The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26
HUMANITY AT IT'S BEST,
Dinners Worth Remembering for the
Poor and FriendleSS.
BRILLIANT CHURCH SERVICES.
All Sorts OF Pleasant Events in
Town and Suburbs.

whom Christmas brought some special JOY grief,
the observances of the sacred anniversary were di-
vded easily into two general kinds-domestic and
public. There were many TO whom the festal occa-
sion had significance unless, indeed it was to put
q conspicuous stamp on their routine wretchedness.
and others into whose homes sickness. disaster or
death had carried mourning but the great majority.
washed and unwashed. rich and poor, good and bad.
recognized the proprety not to say the necessity OF
some unusual action other than the cessation from
work. OF public entertainments there no dcartl.
Outdoor and indoor sports We're provided for the null
titude religious services held for the benefit of
those who understood and cared to commemorate the
holy day, and special bills many instances
prepared by managers who professional caterers
to the public taste.
CHRISTMAS IN THE MORNING.
While the average child began the day by wild
and reckless plunge for his stocking the universal
initiated his Christmas by anxious glance at
the HERALD weather" predictions. from which he
learned that low temperature would prevail for some
days to come. and that that particular day would be
cold and blustery, with westerly and northwestery
winds 1t would be difficult to say just how many
excursions and drives that sentence inter-
fered with There is very little pleasure III
drive on the road in hired wagon
cold, blustery day, and what the livery
stables lost the theatres gained thereby. Early
in the morning shortly after the gun of sunrise an
nounced from the harbor fort the arrival OF the day.
shrll whistles and infant drums made their appear
the wind swept streets. Where so many
noisy boys came from ON Christmas morning is
of the mysteries. Every mother will certify that none
of her children left the house before breakfast but
hundreds of distracted householders viii cheerfully
testify that boy after boy groups and gangs of then
passed and repassed their houses with piercing
laa dr,,, snir
hours before any well conducted family dreamed Of
attacking the matutinal repast
1t is unnecessary to draw the veil from strongly
contrasted homes, where the children of the rich
were coyed with overplus of gifts, whore the
children of the poor were made happy with an mex
pensive toy, where 'nobody's" children cried for
crusts and hungered for the commoncst food to put
strength in their chilled and wasted bodies. That
would but tell the well story of the ages and
imparr novelty TO the days report. The immense
sales of the week before Christmas greater than in
several years past would to contradict the cry
of hard times. Shopkeerers and tradesmen of all
kinds agree that while purchasers disposed to
drive sharp bargains. bargains nevertheless
made and huge stocks of fancy wares toys pretty
things and purely ornamental articles sod just
in the great jewellers warehouses and dry
goods stores the propretors amazed at the
and rapdity with which their costliest exhibits went
off. The city literally alive in the morning with
fast going express wagons and loafng messengers,
and far into the day parcel delivery the one active
occupation. From all this it is reasonable to infer
that the little folks to whom Christmas distinctivey
belongs well cared for and that the ingenious
eyes of babyhood were made radiant by sight of
Santa Claus he VIGOROUSLY shown in the
smiling countenances Of father and mother.
Each household is law unto itself. and the Gus.
toms of would seem odd and outrs in another In
many New York homes the regular Christmas pro-
gramme isBreakfast and the emptying of stockings,
church, Christmas dinner and family reunion in
the evening. For such the churches and Sunday
schools of the city afford ample entertainment. In
the Catholic and Episcopal churches exceptionally
fine musical programmes were provided. and that
they not prepared in is evident by the fact
that some of the largest edifces uncomfortably
crowded, and all of them well filled These
vices are properly Of festal type and sermons only
would be voted bore and an Intrusion. Long lines
of welldresscd people thronged the dusty streets,
and rich and poor joined in the enjoyments that
were free to all Noted metropolitan directors
are for their Christmas outpourings of praise and
Thanksgiving it may be doubted If they ever did
more TO deserve their reputation than on this
sion, when standard masses, choice mUrceaux from
favorie ororios ana sweet operate arias adapted
10 sacred equistely rendered by artists of
In some OF the churches il is the custom 10
call the children OK the Sunday school together aud
after boring them with Ions talk by the pastor and
superintendent reward their patience BY present
from the Christmas tree In Brother Beechers school
there was great gathering OF little ones, TO whom
pleasant talk from their pastor had been promised
in addition to the annual presents The children
waited and waited but as usual Mr.. Beecher, who IL
much more q preacher than pastor failed to come.
IT announced that he and MA" had gone TO
Peekskill and would probably be detained there.
The keen, cutting air that penetrated weather
strips made ice houses oil tenements and rcrgerators
OF mansions. inspired the youth Of the metropolis
with desire for sport. With skates in hand they
troopcd upon the streets and rushed as best and
fast as they could TO the several places where the
long expected ball was cup" Others who had no
skates exemporized long slides on the payements in
unoccupied lots and in the wider CUTTERS. company
OF boys, certainly not less than forty. promenadcd
Broadway and several of the uptown streets, each
wearing per cap bordercd with gilt band, headed
by captain with sword and two youngsters with
drums. The watchmen OF edihces Fourteenth
street now building had their hands full with acrowd
played Il spy the Wolf and "Rhoderic Dhu."
them to the Aquarium or the theatres. Here and
there parent relented but generally the houses of
entertainment free from the restlessness and up
yoariousness Of the New York youths.
~ THE AFTERSoOS.
The elevated roads did not do much business in the
early part of the day. In the afternoon they picked
mp considerably. The unfortunate passengers who
rode on the Third avenue elevated road were chilled
20 the bone Under the seats are admirable pines for
steam. but the connections won't work and the new
engines in not fitted with the necessary appi-
anccs. All day long the cars were like long collins.
explained at least hundred times the cause OF the
non-use Of steam. Family parties rode mp town and
down town; many went to Brooklyn and Jersey City,
aud those cities returned the compliment, If not the
complement
For a wonder Central Park lively with driving.
Ordinarily on holidays the avenues are compare
lively deserted. Yesterday not only hundreds ~ the
regulars but any quantity OF hired teams took q
turn up the road and there was some very toerable
speeding In the lane. A number OF dinner parties
were given In the Mount Sc. Vincent and cold as II
the hdbdues took up their places on the broad
t,fu Ia, tla Nv IN "A cd
neither to drive nor skate sought pleasure In the
theatres. The Iuatinees wei but not largely
patronzcd, but as prominent member Of the pro-
fesson said was positive treat to play to people
who enjoy everything" Tho audiences seemed TO
feel that they part and parcel Of the OCCASION
and by their enthusiasm encouraged the actors to do
their best
TIE EVENING.
Dinner parties skating. Christmas trees aud the
theatres tell the story the waning Christmas. In
Dclmonicos and the Brunswick several large AMI
sundry small dinner parties were given, aud the pro