The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1876-12-22

in the city can hardly be supposed to
know that in their masked and gro
tesque professions which It is their fun
to get up at this time of the year, they
follow an old and excellent custom
Christmas and all holidays in merrie
England used to be ushered in with
professions of masks and motley cos
tunes, just such for their day as the
ward school boys threatened us to at
Thanksgiving. The quiet cross-town
neighbors were reused by the music of
limited to see companies of harlequins
and dominoes go by followed up with
troops of Centennial soldiers in calico
uniforms, plantation negroes. and bodies
of noble red men, got up in the most
madder red and brick-dust, and flowing
scalp-locks-the whole procession so
masked or whitened and painted that
their own mothers could not know
them. It was a bit of fun that suited
we'll the temper of the day, and was
certainly better for the boys than
screeching on horns, peltlng cats or
touching off toy cannon and air-guns
of holiday. An hour after, they
emerged in ordinary dress, with faces
scrubbed wonderfully clean, yet not so
as to hide suspicious traces of red and
black about the roots of the hair.
WHAT WE HAVE TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
Nobody means to suspend feeling or
giving thanks till next year, and it isn't
| out of place to remind ourselves of some
special occasions of teeli;tg good the
| present year. There has been talk of
war, which has been well checked by
tie strong hand on the reignS of power,
ten years ago or more, this talk would
have been ollowed by dangerous action,
and every woman who reads this may
feel glad that her sons or brothers are
spared to pursue peaceful courses, and
| the sword which has pierced many wo-
| men's hearts within the last decade is
! turned away from hers also; and, war
or no war, we are not, it is likelv, to
feel the oppression and degradation
which mast have followed the election
of Tilden, the tool of all the ignorance
| aud crime of the country. New York
knows too we'll what Democratic rule
means, and the hearty thank God, and
the thrill of relief all over the city
when the news OF Hayes majority was
received, after the gloom of the 1ildell
accounts, effaced even the depression
caused by the heavy state OF business for
| the time. It is true, business has been
bad in the city, and thousands of people
are III distress, but business men have
worried through some how, and there
has been no more suffering than is usual.
! At least we have had no epidemics,
the health of the city has been good,
and, altogether, if we cau't be thankful
that we have had prosperous year we
| can be that it las been no worse. 1t
was good tor see the crowds at the de-
| pots OF roads leading into New England.
| Every train was packed with people
| going home for their annual dinner, and
many large merchant left his gorgeous
home on the Avenue to sit down to the
fat turkey and luscious pumpkin pie in
the humble farmhouse. from whence
years ago, he came to the great city, a
poor boy. Every w-Englander goes
home for his Thanksgiving, if he never
does at any other time. Business or
that day is suspended, except the rum.
mills, and they are In full blast, the
day being favorable to them, as the
people, released from labor, have nothing
to do but to spend the money they have
earned. Every doggery has its rattle
for turkeys the night before, at which
thirty men pay ten cents each for the
chance of Winning dollar turkey, the
winner being required to spend at least
the value of the turkey in treating the
disappointed ones, and the losers spend
ing quite as much to drown their dis
appointment The devil is ingenious
but it does seem as though his tricks
were too thin to deceive anybody, who
did not want to be deceived. 1t is {
very grave question whether holidays
are beneficial. Day of rest Th'
merchant, man of affairs, chafes undel
his enforced quietude, and the labore
units himself by dissipation for week
work. Frequent holidays may all b
well enough for the French and Spanish
but it don't tor the American.
BUSINESS.
OF course there is no business now
but it is reasonable to expect a reviva
between this and the holidays. And
thea for q month or two, we expec
lively times. Just as soon as it i
settled that Hayes is elected there vii
be revival 10 earnest. and the gooC
times we have been looking for SO long
will be upon us. Louisiana will Fl,
the matter, before this reaches you.
PRICES OF LIVING.
In the present state of business it j
fortunate that living is very cheap
Coal is only half of last years prices
and meats are way down. Thanks
giving turkeys sold for IL cents pc
pound, chickens for and 8, and fruit
and vegetables are as cheap as could b
wished. Good beef can be had for !.
and Is cents pound, and everything
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