation for the occasion. as
well as the carrying out of the we'll con-
ceived plans. A large tree was erected in
the Presbyterian Church which was laden
with the Christmas gifts, one or more for
each scholar. Many of these gifts consist
ed of the finest selections from our best
Knoxville houses, such as elegant full mo-
rocco bound Bibles both large and small
and many other beautiful and costly books
from our we'll known dealers, Williams,
Sturges & Co. and o. B. Smith & Co.; fine
sets of jewelry and silverware from Mr..
Geo. II. Smiths well known jewelry
house, and numerous articles of the varied
assortment of our popular young mer-
chant, Mr.. G. Cullen, dealer in China and
glassware while the varied assortment of
toys from Messrs. Barry & MoDannel's and
p. Kern's made, altogether, such collec-
had the matter in charge, but those from
Hardly had the veil of night been drawn
ere the eager ones for the occasion COM
menced to assemble, and in a short time
the church was packed with old and
young, all in the highest spirits and on
tiptoe of expectation for what might oc-
cur. I arrived just in time to hear the
6dg s6HdfRg gs esmakS n Of R most S h9qan rSpp mdps
his mark high up in the scale of balances
for this world, and 1 only regretted not
having been earlier to have heard all of
his remarks.
At the close of his eloquent "Merry
Christmas" greeting, ''Old Santa" was an
nounced as expected, and while all eyes
were turned in the usual direction, from
whence ingress is expected in all well
regulated churches-the door-the "sly old
elf" as is his custom, slipped in from some
source to demand the honor of
his gift-giving; which, with the assistance
of numerous assistants, he did in his own
comical and laughable manner. The Oc-
casion was One the like of which is seldom
and everything passed to the
greatest amusement of all present. l can
say that LoudOn will always
have Sunday School to boast of so long
as the present spirit prevails, and the pres
ent managers are in charge.
But while l have said much of the Sum-
Oay SCHOOLS oI GnlS CnTlVlnS village, lLS
people are alive in more ways than one.
Having secured new county, with
the county seat at this place, they set
to work to have suitable place to transact
county business, the result of which is one
of the incest court houses in the State. of
which Mr.. A. G. Bruce is the Architect
New stores are being built and live busi-
ness men occupy those ready for use, and
with both river and railroad to supply the
trade lively business is being done. I
noticed the large depot at the river full of
sacked wheat and corn for the Southern
market, this being one of the best points
in East Tennessee for shipment. May the
spirit of this live place spread throughout
our beautiful East Tennessee, is the great
est wish of your scribbler.
Ten Becauses.