New-York tribune., 1881-12-27
THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.

The Observance of Christmas on day that il doei
not naturally fall on always has its disadvantages
| AS holiday it loses much Of its charms, and ths
| spirit of meTy-making usual to the season is In 4
| large part wanting This was true of yesterday Ia
q large degree. The pleasant weather of Sunday
was repeated, save that the atmosphere was less
bright, and dull, leaden sky portended rain, But
this threat not fulfilled until late in the after
noon, when light, nist-like rain began TO fall
Places of business throughout the city closed
the only exception TO the rule being the small
tradesmen who kept their shop doors open to catch
the occasional customer that strayed in. Broadway
Fifth-ave and other thoroughfares were agtii
| with people promenading passing to and
| from places of entertainment. Many took
advantage of the extreme mildness of the
| temperature to spend part of the day
in the parks and squares. Central Park was visited
in the afternoon by many hundreds of people on
foot, and carriages dashed after each other in quick
succession along the drives. The good condition o
the roads led an unusual number 10 find enjoyment
| in trying the speed of their horses along The ave-
nues and boulevards There was little in the mora
retired streets of the better class to suggest hoi-
day; their aspect was that of an ordinary
Sunday. The greatest scenes of activity were
TO be found in the thickly populated
parts of the city, where the sidewalks
of the day. The average small boy being deprived
Ofa cannon and firecrackers gave vent his spirits
through the unmelodious tin horn and the average
little girl proudly paraded her new doll
As on former Christmas holidays, there were many
family reunions, where the old became young agqin
and the children made merry In more than oDs
pleasant home a Christmas tree was first disclosed
70 young eyes, brilliant with glittering toys and
lighted tapers. To many the theatres proved an at
traction, and they with other places of amusement
well filled in the afternoon. There
Christmas festivals in some churches but many Of
them will take place on other days of this week.
The streets mp town last night thronged with
people bent on pleasure-some going to places Of
amusement others to join some party Of merry
makers.
There were fewer sports than usual Occasionally
target company in uniform. led by a brass band,
marched through the streets making all the show IS
could, after which il would take its way 10 some
suburban place and spend the day in trying its skill
in shooting and drinking beer. For some rea-
son or other there was a great lack of companies
of small boys, marching around with broOmsticks
at shoulder arms, TO the music of kettle drum.
But now and then one was seen. One of thess
companies gorgeous in uniform of green, made its
way down the Bowery in the morning stopping IN
front of shop doors TO try the temper of the shop
keeper who in many succumbed TO the bland
ishments Of the captain.
IN LODGING HOUSES AND HOMES
As usual feasts were spread for the inmates in ths
newsboys homes the hospitals and other chartabIs
institutions. This class viii probably longest
member the day. At the Five Point Hoge
of Industry at . o'clock yesterday, the chill
dren met in the chapel. They sang carols.
"spoIIe pieces" in dialogues and wens
through calishenic exercises accompanied by music
on the piano. At o'clock the children had their
Christmas dinner. To-day they will receive
presents. At 7:30 o'clock last night, through tbs
generosity Of an uptown business man. about 300
adults selected by the managers from the congrega-
tion of the chapel, were supplied with Ginner.
Al the Bowcry Mission of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association Yesterday, n special service was
held at noon. In the afternoon all callers vera
trcat"d TO free dinner. There were no public ex-
e Ctses.
AZ the Howard Mission and Home for Little Wan
dertrs, No 40 New Bowery, there were exercises,
singing, ETC.. in the afternoon. One thousand
woOllen garments were distributed, in addition 20
other presents and dinner 10 the children Tbs
classes embraced 100 men from sixteen to thirty
years of age, $50 Young women from fourteen 10
twenty-five. 500 IN the infant class and the
mander not belonging to a class consists of boys
and girls from ten to fourteen years old
Covers were laid for 225 persons atthe Christmas
dinner given To the boys at the East Side Lodging
House at East Broadway and GOqyemeur-st, last
evening Over $50 pounds of turkey was provided,
thus giving each boy nearly pound and one-haf,
and there were also vegetables, cranberry sauce,
iees aud other relishes IN abundance. For dessert
each boy received fruit ice-cream and large piece
of mince pie. The dinner was given at p m, 80
that all the dodgers could be present. aud
it was donated by Andrew Carnegie. After it
had been disposed of an entertainment
was ciyen by the boys. which consisted of singing
clog dances jigs cOrnet and violin solos, and recta
tions. Short speeches were made ny Henry T.
Pellew, Howard Potter, and other guests who wers
present Two flannel shirts given 20 each boy.
In former years it has been the custom 10 give tho
boys only shirt but that shirt almost inyaria
DIV had TO do service for the whole winter 1t was
thought advisable this year to give them chance
to try q change occasionally. Late in the evening
the exercises closed aud the boys trudged off To bed
having hal as they expressed 1t a bang-u9
Christmas
school at No 27 st. Mark place, had double
Christmas 4 turkey dinner was given them on
Sunday, and last night there was a Christmas-tree
for them. Both the dinner and the tree were the
gitt OF Mrs. j. D. Astor he presents consisted or
various articles Of clothing. Dolls were given 10
several small children, and bags OF candy and pop
corn 10 all After the tree had been dcSpuiled Of Its
lruit refreshments consisting of Ice-crelm and
cake were served. here we're over sixty girls
present at the festivities.
The St. Barnaias Home, No. 500 Mulberry-st,
will give a Christmas dinner to-day 10 the sunday
school class with presents. me 10 children be-
longing TO the Sewing school were entertained as
dinner, and with Punch and Judy entertainment,
yesterday by Mrs. Erwin, of No. 10 West Seven
tecnti-St There are about forty boys ia the read
mg-ruom and abOut eighty children in the day nur-
sery all of whom were remembered by the Sisters
IN some kindly way.
OF the Boys Lodging House, at No 3l4 East Thirty
Gftb-st 6y Mrs William r. Dodge, jr. At p. IN.
100 BOYS filed into the diniug-roOn, and began hos
tilities upon the good things provided. Alter the
dinner there was singing by those who
wera not too full for utterance, and
Jancing bv those not affected with in
Digestion Mr. Henderson amused the boys by per-
forming several 9cight-of-hand tricks. William Il.
Dodge. IT, made short address which was yigor-
ously appauded. At the conclusion OF the exercises
a th BOYS went 20 ed VITA tbtlineyItabc wOOl4en
onirt iu one hand and a bag of candy ia the other.
Judge Voorhees, presided at he dinner given to
the boys OF the Eleventh Ward Lodging House.
The duncr consisted of turkey, curraut Jelly, cram
berry sauce. plum pudding. vegetables aud unlin-
ito MA Over 1 boVs sal down % the table with