New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-25

. INV N"iiStindS fcbuVdI Will DC ctleDIiten II
q this city in the oldtime fashion. Busines
a VIII be universally suspended, and the da,
( viii be given up to hearty enjoyment. Ex
tenslve preparations have been mad,
, for the holiday. and thousands of chill
dren will waken early TO see wha,
gifts S.nta Clans has in store for them
SHOPS and stores have presented scenes
OF the utmost activity for the last two days.
and the markets have been crowded with
eager buyers. la many churches services will
be held. with elaborate programme of music ;
and the inmates of charitable institutions will
not be foi gotten.
| PREPARING FOR THE FESTIVAL
BUSY SCENES AMONG SHOPPERS AND sHOPKEsPERs
-THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN THE STREETS
| DECORATIONS AND sERueCEs IN TIE CHURCHES
-CDRTsIMAs MATTER In THE MAIs-ACrJvITY
AMONG MARKETMEN.
II Indications are Of any value this win be As merry
I Christmas Day as New YoIk has known for many
years. The observance will be more general than
| usual. Most of the stores will be closed and no
business Will be done at the public Offices Ample
provision has been made for the comfort of the
inmates of hospitals and charitable and penal insti
, tn ions aud there will be Christmas trees in thou.
SANDS OF homes. Services will be held m many of tbs
churches. Inc preparations for the holiday have
been made on scale not often exceeded aud money
has been spent with hand 80 lavish that merchants
ana small dealers, marketmen and street vendors
have abundant reason for satisfaction. An that the
earth can produce of treasure. all that tho mind Of
man can invent and his hands fashion into
shapes, all that the farm can weld
and all that the prairie the forest the streams tho
lakes and the ocean can supply TO please the palate
ali of these have been temptingly shown in public
Dlappa to oh ha af In
and attract buyers, who yield more readily at this
festival season than at any other time. For more
than fortnight thousands and tens of thousands
have thronged the streets and packed the stores In
their search for articles to be ggled mysterously
into their homes. which will be brought forth to-
day to gladden. the hearts of young and old alike
Few indeed have been neglectfu Of the season, aud
in all bnt the most wretched homes the holiday will
be remembered in one way or another. Where tur-
key and trufies cannot be afforded there will be at
least goose and onions. and where the children can
not have fashionably dressed French dolls OF costly
mechanical toys. they, not having been trained to
be exactlng or fastidious will be made happy with
less costly objects of amusement.
The streets OF New-York the day before Christmas
are an attractive study. and who on that day
visits the great thoroughfares of Christmas trade
and traffic, with no other object in view than that
o. watching the crowds, cannot fail to feel repaid
for his pains, There have heen few less peasans
days this than yesterday fall of snow be-
gan at noon and it was accompanied by wind Of
sufficient strength to drive the falling flakes like
feathers Of down, beneath the umbrellas and into
tile eyes and of persons of doors Tie light
moist snow was quickly beaten into
slush beneath the feet and walking
was made exceedingly dsagreeable. As the after-
noon wore on the snow continued, and towards
lghtfall the day had become SO inclement that or
narlly the streets would have been nearly deserted
Bar IL was tue day before Christmas and the streets
we're crowded with people, 10 one of whom apparent
J was without an object. The great majority of the
,rowds consisted of women and there was a larqs
p:nkling Of children And the manner of all was
II striking contrast TO the eisurely carriage that
marks the Stopper IN the weeks immediately before
he holiday season. when there is prodigal waste
# time In the desire to money BY searching ont
'aces TO buy cheaply Yesterday there was uuiver-
al appearance. OF haste either born Of desire
o have done rs quickly possible with the dis
0mfors of the storm. due to fear lest the nighb
h0uld come and find some purchase not yet made.
Wherever holiday goods were displayed, there ono
'as a. lind the buTrying crowds.
SCENES ~ TIRE SHOPPING DISTRICTS.
In S,XtiI-ayc., from Fourteenth-Gf. TO Twenty.
liri-st., there was hurry and hustle. The LARGO
Ouses were crowded with customers from early t,Il
tie. Hundreds of carriages were drawn I'D befors
lie doors, and the cars. both of the elevated and
Irlace roads we're full all the time. Now and then
'ndrct0rs ot cars on the surface road were almost
1yen 10 distraction in efforts to seat their
lsser gers, by peFsuading women to No.
owe their purchases from the seats
heSe purchases often made hinge packages.
I'd there seemed to be a general disposition on the
lrt Of owners to put them on the seats small
essenser boy, who was wrapped IN Rubber until
iy his eyes were visible, did nothing tnan IL
srate ihe prevailing spirit when he placed beside
IN huge turkey, and carefully hung the dead
WIS ungainly feet down from the seat.
In Four.eenth-st., from Sxth-ave to Broadway
ere was a constant rush. The street was al no
nc free from an eyer-cbangng crowd and pcrhaps
10 place was the picture moge significant of tho
'son. Oi the hundreds who quickly passed anv
ven point there were not many vino did not nn1
)se some Christmas package. Maidens ana moth-
:, la'hnrs ana DrotbeI., and the traditional
'o-handed uncle were there, all bearing home
ne toAen OF shtciionat regard. Here and ;herc
FRIED the Children IN their cues of something 10
n rs surprise 10 mother or father. The dignity
a special prOprietorship III Christmas Day vested
them by common consent, cast its shadow before
found expression III the AR of Importance worn
Tile young teIS. Ihe streetyeBdor, full iy reallx-
the character OF the day. aud chat his harvest
le was growing shor', did nos faii to make every
)rt 10 attract attention To his wares ani then 10
Ol their merits and phenomenal cheaIIpess
lerc's your gold watch and chan-a regular tlo,Iar
lele-ior oaedme." shouted cne. 'Justiook at this.
everlasting horseshoe ior Que dime and n Lolfb
cd nis helgnDOr. " No family should be wtthont
OF these spinning tops,p husklly mu.iered a
ri. and the wIstful eyes of the passing lads sub-
bed 10 the sentiment. One dealer raised lanuh
extending gaunt doil-baby aGd saying;
ore's yer chance to see Sarah Bernhardt Tor q
.iter of n doilar.D
IA Broadway, from Eighth-st. to a point beyond
enty-sevcnth-St. the crowds We're SO great that
III position TO catch brdseyo view woniI
70 seen sea OF moving umbrella tops and Long
- OF private carriages. From Elghtb-st 10
on-sqqare great pains had ev,dently been taSen
h the dressing OF WINDOWS, before many oil winch
10 were always small thcoGgs of admir-
aghi-seers. There was noe much
fe room IN any of the stores
to be waited upon or even to get the opportunity
lanI nIIrcha sLll.a, ,A..a f-r.-. n