, 1873-12-23
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THE HOLIDAY HEABf1N.

ot'o lnaeodt ahu far exceeding In extent my.
thing that We know of 1t In American citioH.
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THE HOLIDAY sEAsoN.
a few wcolsH ago, whom stocks were collapaing
and banks wore breaking, and people were hiding
away thofr grconbaohs in old Stockings and cof-
foo-pots, bocauRe no ono had confidence In his
no'Ghbor. In his bank, or In anything else, ho
wouid layo boon called q worry rash man who in
tho midst Of tito gloom had predicted that, when
tic annual holidays came, people would buy mud
aoli, would slug aud danco, would remember
their friends with Christmas-giftB, and would in
aist upon being amusod Us usual. Tho outlook
at that time waA not encouraging, wlothor 10
those WHO had money or those who had not, and,
With that tendency which always obtains ia d
orisa TO look upon tho dark side, those who Ind
money hold to It oil tho tighter, and thoao who
had not, Hottlod down III sort Of blank despair.
Meanwhile the moralsts and political economists
preached homiles on tho duty Of retronchmont,
mainly to tho poor who aro a1ways engaged in
tho exercise Of that choorloss but nocessary
duty.
Tho holidays havo como, 1awevor, and tho
clouds scom to hayo lifted. THO driving snowB
md pitilosH cold Of winter havo mercifully kopt
aloof, mud tho weather has been tempered to the
poor. Tho bright sldea, and mild air, and warm
sunlight, which might almost tempt tho buds to
Hhoot out. seom to lavo had magical influence
upon people, which las boen manifested in ya-
rioua ways When l1r. Marctxok failed to como
hor1 nI5 IT,, AL 4
pooplo havc no money to fool nway upon amu8e-
monts. Wo can have no opera this aeason."
This was the reasoning OF Maratzok also. Throo
woolts ago, howovor, q more courageous mauagor
came here, having faith in tho people, and
without TINT 1ouriBl Of trumpots which il usual~
ly characteristic Of tho 1talans. Ho las just
closed soason Of twenty-ono performances,
which, with tho exception Of single night,
Aavo been Witnessed by crowded housea.
There have been over $4,000 people who
have boon determined to, bo AMUSED,
money or no money, hard tlmos or no hard
times. They have put into tho managers
strong box, during these threo wooks, betwoon
$4,000 aud $4,000. During this time alBo
| there have boon thrco other theatres in full
| tide during weekdays four or five German
| tneasres on Sundays, and scarcely night In tho
week but has mado it's demands upon tho public
| with lectures, concerts, and other formH OF ou-
! tortaument, and has not demanded III vain,
They havo all boon vol patronizod but In the
schedule Of amusement the opora is always sot
down as luxury, whero economy can bo first
practicea. The crowds which continually
througed tho opora, however, even to the very
last performance, shows very concluaiyely that
tho financial sky is lighting up. Tho money ia
coming out Of the stockings and coffoe-pots, and
people aro loosoning their purso-strings.
Those merchants who few weeks ago also
looked forward to tho holiday soason With appre-
henalon TINT their usual trade aud profits would
bo cut OF altogether, OF very materially reduced
have discovered their mistake. The shops are
crowded with people making their Christmas
purchases. The booksellers. the toy doalors,
the dry goods doalers, tho fancy goods dealers,
md al other claaaes Of tradesmen who hayo
stocks which can DO utilized for gifts, report
that tloy haye no roason to complain. While
there is not 30 much disposition to purchase ex-
trayagant fancy goods and high-prioed gilt-odged
books, still the average business Is fully
up to that Of previous years, showing that the
pleasant nnd kindly custom Of observing the
holidays by milking others happy will not be
materially intertered with. There mover has
been year when the woods have had to suffer
moro in tho 1oas Of their ovorgrcens than this
and there will bo worry fow homes in which tic
candles will not bo lighted Oh Christmas, and
tho Christ-child come to gladden.. the Learta oI
tho small people. It is not too much to expect
Of tho charitable that the homes which cannot
afford the pleasant luxury Of tho Christmas tres
will bo provided for in aomo manner.
The year, therefore. is not ending 80 darkly al
those had expected who, q few weokB ago, tool
counsel Of their foars. The holidays will 10 OBJ
served with their usual ec|at. Tho Christmas
star will burn as brightly as over, and the New
Year will como IN With all tho morrinoss Of its
innumorab1o predecessors. Notwithstanding ttt
croakofs and tho hypochondriacs. Notwith
standing Crolit Mobiliors, ealary- grabs. col
lapsod stocks, dofanltius Troasurers, and rotor
bauks, thoro Is elasticity enough in the grea
public to recover from them all, and to com
menco tho New Year with the determination Il
be happy and make others happy.
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THE ULTRAIoNTANE coNFLICT.
Tho dispatches from Europe relatlvo to tn
: conflict between Church and State in German
laye fuilea to convoy al approclatlyo1 1doa Of til