New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-26
CHRISTMAS MUSIC.
HARMONY OF A HOLIDAY.

IHE CHURCHES-GIAD ECHOES IN The BfSEFo-
LENT INSTITUTIONS.
Through the chilly air peaed the chimes OF Trinity,
the first note Of Christmas as midnight rang out
from tall towers here and there throughout the city,
Iardy jewellers staggered through the streets with
snatches of drunken song, and the slow cars were
crowded by mobs whose celebration of Christmas
Eve bad been something too potent. The windows
OF many houses were still bright with festal light.
and behind the curtain the tapering hight OF
the Christmas tree could be discerned, and
the hubbub Of children, whose wonder and
delight had not yet grown stale with the
nnwonted hour, could be heard. From stately man
sions came streams of music and dimly-dscerned
forms glided by the windows in the close clasp OF
the German or moving to the measures Of the waltz.
AS the hours went by lights paled and went out and
the households became still.
The hustle of the holiday itself began early.
Hours before sunrise in many streets crowds might
be darky seen hurrying to the early masses of the
Catholic churches Even before thousands of tani-
lies were astir with the running TO and fro Of tiny
boys and girls, whose eyes had hardly closed dur
ing the night overlooking were they with expecta-
ton At the earliest hour when they dared to brave
reproof they up and lightly clad were hunting
for the treasures which their constant faith in Santa
Claus had hidden them to look for. Their gifts
once found. there such shouting, such sounding
of toy-hons and whistles, such squeaking of every
sort of mechanical device, that sleep fled from the
family. If the juvenile gift-takers had confined
their enthusiasm to their own homes it would have
been well for the peace Of harassed seepers through
out the city, who were rudely disturbed from cher
ished morning maps by every variety of unmusical
sound which it has entered into the heart of the
small boy to desire.
The day broke with dull sky and air chill and
heavy with moisture. The doubtful peril above and
the certain danger under foot appalled, many whose
minds had been bent upon urch-going. The
services at the Roman Catholic churches were
thronged with patient and devout multitudes whose
admiration the incoming splendor of ceremonial
and decoration brought out. At many Of the other
sanctuaries, however. there such pressure of
attendance in former years. Nevertheless, the
magnfcence Of musical display aud floral orna-
ments in the Protestant Episcopal churches were
potent to attract many beside those whose reverence
for the sacred character of the anniversary brought
them TO worship. This was shawn by the number
of those who hastily withdrew when the best Of the
music was over and the sermons began. Fifth-ave.
was bright with the moving groups Of church-goers
returning homeward in the early afternoon.
From the deserted aspect of the streets il might
have been supposed that large part of the men
improved their unusual leisure by prolonging their
morning nap unconscousy. Toward noon the bill
lard rooms had an uncommonly animated look and
hardly OF the restless ivory balls left undis
turbed till late at night. prevalent idea of holi
day in the masculine mind seems to embrace almost
unlimited billiard-playing, with drive behind
fast horse in the of the day. The condition
of the roads did not encourage the latter amuse-
ment but in the afternoon the fayorite
drives were well taken up. The theaters
very generally gave both afternoon AMI evening
entertainments which were patronized with the in
evitable holiday rush, drawing some thousands more
than the church services had brought out The
streets at no time during the day were crowded, and
the absence of animation with the closing of the
stores gave them a dull look. A few bands of Fan
tastcalsD paraded, among them the Original
Bucks" together with some target companies, but
without exciting much attention. OF travel in
street cars and by the ferries there was compare
lively little, and the number of trips essened.
In the harbor aud rivers vessels generally dec
Grated with bunting and gala coloIs.
The pleasures of the day were chiefly don este
and such as do not come before the public eye In
them there was no lack Of animation, depression
from gloomy weather and little discouragement
from the pinching Of the times. Even among the
unemployed idleness has yet brought on no great
increase Of suffering, and there was comparatively
little restitution in the city, yesterday, which did
not find some pleasure in the festival. Good cheer
was almost universal, and where there was lean
ness in the Christmas banquet, there was often
such Joy in family reunion, in tho interchange
of kindly feeling, and in the thorough acceptance
of the wholesome ana inspiring sentiment in which
Yule-tide is enshrined that the day red-letter
day,to poverty as well as to wealth. right joyous
and memorable festival was it to hundreds of the
poor retaners Of the great public family The scanty
dole of charity was enlarged and made richer for
this the true anniversary Of charity, when to this
world was given the greatest of all gifts. The en-
joyment of Christmas at the Charitable institutions
general and hearty, and in the bitter round of
lives sustained by others bounty, SO few bright
days come, that the pleasures of such festival
was yesterday are of tho choicest. both to those
who impart and those who receive.
A noteworthy feature of the day was the number
of receptions given by scholars of the public schools
and by such as remain during the Christmas recess
Of the private academies At these receptions there
was much genuine enjoyment, and faithful teachers
were gIatifed with tokens OF esteem from their
scholars. Sunday schools and parish schools in
some sections of the city met in Christmas festival
As for club dinners and receptions and private
parties they were past counting.
The brief and clouded sunlight yielded TO early
dusk with light rain, making sky and air dismal to
those who ventured out But in thousands of happy
home-circles there was store of brightness and
mirth which took no note of heavy skies and mel
ancholy atmosphere. And so with high feasting
aud luxurious merriment in the households OF the
rich, with simpler keener observation-disclosures to them
pleasure is strange visitor the poor, the
Christmas hours waxed gray and were numbered
with the past and this morning the world arouses
again to striving and pushing toll, its festal gar
ments laid aside, but it's life sweetened and made
better by the experience and the memories OF yes
terday.