The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-12-21
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
Correspondence Of the Democratic Advocate.
BALTIMoRE, Dec. Is, 1878.

Everything seems to bespeak welcome t
Christmas. The frosty air of the last day o
two gives promise of the right kind of wealth
err, for we must have few flakes of snow, o
at least a keen and bracing atmosphere, t
fully enjoy our time honored winter festival
Especially do the sturdy sons of Carroll fee
this need, and what tales they-or cen my
willing pen-could tell of the blooming dam
sells, romantic incidents, swift driving, anC
awkward mishaps that have made gleefu
countless sleigh-rides over those picturesque
hills I know how electrical would be the
effect upon small party of young friends il
that beloved region if on Christmas eve, while
comfortably seated around the sitting room
stove, chatting and watching the genia
glow of the red Goals, one of their number
should exclaim-
Hear the sledges with the bells
Whata world of merrment their melody foretells!
How they tinkle tinke, tinkle,
In the icy air of night
While the stars that oversprinkIe
All the heavens seem to twinkle
With q crystalline delight"
Although Christmas is yet week off, the
city has put on its holiday attire. People
throng Baltimore, Charles, and other streets,
to buy presents or to "see the sights" Hand
some euuipages, elderly persons on benevo-
dren, and the even more interesting counte-
nances of our charming young ladies, just
now make these leading thoroughfares very
attractive. The little folks gaze longingly into
the store windows. The retail stores of al
most every description have their shelves,
counters, and windows filled with new and
snowy goods. There are dry goods, which a
bachelors pen is, of course, unable to de-
scribe; jewelry-"cute" little watches, chains
of delicate workmanship, curious opals, costly
pearls, diamonds, etc.; toys, from the timber
jack to the tin horn, upon which the "small
boy'' blows with as much energy as if he fan
cied himself another Antony the Trumpeter,
upon whose success in blowing depended the
preservation of the city; new books with taking
titles, and the good old standards in expen-
sive bindings for plethoric pocket-books, and
neat and cheap editions of the same for slen-
der purses; surprising number of juvenile
books, many of them childhood's classics,
some embodying whims of the hour, but
nearly all of style most pleasing to the very
young, full of pictures, full of wonders, and
full of fun; oil paintings, fine steel engravings,
specimens of Chinese art, French clocks,
bronzes, statuettes, and innumerable little
articles designed to please the fancy of those
who like to spend their money for ''pretty
things; and, let me not forget, tempting
cakes, confectionery, nuts, and conserves.
The markets appear'to be well stocked with
poultry, game, ruddy apples, and other choice
edibles, and will soon be gay with evergreens,
pine and cedar for "Christmas Trees and
holly wreaths for decorations.
1t must rot be supposed that the poor are
forgotten in these times of merry making.
Few communities are more literally and con-
stantly charitable than this. Our societies
20 ha DIV of tO MOI no
asylums, are too numerous to be mentioned
here. Many of our best citizens not only
make contributions of money, but unselhshly
labor to give these charities the widest use.
fulness. Persons of standing in every ward
are selected to canvass therein for the fund
of the Association for improving the condl-
ton of the poor, which seeks specially and
Systematically to provide for the destitute
during the winter. Upon popular festive oc-
casions, such as Thanksgiving day and Christ
mas, the inmates of the Jail and penitentiary,
as well as the charitable institutions, are
usually provided beautifully with good things.
High spirited and impetuous people, and the
descendants of the Old Maryland Line are
known to be such, are almost invariably gen.
erouS.
Just here let me introduce touching Incl
dent of recent occurrence. The Mayor, Gen.
Ferdinand c. Latrobe, who is handsome
young widower, was surprised one day by the
reception of this note, which give Uerbdtim
ct kteratin as l found it in the EUening Bull
letin:
"mr mayor
am little helen | want a lit
tie dolly for cristmas and | ant got no papy to
buy me any and mamma ant got no money to
buy it either so think | will not have no fun
at cristmas so think you have got lots of
money so you will please buy me little dolly
for cristmas you can get a pretty one for ten
cents. from little HELEN"
What heart could resist the pathos and the
innocent trust of that appeal? 1t is hardly
necessary to say that little HELEN was found,
and that she received beautiful ODDLY"
that cost many times ten cents.
| called attention IN previous letter to the
deepening and widening interest here in high
musical art, principally vocal. The Peabody
Conservatory, with Prof. Hamerick at its
head, is one of the few institutions of the
kind maintaining high rank in this country.
There are also numerous private instructors,
among whom are Prof OdenG' hal, who has
trained many accomplished singers, Mrs.
Caroline Richings- Bernard, now a resident of
this city, and Miss Jennie Busk, who short
many others, found that 'there's no place
like home" The former lady, prima donna
of the well-remembered Richings Opera
Troupe, will participate in two concerts this
week, namely, the "Haydn," which is the
title of an excellent annual series, and the
"0pera and Concert Combination of Balti-
more" in which Mr.. Pierre Bernard and Mrs.
Bernardo pupils in operate music will join.
John E. Owens is at Ford's, putting the
people in seasonable good
The lecture of Ingersoll drew out several
replies from our clergymen that probably had
tendency to overcome much of its injurious
influence. Another lecture by the infdel was
on the programme for Sunday, but the direc-
tors of the Academy of Music brought their
influenced to bear against it, and twas dropped.
Mr.. Moody's work goes on with increasing
success. He breaches twice daily during the
week, and about four times on Sunday. I'm
mense crowds attend some of his services.
He breaches every Sunday morning at the
penitentiary. Heis winning admiration on
every hand. 1t is impossible not to believe
in his unselfsh and untiring devotion to his
cause, which is no less than the cause of God
and man.
The joyous feelings and anticipations of the
advent season will on Christmas morning, in
the leading churches, reach grand musical
climax. Artistic rendering of some of the
soul-stirring anthems of the great masters
may be expected in Christmas week from the
choirs of the Cathedral, St. Martins $, st.
Paul's, Christ Church, Mt. Vernon Place,
and others.
My little readers who are expecting St.
Nicholas to bring them all sorts of nice things
on Christmas eve must remember how i'm
portant it is to be ''good' in order to win his
favor. wish them, as we'll as the big folks,
the merriest Christmas of their lives. On
that eventful day, though the little girl will
never allow her pretty 'dolly'' to drop out
of her mind, if from her arms, the small boy
will occasionally pause, in riding his hobby
horse or playing with his puzzle, to wonder if
he is having as jolly a time as he expected,
and during the morning he will eat so many
sweetmeats that he will inevitably be unable
to do justice to the turkey and plum pudding.
The day will be what we desire If we catch
the spirit of these Anticipated lines:
80, now is come our joyful feast!
Let every man be jolly,
cache roome with yyie leaves is drest,
And every post with holly
Now all our neighbours chimneys smoke,
And Christmas blocks are burning
Their ovens they with bak't meats choke
And all their spits are turning
Without the door let sorrow lie,
And if, for cold, it hap to die,
Weele bury it in a Christmas pye,
And eyermore be merry"