The New York herald., 1874-12-25
CHRISTMAS EVE.

SEEING CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY--LITTLE GER
MANY BY CANDLE LIGHr-AT AN EAST SIDE
MARKET-IN THE BROADWAY sHops-FILLIN4
THE STOCKINGS
Away from the WIDE, thronged sidewalks, the
crowded and costly shops where the people from
the uptown streets and the high toned avenues
are spending money ike water for Christmas gilxs
this Christmas eve, away with US TO "llrrle Ger
many" on tue east side OF the town, where dimes
count as dollars, and where, # anywhere, we can
find santa Claus LAT home" What is that blazing
and nashlng down the streetY See those flames
swaying III the air. those bright coors It looks
like a gigantic Christmas tree reaching to the very
tops OF 5ne houses with its festive burden and
nashlng lights; but surely 1t cannot he. Let us
come nearer. Yes! we are rignt. 1t is only
butchers sign, but he gives notice of his holiday
wares in right jolly fashion. Pine branches are
fastened to the naked arms Of the tree rabbits,
poultry, links Of gilded sausage and torches are
hung all over II and a ladder reaches TO the lower
limbs BY which the boy will climb to the very top
and bring you any bit OF game you may fancy.
Yes, 1t is only shop in the air, but IL is Christ
mas tree for all that and makes the whole neigh
borhood bright and CHEEKY.
STRANGE IoYs AND PASTRY.
Smaller trees gladden. nearly every corner and
eager children press around the open stands and
figures OF the Christcnid done in candy German
Is spoken every hand and all the toys ard fancy
articles are imported direct from The ''vaterlandn
Wieaths OF artificial mowers, such are worn at
German picnics, wanuts covered with gold paper
bears That swallow great slices OF without as
much as single chew, little pianos with only four
keys men made OF prunes, tender papas done in
plaster, carrying obstreperous children in their
arms, and hundreds or other things that are thor
oughly Characteristic OF the impleneadedness OF
the people who make them.
The pastry cooks shops are an inexhaustible
source OF wonder To the uninitiated American
There are gingerbread "eiris OF the perlod,n with
unmstaRabe panniers, and their hair done up in
immense water falls. covered with nets made by
threads OF icing. their faces adorned with the
roundest ana most INEXPENSIVE features, ana
there are vulgar little boys, made OF the same
materials, with their naughty thumbs placed
against their gingerbread noses, and, oh! more
enchanting than all are gingerbread generals, in
full uniform, mounted on gingerbread horses
whose trapping ana names are made OF the
whitest ana shiniest D! Icing. Lying temptingy
on the counters are diamond shaped cakes
that crack like shells when you bite into them,
but which are sweeter tran the sweetest nuts to
the taste. And there are squares OF apple cakes
and little German girls, with long plats OF light
hair hanging down their backs pairing the apples
with d machine OF Yankee invention, and there
are small boys. not over clean scraping cocoanuts
for pies and cakes. The good-natured Germans
laugh when we buy half-a.dozen girls or the
period'' to put i'll our sisters and COUSINS stock
ings, and "vugar little boyn each for Bob and Joe
Not the least interesting OF these shops are the
crockery dealers. what pretty grotesque useful
ana useless things they display. We pass hastily
from the common SNOWY china figures OF cancan
du n fnl m tltng haIxy
the stone ware IS Kept such beautiful jugs OF
grey stone, decorator with grace iul designs in
dark blue, and with substantial pewter covers to
keep Ia the heat. There is perfect wilderness OF
beer mugs; glass, china, stone, highly cOorou
little jugs and bowls, small enough for doll and
unique enough to SET an artist frantic.
IN THE aARgET.
Leaving the orderly crowds that thronp the
streets oi little Germany we wander down
toward a west side market. What q change IRON
the comparative quiet OF the German quarter.
Eager men dash along the sidewalks and nearly
put eyes out with their Christmas trees Iat
and prodigal and lean and thrifty housekee
Jolt against us and almost knock the breath out OF
our BODIES with ther great baskets, Iuaded down
with the CHRISTMAS dinner SGrill-vojced venGers
shout the merits OF their wares in our ears hand
organs squeak tneir lUalest aud torches flame
their brightest, ana everyt thing is Dustle and con.
fusion about the market place. Inside the stalls
look festive III tneiT greens. The butchers make
roosters and pigs, gorgeousy. adorned, out OF ard
produce dealers make KRIS Kringes OF their pota.
ices jokes are cracked and peals oi laughter as
cend TO the raters at The least suggestion OF wit
out through tne market ana up past the crowded
places oi amusement into the heart OF Broadway
spashng through the mud ana slush, gong over
shoe tops at every crossing; but what OF thatY We
are out 10 see christmas Eve and our gooshes pat
noiselessy on the slippery pavements.
IN BROADWAY. r
Here, TOO, in Broadway there ~ q Joyous feeling
abroad tnat - Altogether oDtaglous. The benign
Old gentleman, staggering INTO The crowded omni-
bus with his arms ul 0f brown paper parcels Ialls
across the lap OF beaning young girl with dolls
carriage In Der hands who instead OF scownp at
ms awkwafdness, smiles d knowing smile as he
gathers hls parcels together. The otncr pas
sengers exchange few words about christmas
presents and good nature reigns supreme.
To make ms store as attractive as possible is the
ambition OF every ira iesman. Lights are not
spared tonight Ihey shed tueir genial glow upon
the sidewalk ana into the faces OIL the eager crowd
outside, VINO regardless OF Appearances natten
their noses against tue great Danes or plate glass
and ENJOY the sighta 10 their hearts content. Tn.
less your mlnd IL pretty well made wv it ~ almost