The New York herald., 1872-12-24
CHRISTMAS EVE.
0bservances and Preparations for the
Great Christian Festival.
Jaunting Among the Shops and Markst-The
Stockings To Be Filled To-Night-shopping by
Rich and Poor-The Masses and Chimes.

Stockings play very important and very grate-
ful part In the economy OF costume, and have,
doubtless. played more important, though less
generous parts in history, romance and crime
without stockings there would have been no need
for garters and the world would be without that
moral motto framed by not over moral monarch,
"Honi soft Qsls NAL perse." pretty lady's maid
In France, who happened in her lady's cham
ber to admire her own physique when
attired In her mistress apparel and dropped the
vain remark, Here's o leg for stocking" Her.
mistress was murdered that night, and the mur-
derer, who overheard the maids remark from his
place Of concealment was foolish enough some
months later to repeat the uttcrance OF the girl 1t
led TO his arrest and conviction, and he was
shortened by head ior il. 80 much 7of &23f!anles
where
sToCKINGs HAVE FIGURED
indirectly perhaps, In history and crime and II any
proof were wanting that stockings were an ele-
ment In romance too 1t could be found at ten
O'Clock tonight alongside ten million flresides
where they dangle in plethoric distortion after the
night OF Santa Claus the rooitops and rafters
Of childhoOd's homes.
And the filing Of these stockings-.Inere's the
rub" It is this DUTY which leads to the gala
appearance Of the shops and thoroughfares during
these days and nights, when all the world seems
out Of doors making preparation for the celebra-
lion ana enjoyment OF the Christmas festi-
val. Tomorrow the Christian world celebrates
the most joyons OF all Its anniversaries and
for the past week, and notably during to-day, tho
preparations have been and are rife Tor It's lifting
cOmmemoraton. That 1t originates from Christian
source Is, Of course, undisputed; but IL seems
that the manner of its observance is less In ac-
cordance with Christian notions ano is at least
skxun
Ieasting, congratuaton, gift making and gift TAX
ing and Of
CARNIvALIsTIC ENJOYMENT GENERALLY.
For this reason then, all the sources OF produc-
lion have been drawn OIL to an inordinate extent,
and 1t seems as though the whole army OF the ma
lions producers and factors had moved in COM
mon assault on the metropolis. Railways, steam
era, ships and every mode OF conveyance, from the
most rapid down to the numbering market wagon,
have been rolling one enormous avalanche OF
sseSsns oassd asS s0 the city, and it
MARKET PLACES, SHOPS AND STREETS
wear the appearance Of q vast and continuous
bazaar, and the only wonder seems to be where all
day was alive with buyers, and shop windows and
sidewalks bristled with goods waiting to be bought
Fl S sh Mas oS so q
" s a'iy y SsSd' s sa9 pa9
phase
wretch Of husband who had lost ali the poetry Of
his nature and had come down to hard facts. He
w s s M 90 dealers
not many wrstcnes Of husbands in the .' world,
on ao tho BULK Of The festival susness It Was
% toy s the y establish
art ehpoTinms, that the great mass .oPfs Of people
and i ae weary day to a
though there had been universal scramble some.
snS 5 o
a any land sco could .,,u q larger larger number Of
see Fat Women @ ssfugsled on W" the RHns! muddy
and crowded Sidewalks in the endeavor
70 carry about dozen parcels with one pair OF
as the ReT 0HssH iSsGs y ey xoulo
nail. Dainty ladies' carried small parcel or two
and boys and men wrestled their pathways through
the throng as they cung with stout clutch TO rock
nghorses and perambulatOrs
THE CuRBsTONES WERE FRINGED
with the carriages OF the wealthy ,, whose elaoo
along the thronged counters OF the shops. 1t
made comparatively little difference with any
man who wanted to buy a pair of warm
Winter socks fol. mis- child was as intent
setting il as the millionnare who was ordering
81 900 India shawl for his wife. because she per-
cnance. hNd nothing to wear - ~.
cruGh OF traffic the evident pleasure that lighted
the faces Of the trafickers Everybody seemed to
feel as though 1t was Ia TACT holiday work and
they were frightened up to
4 HOLIDAY ENTHUSIASM.
Ordinary trade Is too severe strain to make
buyers anu sellers look very good natured: but
this was all "fun,r and men and women were
trading on firm basis more than for profits
IL want to get diamond bracelet" said a gen.
fHm0n Wellcr'S clerk III the most fashionable
twenty minutes later he was paying
mis- taste. Had he been buying that bauble for any
purpose but as . present lie would have wanted
gushing out with the occasion, the object and
The season, and ne didn't barter.
buying cheap cloak for @ little girl. .How much
s that one worthY she asked as the child stood in
.six dollars Ha and % half replied Il the V clerk.
The woman drew . sigh as she said ~ don't
quite feel az though ought to go 50 high as that;
she condition OF her pocketbook and then, as
though snmmoning courage said, .Wel ! guess
'you must be careful OF 1t, for 1t will have to last
you year."
THE WIDOW, LIKE THE WEALTHY
gem buyer, was willing to strain her good nature
woman in faded dress crept timldly into an
east side corner grocery and asked the price OF
chicken hanging on q hook.
t0w-haired, rosycheeked Dutch boy who was wait
ing on her.
'sTwelve cents. he answered, indifYerently,
sWeigh this one for me-, she SAID.
.Three pounds and hall, he muttered.
Have you one about couple OF pounds
such o large one.u
Sne had quarter of dollar which she felt she
could anord to invest in the luxury Of chicken
but that was about her limit.
and so the day Of purchases went on and viii 60
on to-day, some bidding for luxuries and others for
a nGlif IN ut CT Aass
some Christnas purchasing ssE---.
r. sa.- D0Wn IN IN THE MARKETS
the scene was a Babel Of CONFUSION washington
Market, that fostering disgrace on the lace
OF the city, was almost bursting with
the mass of edibes that depended
from every rafter and hook and lay IN piles on the