The New York herald., 1875-12-26
Has DisraeIi Bought White Elephant "A
Military Critics Opinion.
AGOOD DEMAND FOR OUR BONDS.

ESPECIAL DESPATCH TO THE HERALD By CABLE. |
LONDON, Dec. 25, 1875.
The new illustrated edition Of Washing
ton Irving's charming essay on the subject
of the English Christmas forms the theme
of many Christmas editorials in the news
papers. 1t were pleasant to accept for the
entire of England Irving's charming de-
scription of season of regenerated feel
ing, but the Times this morning, in a re-
markable editorial, draws different pic
ture. 1t Says
THE TrnrEs ON CHRISTMAS, 1875.
christmas is battling for existence. The
eold charming Christmas festival is disappear
ing Christmas, to the minds of large
portion of our people, recalls pagan satur-
MALTA. without the picturesque forms and
social games of paganism
tThere is no mistaking the presence of
what Irving terms the devotion of the Eng
1ish people to Christmas, when we see
the devotees reeling about the streets, max
ing night hideous and crowding the po-
lice courts on the following morn
ing, the fact forces itself that the British
Christmas is most generally observed with
popular indulgence in brutal intoxication.
Vba ar;t Ia1,n
classes of these islands of the United King
dom avail themselves of the advent of the
happy season of Christmas to deprive them
selves of reason and feeling.
THE MILLIONS IN IGNORANCE.
seThe lessons of Christmas have not reached
the minds or hearts of the millions Christ
mas indoors and Christmas out of doors are,
with the multitude different things. One
class of the people regards the festival as
foretaste of heaven, while the other is not
capable of entertaining that delicate senti-
.ment or holy aspiration.
THE PRESS PICTURE ovERDRAwN.
The Times picture, as applied to the pres
sent Christmas Is overdrawn.
CHRISTMAS EVE AS IT WAS
Christmas Eve in the metropolis pre-
sented no difference from what is seen
on an ordinary London Saturday night, with
the exception Of increased drunkenness
in the quarters inhabited by the lower
classes, and the perambulation through the
streets of broken-winded singers, ACCORDION
sors of the ''waits" of former days. With
the exception of these there was nothing in
she streets of London to remind one of the
near approach Of the great Christian festival
'sTHE FEAST OF LANTERNS"
At the Brighton Aquarium, however, the
''Feast of Lanterns" was repeated on Christ
mas Eve. thousand colored lamps lighted
up the cascade and fernery, producing the
most delightful effects of color. The tanks
were illuminated, and the inny and crust
.aceous denizens of the sea were seen as we'll as
when lit by the rays Of the sun. The build
ing was thronged to its utmost capacity with
holiday folk. There was an excellent musi-
cal programme, which was carried out with
6ne artistic effect
But London offered no such attractions
man rur1pcH sFryIcEs
In the churches Christmas Eve was cele-
brated principally by the Ritualists. A floral
welcome was given to Father" Christmas
in most of the High churches, which were
thronged, yesterday evening, by thousands
of London fashionables. All the West End
High churches held carol seryices-a musical
recital Of the events which are recorded Of
the nativity Of the Saviour
NO MIDNIGHT MASSES.
The celebration of midnight masses was
discontinued some years ago by the Catholic
congregations, on account Of the inter
ference Of the city "roughs" with the devo-
tees when on their way to and from the
churches.
HIGH CHURCH SUBSTITUTE.
But there was something similar to the mass
performed ct midnicht last night at St. AL