, 1874-12-20
christmas 0bservances Across
the Water.
gan The Church People Have Spent
The Week.
peceptions and Balls of the
More World1y-Minded.
rranston and Its Weddings---Sub-
urban Gossip.
-.Amuse1nentS.
INTRODUCTORY.

-.AmusementS.
| INTRODUCTORY.
I xr-1<7xAs AuUsEMESTs or THE OLD AID NEW
i woELD.
4; rha social world is ut present on the qui vive
/ ..v,rding tho holidays, and every one is intent
I'm Christmas parties Of some Kind. Tho Clubs
1 -.n,uy Of them making extra efforts to giye
! - their usual entertainments a super-featal
.s,r,cser. while private individuals aro equally
;1.eut in some way upon making the most Of the
4 so1id,v-time. Ne are gradually adopting those
-,..s.ot foreign customs, both English
I'd German, which MAKO OF the Christ
i ..s festival season for merry and
! r,ui.. enjoyment. in which au can
lin, from tho Oldest to the youngest. Moro
.s,ecaIlT is it noiday-time for the little ones,
,ad they arc catered to By their elders in many
t,7B. The theatres produce pantomimes for
,beir entertainment. and at home especial ar
rarcmeuts are nedo for their amusement.
rx1tjculerly Is this 30 in England, where the
,aters OF society llvo in 1ha country, and only
coeu their tonn-houses during the season, when
rsrtiament is in session. Therefore at Christ
r,as time they are down in the country, and here
tasy gather about them relatives, friends, neigh
, bNs and tenants
In our country this is scarcely possible, owing
10 tbs entirely different E1anncr Of living even
.ucng those who are sufficiently wealthy to rem
Ii the being confined to the routine OF business
Unnecessary. We ought to have the entire week
II. holiday, and let the wretched old tread
ellis of labor rest for that time; but We are too
.sung people yet for that. 1t may be possible
Some distant future, if American can ever be
I'd to believe that they have money enough,
nd can afford to pause and enjoy it. In
he meantime, cren though VIC are dwelle1s in
.aru., it is By no means impossible to appro-
mate sono of tho pleasant features OF the old
: yo,d holidays
The ringing OF chimes and singing OF carels By
.hs E.its, who then nro invited IN to enjoy the
Christmas festivities in the servants halls, used
tob ono Of the great features Of the English
taEdsy and was not unknown in this country in
pldea times. Master, mistress, and a1l the fam
III ioiued in the dacce with the tenants and eer-
taa!s the heads Of the family leading the dance,
,tch With one OF the help. As midnight up
roscaed, the long line WAS formed for Sir Roger
!. Corerly, and while the chimes were me1riIy
rnsirs in tho day that should bring
Spence on earth and to men OF good i1l,"-for
pthe old monkish translation ran,-tho merry
fsures OF tho dance that should bring each per-
In during some portion of it into q position
tbere he would have to give his hand to each Of
tie other, Was commenced aud kept up until
Christmas Was fairly done. To those who care
bkeep up this English custom, especially at the
slncng parties, it may be Of interest to know
lass cur Virginia Reel" ia identical with the
English "6r Roger de- Coverly." Probably no
household in England, unless death OF deep sor-
rpE has visited it, but will ring out to tho merry
note. aud happy tread Of tho familiar dance on
Christmas eve. Tho holly branch will play
aconspicuous part, and many an auorous youth
Who "fears his fate too much " will try to draw
bis Dulcinca beneath the propltious branch
k1iss k1inge will come from Germany laden
NTH stores for the little ones. The Christmas
Tree has become too thorough an Institution II
this country to require the least comment, but
ne mny eatcly consider that it's benefactions
hsve been multiple. It has wakened many kind
i feelings has been used in some cases, per-
haps, az bribe for good behavior, but for fam
ly amusement is simply unsurpassed. It's wou-
drous fruit contains fayors Of expectation and
saisfact;oa known to no other tree. The En-
gish custom of sending holiday cards With
pleasant greetings is pretty ono, ss arc tho
Illuminated and floral texts they hang upon their
wills. We are stern, realistic, busy people, too
fond OF work and apt to fall back from th1s By =
Eturat reaction into dissipation rather than
pleasure. It ie quite worth our while, then, to
t2tfoider upon our lives all these pleasant,
kshteu their lives.
l5e wassail bowl is especially devoted to
Christmas, and supplements Sir Roger de Gov
t:s When VoItigero first met RoweDa, the