The Morning herald., 1875-12-27
CHRISTS DAY,

HOW THE ANNIvERsARY WAS OBBERv
ED IN NwILMINGTON--THE CITY CROWDED.
WITH PEoPLE-How THEY ENJOYED THEM
sHLvEs-THE CHURCHES AND CHURCH.
GoERs-A MERRY CHRISTMAS Despite
THE WEATHER.
Although the weather was cheerless and
unpleasant, Christmas was well observed in
this city. There was nothing of an extraordi.
nary character transpiring, nor was there any
specially arranged plan of observance, but
every one seemed to appreciate the holiday
and each after his own fashion, enjoyed it.
The city was unusually full of people and
all day, notwithstanding the wet pavement
and threatening clouds, Market and King sts.
were crowded daring the day. The rail-
roads ian large trains, and the county dis
tlicts were well represented. The w. Il W.
and the Reading roads ran extra trains and
Goth landed large number of
pleasure seekers in the city. The train of
the former was especially large. and was
crowded. There were many persons here
from down the State, and altogether we
have had a very jolly Christmas. ~,
The saloons of the city were well patron
lied until late hour, but were all prompt
ly closed at - o'clock. During the day
every one seemed to drift listlessly about
seeking pleasure where they might, and the
club rooms of the city were visited by the
members and their friends at all hours. As,
the day had been wet and disagreeable, and
many were disappointed In their schemes OF
enjoyment, the entertainment at the Opera
House presented an agreeable panacea for
their misfortunes, and the audience which
assembled was as large as has ever been
present at any entertainment ever given
there. 1t would have been impossible to
have accommodated larger one. There
was no iceable absence of fire works and
their accompanying evils, and scarcely q
pistol shot was heard during the day. We
have, therefore, no accidents to record
which are traceable to these causes. The
weather, probably had much to do with
this happy feature of the day.
The day was an event at all the charita-
Bile institutsons in the city, and the little
orphans as well as the intrm old ladies
at the Home were made happy with appro-
pirate remembrances and good cheer. lat
the Poor Honse' an excellent dinner vas
prepared, and everybody Jared sumptpouSly,
1t Is the universal testimony of the mer-
chants that it has been years since there
have been so many purchasers of Christ. |
mas goods. The people flocked in from the
country and were the. principal buyers,
seeming to have much more money than
those whe live in the, city. The toy and
candy merchants have the best cause for
congratulation, although all had good
share of the custom, and appear to think
that Christmas is the happy harbinger of
better times to come.
The police did not find much to do during
the day, although there were more or less
merry making over the flowing bowl, and
our police record show but few disturbances,
and none of serious or di graceful char
acter.
THE CHURCHES
In many parts of the city were opened for
The celebration of Christmas day. In St.
Johns P. e. Church, religious services
were held in the morning at 1880 a. NJ,
Rev. Mr.. Little preaching an interesting
sermon, appropriate to the occasion, to a
large congregations. The church had been
trimmed with evergreens and
flowers.
The day, at Trinity Chapel, Fifth anG
King streets, was celebrated by its congre-
cation with the usual services, interspersed
With fine musical selections by the church
'hoir, which were rendered in an unexcepta-
)lc manner. Of the church decorations,
We can only say they were perhaps the finest
n the city, consisting of beautiful wreaths,
'rosses, and evergreens festooned in a
graceful manner about the building. A
arge number of the friends and members
# the church were present.
St. Andrews church 9th and Shinlev
teets, was also largely attended. It had
een trimmed in neat and tasteful manner
he decorations being principally evergreens
woven into wreathes and testoons and hung
n an attractive mannel about the walls Of {
he building. ,
Rev. William Murphy conducted the ,
hristmas services in the Old Swedes church
which he is pastor, in an appropriate {
manner. The church decorations were par ]
cularly fine, and compared very favorably !
nth the other churches throughout the city,
Il fact al the Episcopal churches were ,
pened and services held in them.
The new Jerusalem Church, Delaware
venue and Washington streets, was opened ,
, the morning for religious service, the
astor, Rev. Mr.. Seward, preaching an in
,resting sermon on "The birth of the Lord (
/ us, and in the World" which was lesten- 9
to by large congregation. d
In Grace Church at an early hour Satur- s
ay morning, Christmas service was con-
lcted by the pastor, Rev. Mr.. Smith. s
csterday afternoon the scholars of the a
lnday school celebrated the event with 8,
usic and singing, during which addresses 81
ere made by MIR. Downward, Mr.. Quig, u
ev. Mr.. Smith and others. The Chapel
as decorated in faultless manner with o
,wers, cedars, ana evergreens. = h
The Unitarian Church was trimmed in :,
very becoming manner, and the day h
as celebrated there with fair, in which n
e children participated largely. r
A praise meeting consisting of Christmas
rolls and hymns, and the singing of Katy re
ar's Te-Deum by the church choir, was Y
I'D in the West Presbyterian church yes el
rday afternoon, ip commemoration Of q
hrlstmas day. I'll
The Catholic churches were all open &C
ld AnDrOnriata cpramonicc bo1d fI,ho