Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-24


Tomorrow, speaking in literal and not a legal
sense, viii be the great festival OF the Chrtsti,n
people all over the world. Wherever the cross of
Christ Is known and recognized as the symbol M
eue reiiSion there the anniversary Of His birth is
observed as day consecrated to peace and pleas
ere. There Is something about the day which
seems TO touch ali hearts with kindness and gen.
crosby. Even the hardest natures relax. and the
moving impulse of all hearts is to do something
good for Others The streets and shops have been
filled to overlooking for several days past with the
young and the old. the rich and the DOOR all bent
upon the same errand-buying the gift that will
delight some other or others. ON Christmas. If at
no other time, the JOY of the gi Is as great as
that OF the receiver. The haruly-earned savings
are invested la some present for the loved one with
more real pleasure than the purchasers ever ex
perienced In buying for themselves. Christmas IL
Eit 10 be the one day in the year when the rich
must rememSer the poor. It is an occasion that
pftens and lightens all hearts
The annual agitation OF the defective and insuf
ucient means of exit from theaters, public halls
ana places OF amusement, generally, has been
Aarted IN Philadelphia. The chief of notice and
INC nre marshal of that city have reported to the
mayor number OF buildings of this character
which are 80 poorly provided with means OF exit
Shat In case OF fire In any one OF them the neonle
inside at the time would be roasted In spite OF ALI
The Efforts they might make TO escape. 1t IS an
nonhced that the mayor will withhold licenses for
Vie coming year, from all places OF amusement
which are not provided with proper facilities for
escapein the event OF FIRE. IL is to be boped that
Philadelphia viii set this example to the other
cities. There are thousands OF regular fire-trans
Being used as places OF public I'm the yarlous
critics, and the authorities ought not TO wait for
rome shocking calamity TO arouse them to their
duty In the premises.
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Inc state or Pennsylvania has
fr the purpose OF refunding several million dollars
q IT'S bonds at lower rate OF interest The five
and six per cent bonds are TO be converted info
three and half per cents. This move of the STAT,
" reduce her Indebtedness by cutting down the
interest, Is commended to Virginia as a much
better plan than forcible readjustment virginia
b itch In resources, and, with an administration
OF state anafrs directed 10 the proper development
and building up OF her wealth, WILL as Pennsyl-
vania has done, grow richer with each succeeding
year. Pennsylvania credit has been maintained
by keeping faith with her creditors and that credit
mas been the chief means OF rapidly enriching the
state Arbitrary readJustment would now blight
the credit OF Pennsylvania, and IL will XIII what
little is left 10 Virginia
The total exports OF breaCisturs for the month of
November Was $iS,025, $50, against s22e53iS for
the same month OF last year. The Total experts
tef the eleven months OF this year. ending with
November, amounted to s2i03ls Gs2 against
SD7,S1, oS for the same period last year. San
Francisco, Portland, Huron and Richmond ara the
only ports that show al increase OF exports this
year over last
The subject Of abolishing capital punishment
mas been agitated with good deal OF persistence
- this country for years past but only four states
Aase 30 Tar dispensed with the death penalty.
These are: Maine, Michigan, Rhode Island and
wisconsin The practical people Of the country
SEEM 70 think that a hanging now and then has
good effect upon the criminal classes