National Republican., 1879-12-26

Christmas day dawned drearlly and cheerlessly.
II 81 Nichoias made disappearance at all he had to
leave MS sleigh and reindeers where the line
ends further North and take another mode of CON
yeyance, for the hard wet roofs and streets, which
nave not been whitened with snow once this sea-
party. still, St Nicholas must have come either
py railroad, stage coach or a "nightlino'
haeS' hack for traces Of his midnight visit
one praitled in praise Of his goodness. AS the
weather outside was dlsagreeable and threatening
most everyone spent the day at home. Christmas
Is Gay which i derotad 10 family reunions, and
IN many homes the representatives Of three or
four generations, from the white. haired great
grandsre to the small mite OF humanity who
never saw Christmas before were gathered
around the family board to do honor 10 Christmas
and discuss the Christmas turkey and conventional
the morning were well attended end In the after.
noon large audiences nsselnbled to witness the
matinee PERFORMANCES at the theatres.
IN tiie Methodist churches early services OF de-
votion and song were held at o'clock. and
the attendance was very large. The early masses
az the Catholic churches were SO largely attended
that oven as early as o'clock at some of the
churches crowds were waiting for admlttRnce
At 81. Donlinc's church The services were cspe-
eially grand and Impressive; Early mass was
mass IN was rendered by the large choir In Il very
artistic manner. AT high mass which was cele.
brated at II o'clock tho musical features Of the Inn
posing service were of an unusually fine order.
Hnydn's No. l6 Mass entire was sung by the large
choir which includes some Of the best yocaliss OF
tne city under the direction of Professor 9. j..
koebel. An orchestra of thirty pieces furnished an
appropriate accompaniment, The church was
crowded al each service. many who are not Catho.
lies attending for the purpose OF hearing the fine
music The edihce was elaborately trimmed with
flowers. Very impressive aud interesting services
were held at o'clock In the morning at the Me.
mortal Lutheran church, at Memorial Circle. The
interior OF the edhcc was decorated with flowers.
eNergreens. and symbols appropriate to tho
festival. programme of music, including
Christmas anthems. was rendered most effect
hely DN the excellent choir, The singing of
Miss Clark and Mrs. Bartlett was very fine. IN the
Episcopal churches imposing services were held at
tcular attention was paid In these churches to the
musical exercises and the decorations OF the
churches At ST. Johns church. where the rector,
Rev J. Vaughn Lewis, oficiated, there was a large
and fashionable attendance. special feature OF
the musical service, under the direction Of Mr.. II.
IL. bradley. was the rendition Of Gounods "Naza-
reth by five bass voices. In addition 10 this very
elaborate programme was rendered.
Tic festival was observed at the Ascension church
the associate rector, preached a very instructive
sermon. An elaborute musical programme was
brilliantly rendered By the splendid choir attached
to the parish.
At the Epiphany church tho rector, Rev. Dr.
Paret, o0iciated assisted by Rov. Mr.. Mead. choir
Of sixteen voices. under the direction OF Mrs a. A.
Pearson, rendered very fine programme OF music.
The solos were sung by Mrs. Camp. soprano: Mrs.
Root contrallo; Dir Knoop tenor. and Mt Read.
basso.
Those who attended 81. Marks church on Capt..
tol Hill, enjoyed some delicious music The choir
which is under the direction OF Dr. Johnston and
includes Mrs Dayton $. Ward. es soprano. Mrs.
Bodhsh conIralto, and Mr. G. Il. Rice. basSo, is one
of the best organized iu the city as fully at
tested by their singing yesterday; Tho decorations
OF the church We're most tasteful. Christ church
ON the Navy Yard, was also beautifully ornaments ted
with Christmas favors. Rev. DR.. Andrews. the
pastor. preached a sermon on Christmas teachings
A full choral service was rendered The music
Cross. bass. with Mr. Hooke as tenor, Mrs Andrews
soprano, Miss Morse. alto and Miss Emma viii
iams. organist executed the difficult music SO.
lected with most artistic skill.
There were five mnsses at 81. Patricks church
and at each service the church was thronged
The. singing was a special feature Of the
services, and reflected much credit upon the choir
Many lovers of music who had no particular church
connections 10 draw them elsewhere attended one
of the services at st. Aloysius' church, where the
choir Is the particular pride of the parish. Grand
high mass was sung al and o'clock In the morn
ing and at II o'clock service. Millard's new mass
III fat was rendered in manner that fully sus
tained the high reputation Of the singers In The
choir, of which Mr. William waldecker is organis
| and director. The choir IS composed OF Miss Sallit
Daniel, soprano; Miss Nellie Elchorn, alto John
o. Iugh, tenor, and W. f. Pruett basso.
THE ORPHAN AsYLUMs.
There were no happier little faces yesterday any
where than those which gathered around the biz
| table Mt the Washington City Orphan Asylum. By
| the exertions Of the managers q splendid Dime
| was provided for the orphans. The Christmas tree
| entertainment will be given next Monday nigh,
| The little ones at the Childrens Hospital Mt th,
corner OF Thirteenth and w streets. were treated t
| Christmas dinner at2 O'Clock, and after Dime
tho big Christmas tree erected II is said, under tn,
personal supervision Of Santa Claus was sacked 70
| the benefit OF the young ones. dnnor-Such
dinner as M the % ittle ones VIII never iorgetmwa
| the day many donations were received from tn,
friends Of tho Institution, and many visitors called
| to wish the inmates q merry Christmas. Th,
| Christmas tree was rihed last Wednesday. At tn,
| Home for Destitute Colored Women and Children
| on Eighth street, above the Boundary, the eighty
| children sat down TO an abundance of turkey
| sweetmeats and other Christmas luxuries Ate
| dinner programme OF interesting exercises wa
carried out, and the gifts sent by the pupils OF h
| Colored High school of Philadelphia were dis
| trbuted from the Christmas tree. At ST. Joseph
and st. Vincents Orphan Asylums similar scene
were enacted. Many donations were received q
| ST. AIMS Infant Asylum.