Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-12-17
LOCAL BREVETIES.


A party of the French legation at Washing
ton-two ladies aod two gentlemen, one OF the
latter being the sou OF the Minister, all on horse
back, and accompanied with grooms carrying
lunch, arrived here on the ten o'clock ferry
boat this morning and started over the road on
visit to Mount Vernon.
Owing to the insecure fastenings of the chain
gang, and the consequent danger of their es-
c,piug when at work, Capt. Warning delivered
up his keys to the jaor this morning, and de-
clared bis intention OF accepting employment
on fishing shore.
Some of the ice dealers are cleaning out their
ice houses preparatory to the reception OF the
winters stock, but from present appearances
little of that stock will be gathered from the
waters 10 this vicinity. Some of the ice houses
were filled by this time last woter.
The committee room Of the Common Coun
ell chamber has been fitted up for the use of
the Mayor, aud will in future be used as his
private office. The room formerly occupied by
him will be used as the office of the Board OF
Public Works.
An old colored man named Jesse Douglas,
who lives 90 Cameron street, below Henry,
while under the Influence # liquor last night,
fell down the steps OF his house and Injured
nlnselI very severely.
Some alarm was experienced aud excitement
created, at the Theological Seminary, on Mon
day last by the sudden indispositiou Of many
of the inmates OF that Institution, the exact
cause of which has not yet been determined.
The two coored men in Jail on the charge Of
robbing the residence Of Mrs. Cazenove, Oh
Seminary hill, last spring, we're to have been
examined before committing magistrate this
afternoon.
Mr.. Joseph Young, engineer of the H. drau-
lioo Fire COMPANY, had his e-brows and
lashes and his whiskers burnt off last night by
the delayed ignition of some coal oil be had
thrown into the stove.
There was heavy white frost this morning,
but the weather to-day has been again that OF
Indian summer. Within the recollection of
but few has there been so mild winter as
the present
The arrival of the Harrisonburg train yes
terday evening was delayed by an obstruction
near Markham, caused by the breaking down
of freight train at that point.
The only case reported at police headquar-
ters this morning was that of colored woman
named Sophronia Ferguson, who for diSorderIy
conduct at Fishtown, was foed and discharged.
Capt. VIM Smith, of the Maryland ferry
steamer Virginia. left here to day for New
York to have surgical operation performed
for the restoration of the use OF his broken hip.
The condition Of the northern end of Union
street is such that Mr. w. A. Smoot has CON
meuced improving it in order to be able to
reach his place of business in bad weather.
Richard Beach found pocket-book yester-
day containing $50 belonging to readyman Geo;
Jones, where the latter had left it, but returned
it when called upon.
A new monthly paper, to be called the Home.
stead, will, it is reported, make its appearance
10 this city 10 January, Byron Turner editor
and Proprietor.
There will be festival and az exhibition OF
tableaux at Vienna on the 22d instant tor the
benefit of the Presbyterian Church there.
The Sumner Grays, colored military COM
pany of this city, were out drilling last night
There was only one lodger at the station
house last night.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS Thursday week will be
Chritmas, when those who have any money
whether much or little, will have to spend some
of it 10 the purchase Of presents, for unless one
be dead poor, he will have some one to thnk
of, and some one to think of him at that one
time of good will towards men, aud such think
present This custom of making Christmas
gifts is good one, too, and should be observed
and cherished everywhere, but especially here
in Virginia, where the joyous goodfellowshlp
of Christmas comes TO US legtlmately with our
EugIish blood, and where that holiday Is now
the only one which the people take real ln-
terest in observing. Life is coarse and selfish
enough 10 all conscience for the rest of the year
to let its better part enjoy the poor satisfaction
of exhibiting itself during the brief holiday sea-
SOD, and of experiencing the happy evidence, as
furnished 10 the little tokens OF aHectlonate re-
gard then passing, that humanity Is not utterly
base, but that feeling and sentiment have still
place in the human heart, and that though
materialism furnishes the bread aud meat OF life,
idealty supplies it with its birds aud Its how-
ers Alexandrians thus bordering Oh the bright
side OF life, if they would have their thoughts
reflected by things of beauty, which are joys
forever, should 20 to French's, on King street,
where fit emblem Gao be found for any hap
by emotion they may feel. We cursoriy look
ed Into his full show cases and scanned the con-
tents of his crowded shelves yesterday evening,
and while thus engaged longed for the chief
prize in the Louisville lottery, 10 order that we
mig bit remember all our friends, and put Goals OF
fire on the backs OF our enemies by also send
ing them a present. His show window alone
presents beautiful sight, and one that attracts
the not momentary attention of all passers by,
for i, is filled, top, sides and bottom, with an
artisticaIly arranged collection Of choice chro-
mos aud other styles of rare and handsome
pictures, chaste bronzes. silver vases, mirrors,
and elegant articles in rich Russia leather and
Turkey morocco. Within the store, as 10 the
window, the chromos constitute principal
feature in the general beauty OF the scene, for
landscapes, groups, Madonnas, birds, flowers,
&c, form handsome frame for the beautiful
picture presented by the contents of the cases,
counters, and the shelves below. The capacl-
ous show cases, vertical and horizontal, exhibit
10 rich array card cases and baskets, Russia
leather and Vienna satchels, glove aud hand
kerchief boxes of the most elaborate work man
ship, jewel cases 10 satin and silver, hand MIR
rors, writing desks, work boxes, japanese cabl-
nets, perfume bottles aud cases, music boxes,