Arizona citizen., 1876-12-30
THE CITIZEN.
SATURDAY., DECEMBER 30 1876.
LOCAL MA TIERS.
Christmas Festivals.

"Old Christmas comes but once year." and for this Centennial year Of ours it has come and gone and is numbered with the past. IL is our impression that thls Christ mas was more generally observed and celebrated in Tucson than any previous one which we know of Perhaps the fes- uvities are more marked now on account Of the increased number of schools and the pleasant fuss and preparation atten- dant upon preparing goodly time for the children. Be this as it may, there was generally a lively time in Tucson from Saturday to Monday last, inclusive Sai- urday afternoon, in order not to encroach upon the sacredness Of the Sabbath, some Of our large hearted citizens who had talk en the matter in hand, gave the public school children "blow out"
 About half past two o'clock, at tho ring Ing Of the school bell, the children of the male and female departments assembled at the courthouse. where Christmas tree, laden with precious fruit, and the smiling faces Of gathered friends had chased away the gloom Of austere law and justice. The
 boys, numb bering about ninety. under Mir
 Horton. and the girls, some forty-five, pre- sided over by Mrs. Aguirre, took their places in the hall, and throughout the whole performance these young ladies and gentlemen conducted themselves with as much decorum as if they had
 been brought up at a school especially de- voted to the proprieties, potatoes and pickles. The performance was opened by tine appearance on the stage Of the on-
 ly and great original Santa Claus himself, whose presence mad been secured at con- siderable expense and in the face of se- we're and world wide competition, who
 made a clever and characteristic speech to the children, and filled their little hearts with pleasure at forming the ac- quaintance Of so worthy and ancient a parsonage. Gov. Stafford, the good genius of all school children, then came upon
 the stage for hls brief hour, and with lav- ish but discriminating hand bestowed, right and left, the gifts so kindly provided
 by the friends Of public schools. These gifts were merely Christmas trldes and not in any sense rewards Of merit or schoI- arship or anything else. There were horns and horns and bugles and bonnets and dolls, and neck-ties and bon bons and
 toys Of all descriptions, and other things, simply calculated to set the young heart in a pleasant glow. Afterthis mental and
 n. gested, refreshments were produced and the girls and boys proceeded to do full justice Co a very choice little repast. This
 was succeeded by one Of the incest kinds or little dances, and after chasing the glowing hours with flying feet until about five o'clock, the party broke up and all
 hands wended their way home, and it
 would be hard to tell which were the more contented,- givers or the recipients.
 The Sisters of St. Joseph also gave the the afternoon. in the school-room of the convent and in the presence of friends of the scholars. there were some very inter esting exercises held, consisting Of read ings, declamationS, exercises and music, affording evidence of careful training on the part Of scholars and proficiency on that of teachers. There was also Christ
 mas tree provided and many and choice
 gifts for the scholars were distributed. IL the evening the boys Of the Catholic school under MT. Carlos Fully, had a
 " shake down" in their quarters, in the shape Of very nice supper, partaken Of
 in the presence Of priests and laity to a
 goodly number. Altogether 1t was very pleasant sight, sS is anything that tends
 to make children contented with school
 and with the rugged paths to education
 end usefulness.
 Of the interesting services Tn the CsthO- lie church on Christmas eve, of the fine sermon Of the Rev. Mir. Anderson on the Sabbath, of the Christmas eve brawls and fights, Of the public and private egg-nog, Tom and Jerry, hot Scotch, gin sling,
 brandy smash, flip, rum punch, &c., of the turkey dinners, and dinners without turkey, of the dark and cheerless rooms Of the sick, the dying, the dead, of supper less poverty, of the novels of want and crime, on the bright and cheery Christi
 mas day just past, We speak not. IL is a
 world of strange mixtures and there be all sorts Of cOlors in the wonderful ka- | leidoscope. Let us shuttle the cards and
 have a new deal for lS77.