The New York herald., 1879-12-24
CHRIS 7 NJ ASTIDE.
Preparations for the Great Fes-
tiyal of the Year.
PEACE AND PLENTY.
Animated Scenes in the Streets
and Markets.
THE CITY A WINTER GARDEN.
Attractive Musical Programmes
at All the Churches.
"Hark! tie Herald Angels Sing,
Glory to the New-Bom king!"

The Christmas feeling waits not for Christmas
Day. This festival, unlike Thanksgiving is not
single feast and the preparations for its coming are
too important to be too long delayed Sadly as this
degenerate ago has fallen away from the old-tlme
observances of the day. the fortnight preceding the
great holiday of Christendom shows the entire popu-
lation in one hue and cry after Christmas Inc
shop windows suddenly become unusually gay.
Holiday gifts and Christmas cards are displayed on
every hand The retail streets. such as the 3owery
and Third, Sixth and Eighth avenues. become long
bazaars of newly repenished shops. dressed in
Christmas green In the evening especially the side
walks are lined with people, who have nothing to do
apparently but inspect the Christmas display.
LIKE HUGE
The whole city has become one vast fair There is
story in Boccacio of magician who conjured up
garden in winter time. His magic consisted in hav-
ing kno owledge beyond his time, but he seems to
be alive and exerng his powerful wand in our day.
Although we miss the
Rosemary and rue, which keep
Seeming and all the winter long.
we evergreens which vie with the mistleoe and
holly in their rich and clustering leaves and berries
the glossy laurel the pink eyed aurestne. the black
thorn the pine, the fir, the cedar and the cypress.
Our holiday fair from the Battery to Kingsbrdge is
at the time vast winter garden The ever
green is everywhere-in the markets, the shops and
on the SldewalkS ancient CnrlStHas seeus 10
have been revived. but in dress. and We seem
almost on the verge of the old time. when
- came the merry masauers in.
And carols rolled with blithesome din:
White shirts supplied Al the masquerade,
With as in the past. Christmas comes with that
ample provision for good cheer which always char
acterzes the At the present moment the
New York markets teeming with the products of
the dairy. farmyard and game field. In every
kitchen, too the preparations betoken the season of
approaching festivities the most noteworthy feature
of this increased activity being the frequent confer
in regard to the larder. On every hand it is
plain that
Tho cooks shall be busted by day and by night,
In In roasting and boiling for taste and delight;
bssas was spG ssrsy wns o s dlns tS
Plum pudding goose. capon mnce pies and roast beef
In the churches. too. the notes of preparation
beard, the charitable institutions especially
busily preparing for the Christmas feast. and the
theatres though they longer present the Christ
mas pantomirnc. which In London is part of the
season. have full bill Of fare for the holidays.
THE MARKETS.
But it is just in the Streets in tho shops and
in the markets where the activity is most manifest.
At the present time Washington Market especially
is wen worth visit. if only to witness the picture
of abundance and watch the moving and glittering
panorama of Christmas purchasing. In the blaze
of lights will be profuse displays Of everything
edible embowered in evergreens and decorations;
while the crowds of purchasers, with their ample
baskets. going from stall to stall. proof that
Igain. as in the unforgotten past, are to be
-served up salmon. venison and wild boars
BY hundreds and by dozens and by scores,
Hogsheads of honey. kilderkins OF mustard,
Nations and fatted beeves and bacon swine;
Herons and bitterns peacocks. swan and bustard.
Teal. mallard. pigeons. widgeons and In fnc.
Plum puddngs, pancakes apple pies and custards-
Te secure such treasures as these Is. perhaps.
worth all the discomforts of slush and mud which
the recent storm made inevitable, but he must. in
deed. be affectonate parent who would undergo
them in order to make sure that Santa Claus may
not fail in his visit to the little ones But, then.
Christmas comes but once year.
BIBLE CHRISTMAS STORY.
BUTT only in preparations for the day that the
signs of Christmas coming show themselves. In at
least of the churches has begun
last night, at the Madison Avenue Reformed Church.
the 'Bble Christmas story was rehearsed The
ercises consisted Of organ voluntary. anthem
by the choir invocation and address by tho pas
tor tho Rev. E. A. Reed) and responsive readings
rectations and singing. An interesting feature
the singing of acrostic exercise entitled Merry
Christmas" by fourteen children Of the Sunday