The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-25

| plate to-day. It was hard work for them,
| but they stuck up to it maRiully, or woman
fully rather, for no ordinary man could
have undergone the fatigue, rack, and rush
| of the stores "tbe day before Christmas"
Towards night the stream Of people on
the streets increased in volume. Many men
| Joined the dreadful reVelry." They were,
however, as 4 general thing, not allowed to
say much. The wives did the selecting.
The husbands did the paying and the
, "totipg." They were used merely as beasts
of burden. A number OF our citizens,
noted for dignity OF bearing and
statesmanlike demeanor. went home 50
rloaded down with bundles and baskets that
they looked more like porters from fancy
goods store than their former elegant
selves. These goods and chattels were IN
due course transferred to the chldrens'
stockings, and are this morning giving hap
piness (and suggesting mischief) to thou
sands Of dear ones.
THE POOR AND LOYLY.
Preparations have been made for the
proper observance OF the holiday in all the
charitable institutions, and many of the
poor- who would be unable to rejoice at the
coming OF the festival il they depended
upon their own meagre resources will be
made comfortable with gifts, and encour-
aged to hope for better days by the kind re-
membranes OF those who have been fortu-
nate, and have opened their hearts and
purses to make the unfortunate comfortable
and glad. .. ..y...s} r.,,.. tg..
The officers OF the iail-Dr. Beale, Ser
geant Lee, and Deputies Harvey, Wren, and
-Lacy-haye, out OF their own means. pro-
vided for the prisoners really good din
ner, consisting in part o! turkey, chick
ems, roast beef, and pastry. .-
BROAD STREET.
This great lhoroughiare was last night
ablaze with colored lights, skY-rockets, and
tire-crackers. The oldest inhabitant-who
makes his appearance on all truly great oc-
rasons-was out, and said he had never
seen anything like it in all bis born days.
Both sidewalks were crowded, and the
stores were as full as they were in the after
noon. The demonstration in the matter OF
tn-hcrns was preccdentedly large and
loud. Many OF them were in the bands
or rather mouths-of great big men, who
might possibly have been better employed.
There was also considerable degree OF
hilarity prevailing, and several groups or
young men resolved by unanimous vote
that they wouldn't go home until morning.
L lutJ SIptl HLlhl Sidtitt ht iiiC sItuati'h,
the deponent saith that in his judgment
many OF them will not get home till they
are carried there.
PoP. CRACKERS.
The city was certainly booming last
night.
At moment: there would be heard the
noise Of two or three pop.crackers, like
warning notes from the skrmlsh-line OF an
a Ill al, 4
tEundcrS Of the " baby-wakers.' making
more racket than battery OF twelve
Founders, and then would come the stimuli
taneous explosion OF whole packs, sound
ing as il the cOntcDding forces had come to
close quarters and were pouring into each
other voley after yolIey OF muskeiry. And
next blasts, deep and dabolical, from hun
dredS Of tin-horus. it was Il livaIy time
indeed. If noise is JOY, it was happy time
also.
SUSPENSION OF PUBLIC BUSINESS.
At the post-oiIrc to-day Sunday hours
will be observed. Hundreds Of people will,
OF course, call there to get postage-stamps
after the doors are closed. TO prevent them
from being "sonrcd" on this happy day
we will keep open the DiSDGtCh counting
room during busness-hOllrs and accomo-
| date such as may wish to purchase stamps.
All the other public Offices aud the banks
and freight-dcr6ts Will be closed to-day.
| HoRSE-CAR PGr-CEAcKER PRECAuTIoN.
The superintendent OF the City Railway
has requested the Chief OF Police TO pre-
vent the firing OF pop.craskrrs on Eighth
street between Broad and Main, and on
Main street between Eleventh and Fifteenth
streets, to prevent accidents by horses run
ming away. AS the thicf has given iuStrlIc.
| tions to h!s men TO carry out this request OF
the railway company, II will be welt for
1.-THE boys " to govern themselves accord
ngiy.