The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-27
aMRIsTMAs.
How 1t was Celebrated Throughout the
City.

How 1t was Celebrated Throughout the
City.
| How the day was passed by those who spent it
best and most happily will never be known by
the world at large. Its history is made up OF
home joys and family reunions that will be
knows only to those who participated in them,
but by these they shall not be forgotten. IL is q
happy reflection, though. that the genial and
kindly influences Of the day were felt In every
home in all the brood land. and that the yule
burned as brightly in the cottage OF the poor as
| in the palace OF the lord. II is g comforting
thought that there were 80 many happy hearts
| In the land that day-so many homes in which
| idyls we're being realized far sweeter and ten
| derer and more benefcent than any that
| meet ever sang. We could not draw one
| ideal nor tell one =" DER true tale shat
| would not find many TAR happier
| counterparts in the memories OF our readers.
| what lover could we toll Of ioveiier maid than
| his OWE fair she he kissed beneath the m1stleteei
| What slalwart 'John RerrybiDgle" would be.
| ljevs there was "Dot" in all "N0rrGTs Lang
| more buxom or q truer snd tenderer wife 'han
| she who looked soross her Christmas pudding
| ut him at his own table2 II there be any suoh,
we are not writing for him, so we shall not squan
| der our sentiment and fancy on trying to arouse
a sensation beneath the ribg of such o monster.
l
tell any good wife OF finer turkey or more gor.
| geous pudding than those she cooked and
] dressed her elf. nor any smaai boy OF a fender
| monkey than the one he licked the paint OF OF,
| or a more horrible horn than that he outraged
| his own neighborhood with. Buoh vain tastes and
vaulting aspirations we shall not essay, but will
| oonfine ourselves to sncb there's IS we have
right to speak Of, and the accounts OF which may
| find prosperity in the ears OF our hearers.
| II is hard to say exactly when Christmas be-
gan, in point of fact. All the day and night be-
fore the regularly accepted day the streets were
thronged with professions OF happy faces, and the
hustle was, if possible, greater and more eager
than on Christmas Day itself Mothers and
fathers, husbands and wives, lovers and sweet
hearts, brothers and sisters, were ransaoking the
city for pleasant surprises for the morrow Ii
would have puzzled Hermann himself to nave
hidden the bundles and packages that were sur
reptitiously struggled into homes on that blessed
eve. Oil the mysteries of that night before
Christmas
Just before midnight the church bells began,
all the oity to ring in the blessed Nativity,
and the thrUugs TINT had fingered ahnat the
stores turned their footsteps toward the various
churches where the midnight masses were to be
celebrated.
ST. THEREsAs CHURCH.
At this church solemn high macs was eele-
brated at midnight the Rev. Father Massardler
officiating, assisted by the Rev. T. Golden, dea-
con, and the Rev. Father MoyDihan, sub-deacon.
The sermon was preached by the Rev. Father
MClmrV, d. y. OF the OnuTCn OF Inc lHHaCUi86
Conception, the subject being "Lessons given in
the stable Of Bethlehem"
Mozart's Twelfth Mass was sung, under the d.
reotion of Prof. J. W. II. Eokert, Jr,, by the fol-
lowing ladies and gentlemen: Misses A. MERCER,
M. Hruneberg, A. Seawell, and Messrs. T. Calm
bley, A. Mallsrd, J. Ross, Raymond G. Theard,
G.. Rsreshide and T. A. Flanagan. The mass
was spendidly sung, rejecting great credit upon
the director and the choir. Of course, the church
was crowded
ST. PATRICE's CHURCH.
The great old Gothic pile of Camp street WAS
also filed to it's utmost capacity at the midnight
mass, which was magnfcentlv sung under the
direction OF our friend, Mr.. Dubois, Of the Propa-
gdteu CathoIlqne. We take special pleasure in
mentioning the Jesus de Nazareth Of Gou
nod, which was sung by Mime. Dubois with great
effect and artistic feeling that deserve for her
the highest compliments The W Salutaris y
OF Hargett was sung by MIR. g. G. Roux, young
gentleman lof this city, whose full, rich voice
never manifested itself more powerfully than on
this occasion. Mr.. Roux is, besides, correct
singer, and possesses other musical qualities OF a
high order. We understand that both these
selections will be sung again on Sunday next at
st. Patricks Church, together with other solos
by Messrs. Jones and White Of the choir, which
Is being handsomely recruited BY Mr.. Dubois.
NO MIDNIGHT MASS WAS CELEBRATED AT THE
CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
As usual ON every grand occasion the Jesuits
Church, on Baronne street, was inferior to none
the revsrent and brilliant way in which divine
service was celebrated on the day Of Christ's ma
tivity. Prof. Collignon, so well known here as an
accomplished musician, frst-class organist and
musical director s'par excellence" was the soul
of the choir. Mozart's gaand mass was executed
under his supervision, with the talent and cor
rectness that distinguishes the choir OF that
church. We recognized among the singers the
voices, that have SO often charmed u.s. Of Mrs.
Dunn, Mrs. Comes, Mr.. Krebs and others, whose
sweet tones gave additional grandeur TO the inn
posing ceremonies Of the day. II is pity that
Christmas comes only once year 30 that we might
hear oftener the music OF the great masters so
beautifully interpreted.
AT THE ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL
there was no midnight mass sung, but the
solemn high mass was celebrated in q manner
worthy OF the old cathedral. The choir, under
the direction OF Prof. Jules Cartier, sang dou-
mods Grand Mass with talent, science and TASTE
Mr.. Meteye's we'll known tenor voice and Mr.
Van Huffien's fine base were we'll set off by the
clear soprano OF Miss Martini and 1t would have
made an atheist religious to hear the melodious
strains sung fervently by he talented chorists
We do not like to even appear to make COM
parison between operate and sacred music, but
we must say that when the grand and majestic
voice Of the organ speaks to the soul in the
sacred ceremonies, and meodious voices add to
the prayerful harmony, there are 80 many holy
sentiments blended with the music. such high
standard Of thought running all through the
rhythm batinspires the compositor, that the soul
however worldly, cannot help giving way and fol-
lowing in the footsteps OF the angels into the
ethereal realms wherein the glories OF the
Almighty are sung by spirits clad in light and
with voices replete with heavenly harmony.
IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCHES
services were held on Christmas morning, and in
some the music was not less beautiful and i'm
preasive than the solemn masses at the Catholic
churches the night before.
AT CHRIST CHURCH
the day was observed, as it always ia. as one of
rejoicing, and with grand and impressive cere-
monies. The church was deliberately and taste
fully decorated with festoons and appropriate
notices. One beautiful design that was placed
just opposite the choir was golden harp, bear
ing the motto, "Shout the Glad Tidings" The
beautiful and Impressive service OF the Church
was held by the dearly beloved old pastor, DIR.
Leacock. who also preached the sermon. The
music was exquisite.
The recitation from Handel's oratorio, "The
Messiah" was exquisitely rendered, as was the
beautiful chorus. sob, Thou that tellest good