The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-25
!, LOCAL. ALTERS
scHnfsrxAa N couE-How J, n. WIZ RI q,

S2IuI udy dHN CatuAusl.3 nIS II, p2 ttsu
animated appearance, The previous days
ment OF shopping till the last opportunity
had arrived, and then. though the clouds
sthreatene and the crossings were Slippery,
the heads of families and other rel
sponsible individuals had to go ont
and : buys. Every body seemed dis
posed to spend Us literally aas possible,
but the fact was patent that the circulating
medium was not as plentiful as In former
wears. n If there is money in the possession
Of the people it will make itself seen at
Christmas. AT this joyous season, when
Santa Claus. is impatiently awaited by the
little ones, and high hopes are raised by
stockings to be crammed with good things,
it will not do to be miserly, and few that
have the memory OF their own childhood
with them can resist the inclination to spend
freely. ;. @ s. s5a - x Z. r.. =
Nearly all the stores were crowded with
customers, and the homeward-bound peo-
ple-especiaily the men-were freighted
with Noah's arks, hobby-horses, supple
jacks, and the thousand and one odds and
ends that enter into the list OF presents. >
By dark Saturday night the sounds Of tin
horns and fre-crackers had commenced.
The police at that hour were mildly acting
upon the idea that the city ordinances were
in force, butthat as long as the young folks
enjoyed themselves without seriously dis
turbing the peace and happiness OF others
they could go on. -. -. -. Z
The too free use Of tin-horns will not be
permitted-if it can be stopped. There
are, it is said, in the various lunatic asylums
of the country several dozen men and wo-
men whose mental perpendicularity was
overthrown by hearing tin-horns Of extra
horrible character. It will not be possible to
suppress them entirely. The size Of the
police force is inadequate to such q hercu-
lean undertaking. It will be quite tri-
umph il the instruments of the most rasp-
ing notes can be captured, or those that
WELD them put to flight.
Some OF the fire-crackers in Use this year
are Of great size, and the report they make
is as loud as the discharge OF thirty-tWo-
FOUNDER. AS the firing OF pop-crackers is
right guaranteed to the boys by immemo-
rial usage the police will find it useless to
endeavor to stop them, except where it is
the evident purpose to do damage.
The Catholic and Episcopal churches
have been elaborately decorated with ever
greens. The music arranged is OF the
grandest and most joyous character, in
keeping with the gladdest festival in the
Christian calendar.
Well-to-do people, by their comiorta-
BILE fresides, while enjoying Christmas
cheer, must not forget the poor around
them. There are many respectable families
in this city into whose homes no ray Of hap
piness will enter; children to whom Santa
Claus will make no visit, unless their luck
ier neighbors divide with them the bless
ings they enjoy.
Those who really want to understand
how much more blessed it is to give than
to receive will never have better opportu-
nifty than they can secure to-day.
All public business will be suspended to-
day. The markets will be closed, and so
custom-hcuse, banks, dep0ts, &c. The fire.
men and police only OF the public servants
will be required to be in place, and Of them
will be demanded more than ordinary vigi-
lance. .., ..., r-;, s..ra.
A number Of men who commenced TAX
ing Christmas earlier than was iustifiable
found lodgings in the station-houses Satur-
day night. 80
There were only three tramps in the free
quarters OF the First station-house Satur-
day night. Usually twenty or twenty-five
claim shelter there. Whether the decrease
was owing to the strict orders to tramps to
leave the city given by the Police Justice,
OF to the desire Of the cosmopolitans to
spend their Christmas in happier places,
was not known. Such sudden falling off
was quite remarkable, and entirely uneN-
pected. ~. ~.
AN EDITOR BEFORE THE UNITED STATES
CoURT.-Mr. William NJ. 'Bickers, OF Louisa
Courthouse. was before United States Com
missioner Atkins Saturday morning on the
charge OF depredating upon the post-ofce
at that place. The commissioner after
hearing the case, bailed the accused in the
sum of $500 for his appearance before the
United States Circuit Court in April.
The facts in this case, as given us by a
friend of Mr.. Bickers, are these: DIR. Bick-
ers, the editor of the Louisa Record, has
gained the ill-will of the colored postmaster
for showing up through the columns OF his
journal the doings of this officer. A few
DAYS ago Mr.. Bickers mailed letter, to 60
off on a certain train; the postmaster ne
elected to put it in the mailbag. Mr.. Bick-
ers went to the post-office, reached over the
counter, and took his letter from the office
and carried it down to the train and mailed
it himself. .a -;r .,lj...f..<
From all the information we have Mr..
Bickers has done nothing dishonorable;
nothing to injure him in the good opinion
Of his friends. Though technically guilty
OF interfering with the post-ofdce. 1t is not
regarded as likely that the law can be strain
ed so as to punish him.
CONvEYANCEs OF REAL ESTATE FOR THE.
WEEK ENDING DECEMBER %; 1876.-Lots
fronting: 26 feet on Rockets street near
Ash for $442; 115 feet on P street corner OF
Twenty-ninth for 81, ,120; 1872 feet on Grace
street corner Of Thirtieth for 5000; 26 feet
on Marshall street near Hancock for $3.50;
27 feet on Marshall street corner OF Ham
cock for $1,000; SO feet on Cary street be-
tween Thirteenth and Virginia for S6, 725;
90 feet on Adams street between Broad and
Marshall for So, $50; 81 feet on Booker street
between Third and Fourth for S120; so feet
on Nenable street corner OF Pink for 81, 1880.
PoUND-P ARTY.-The little folks Of the
and some OF larger growth,
gave Rev. William n. Scott, pastor OF the
Third Presbyterian church, surprise on
Friday night in the way Of a pound-party.
Mr.. Scott was absent when the assault was
made, but, being sent for, at once went to
the scene Of action; but was quickly over
come by the great array which greeted him.
After short while spent in pleasant, social
intercourse the party dispersed in the hap
piest mood, leaving the pastor not yet sui
ficiently recovered from his surprise to
offer a word OF thanks. .4,f,..g