The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-12-29
Christmas In RidgMny.

1881, despite the muddy condition of
| the streets, the moisture in the atmos-
phere, and the generally "green Christ
lmas' aspect of the surroundings, the
streets of Ridgway were filled with
people hurrying to and fro with Christ
mas presents. Dealers in goods of the
season were well patronized, and espe-
cially on Friday and Saturday when
the stores were running to tlreir fullest
capacity with the aid of extra clerks.
individuals, full of Christmas "conso-
lation," wandered about the streets,
enjoying themselves, while ever and
anon Constable Woodward would
take in some weary pilgrim"
About as lively Il Christmas as we have
seen in many II year. There was u
slight fall of snow on Saturday. Sun
day, Christmas day, was bright and
beautifully clear-Monday, the day
after, was rainy and disagreeable;
Tuesday, Wednesday and to-day even
moie 80. Monday was celebrated as
the legal holiday the banks and schools
all being closed on that day. Saturday
night the several churches had Christ
mas trees, with exercises and singing.
THE CoNGREG EGATIONALISTS
Lighted up large tree, loaded with
many pretty presents, as well as useful
and ornamental for the children.
Presents from the classes to their sew
eral teachers. There were also many
presents calculated to provoke nIirth at
the expense of the recipients, as for in
stance "our old batchelors Frank Set
telle and Geo. Smith" received Il large
package which on being opened before
the crowded house revealed thimhle,
needles, pins and thread, scissors and
spectacles, all very useful articles in the
workboX of an unmarried gentleman.
w. III. Osterhout received Il beautiful
present Of II little gc-cart and a NINA !
ture pair of mules, while Mrs. Oyster I
received Il unique remembrance in |
the shape of secondhand iine tooth
comb and II scrubbing brush. These |
little packages, by way of II joke, added
to the entertainment of the evening.
The audience dispersed well pleased |
with the tree and The fruit il bore.
FIRST LUTHERAN EVANGELICAL.
A large tree loaded with presents.
On either side were illuminated mot
toes in large letters OF colOred tissue
paper, Merry Christmas" ," "Glory to
God on High" The exercises con-
sisted Of singing, dialogue. and recita.
tions by the children. Master Carol !
NJ Afce doing some very creditablc
singing. An address was delivered by !
the pastor, aIter which the tree was
lighted, and The presents, consisting Of
candy, dolls, picture books, cups and |
saucers, and other useful and Orna-
presents for the children, were
distributed.
GRACE CTiCRCU (EPIsCOPALD
The church was handsomely fes-
to0ned with evergrcens over windows.
doors and chancel rail. a rood serene.
tastefully decorated with cvcrgreens.
was erected at the chancel front. The
usual exercises for the Christmas sea-
son, were observed, an address was de-
livercd 10y the Rector, after which the
tree was lighted up with hundreds of
tiny candles, until the church was
nbaze with glory, while occasionally
~ f,;, ,l
timorous by its cracking Us it came in
contact with the lights. The fires
were always quickly eXtingushrd
without doing amy particular harm.
Many presents grew on the Grace
church tree, among the notable ones
being an elegant gold headed cane to
DR.. w. l.. Williams and j. a. Mel
singer, and elegant presents to Miss
Kate and Jennie Grcsh, of the choir,
from the hands of Dr. G, II. Farley.
There were many presents for the
children, as well as for papa and mama
and all the rest Of the folks.
THE PRESBYTERIAN.
AT the chapel, a tree full of choice
ruit, singing by the choir, IL warning
rom Prof Dixon that there was no
hanger if the hemlock caught fire, a
ighting of the candles. and distribu-
ion of the presents. Books grew on
his tree by the stack. NJ. :. Kline
vas the first lucky one, after
which came James Penfield, Mrs. II.
II. Wensel, Miss A. f.. Mckee, Miss
Nay Olmstead, Horace Little and Miss
thoda Wilcox. Frank Stewart, a lit
lie chap of Il few years, marched up
ike major and took his present as his
lame was called, and every one seemed
o have bren remembered. Oranges
we're there for every child, and happi-
less beamed from the eyes of cid and
'oung, the occasion being one long
o be remembered.
PRIVATE TREES.
Many families had private trees in
lddition to the Sunday school trees.
And all together, we are of the opin-
on that old Santa Claus did the
square thing" by the boys and girls
If Ridgway this time if he never does
gain. The old way of hanging up the
stocking has gone out of fashion and
he Christmas tree has come into vogue
almost universally. No matter wheth-