The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-12-27
Christmas.

| penSa loss by Oh per cent. than would be
charged single paper, and a great reduction
| from the prices of transmission by Morse lines
Christmas.
| Christmas was charming day, clear, crisp
and bright. 1t was more like winters day in
the Middle States, with its dry sidewalks and
mild weather, than cold New England
The churches were decorated with evergreen
festoons, wreaths and crosses and in some Of
the Catholic and Episcopalian the edifces were
respondent with numerous gas Jets The
music, published in Saturdays PRESS was
beautifully rendered.
There was very pretty entertainment at
Congress Square vestry Christmas night, given
by the children of the Sunday School, entitled
"Santa Claus House. in which the little ones
were treated to glimpse of the good old Saint
in his home, while dwarfs and fairies kept
guard over his stores, and in obedience to his
call brought forth the stockings of candy. At
ter that all received present from the we'll
laden Christmas tree. The pleasantest feature
of the evening to the older part of the audience
was the presentation of some choice books by
one of the teachers to the pastor, Rev. VIM. e.
Gibbs, from the officers and teachers of the
Duuudy OCuOOl. 10 Nlf. JtDUS more IMAM TO
any one person the school is indebted for its
prosperity and he well deserves the recogni-
ton of his services tos5
CHRISTMAS TREES.
Besides the Christmas trees connected with
Sunday schools, hundreds of families in Port
land have adopted this pleasant observance of
the day. Our German residents have theirs at
o'clock in the morning, after the fashion of
the Fatheriand, at the hour when Yankee
children are running down in their night
dresses to inspect their stockings, and to begin
their feast of sweetmeats. We know of one
family that has had its Christmas tree for
thirty years, and now grandchildren and great
grandchildren gather under its branches. For
days before, parcels are going from all direc-
lions to the homestead and on Christmas, at
about three ia the afternoon, the families be-
gin to gather there, each arrival being hailed
with shout of welcome from the children.
The afternoon is spent in pleasant greetings,
in romping among the children, or singing and
recitations by the younger of the broods. A
bountiful supper follows, and then all gather
at the tree, where the presents are taken off,
the inscriptions read, land the articles delivered
to their addresses. Many pleasant hits excite
the mirth OF the audience, such as a process
sion OF bags of candy which overwhelm
young lady who has made known her partial
lty for sweetmeats, and elegant specimens of
handiwork extort the applause of the company
as well as the gratitude of the recipients. The
wonder and delight of the little folks, as they
find their arms filling with gifts and every
wish anticipated by parents, grandparents,
cousins, aunts and uncles, or perhaps by some
outside friend who has quietly sent :. present
in, is enough to make merry Christmas for
the gravest observer, and the evening winds
up with a succession of choruses which
make the house ring, and the chilled, outdoor
passers stop to say, with a smile, "What good
time they are having in there
A MASONIC OBSERVANCE
1t has long been custom and one which
originated with some Of our Portland Free
M isons to drink the health of their absent
friends at noon, Washington time, on Christ
mas, their friends at the same instant, meeting
them in the same spirit wherever they may be-.
This was observed ON Saturday by gathering
OF sixty, besides those who participated at
their homes. In the other cities of Maine
there were similar gatherings, in Newport and
Providence, where Portland Commandery Wis
tied the past summer, in Covington, Louis
vile and other cities of Kentucky, in Rich
mond, Va, Washington, d. c., and individ-
ual participants in every State from Maine to
Texas and California, and even in England
and Ireland. kilograms were sent and re-
ceived, and a large packet of letters from those
who had arranged to meet them thus, was
read. 1t is very pleasant observance for
friends who are widely separated, and is es-
pecially gratifying to distant members who
know that the home assemblage is thinking of
them, and it is noteworthy that the most en-
thusiastic letters read were from teetotaers
who proposed to drink, as one of them ex-
pressed it, from
1.-The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket!
Ihe moss-covered bucket that hangs in the WELL
ROLLER SKATING.
Ever visited the rink? No? You don't
mean to say you have never visited the roller
skating rink? Well then we will go tonight
and see the Christmas exhibition
Thus spoke friend to the writer who there
upon made his first visit to the roller rink
Christmas The great front windows were
ablaze with light and inside the hall was CAV
with flags and streamers, brilliant with gas,
and filled with elegantly attred couples. We
arrived just in time to see the exhibition given
by local amateurs. We must say that their
movements were like clock-work, and very
graceful. What tho audience applauded the
most was the promenade step, performed by
tnrees. The ladies' efforts surpassed anvthinu
they had attempted. The moment the gong
sounded the signal for the resumption of oen
9ral skating a host of ,J,o bod
standing in the asles, all ready, rushed into
the arena like herd of cattle let into pas
ture. The ladies followed at a speed more be-
coming their sex. There was boom in pretty
girls thst night at the rink. Then began the
dizzy round. All must skate from the left to
the right around the rink or the collisions al
ways frequent would be constant There
could be not less than 300 skating at once, and
they swept around IN order as close as a fun
eral procession, but their aspect was anything
but funereal To sit an hour looking on at such
swiftly passing panorama of happy glowing
faces IS better prescription for melancholy
people In this weather than all the medicine
IN Inc pharmacopeia:; No wonder manager
Lalime has to fix an hour for his guests to 20
home, for left to themselves they would never
think OF 1t. But is roller skating, then, Just
Ike old-fashion, genuine skating? Oh, no.
there is gaslight instead of moonlight; gas Jets
IN place OF stars, the rumble of wheels instead
OF the ring OF steel; there are no bon-fires on
the ice to warm your fingers at; there are no
Swallowed covers where gliding couples pause,
and warm lips meet in stolen kiss; there is
underneath no deep, cold, deadly river, the
consciousness of whose hidden dangers the
| reckless skaters ignore as the pleasure seeker
J ignores the death that underlies the disspa-
ton that lends wild relish to his life. No
and there are no colds in the head, and frozen
handkerchlefs; no blue noses and cold feet
| with drowning accidents thrown in. On tho
whole we do not wonder that roller skating is
SO popular.
During the holidays this popular place of
amusement will be open every day. forenoon
ana AFTERNOON and three evenings as usual.
Children will be admitted at any of the dav
sessions at regular juvenile prices. SKArER