Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-12-27

DriKuter CHRISTMAS thaD Monday. The air
was mild and spring like; the sun shone with
unwonted splendor; the sleighing was excel
lent. Even the very sleigh bells seemed
imbued with q joyous spirit, and chimed and
lingled from morning till night In the
afternoon Water and State streets were living
masses Of gay equipages, of sleighs filled with
occupants whose every movement and look
betokened that they were taking genuine
comfort. Many teams came up from Halo
well and Gardiner, helping to swell the throng
Verify, it was almost a carnival But as
Thanksgiving is a day of giving thankr, so
Christmas is a season of giving-not thanks,
but presents, and during the holiday just past
more presents have probably been made than
ever on any like occasion in this State.
People talk about hard times, but this would
not indicate a season of financial depression.
Every day during the past week the stores
displaying Christmas goods have been crowd
ed with purchasers from early in the forenoon
until late hour in the evening. People seem
to have had plenty of money and readily
loosened their purse strings. The traders say
that it has been one Of the best seasons for
the sale of Christmas goods ever known and
their stocks have been depleted until very low.
One dealer who laid in an unusually large
quantity of Christmas cards re marked Mon
day night ~ have only about half dozen
left At nearly all the stores where holiday
articles were sold extra help was employed.
At one establishment, where two clerks ordi-
customers, six in addition were required.
But if there was any one thing which demon
strated that people were more inclined than
they usually are to make Christmas presents,
it was the almost unprecedented number of
packages passing through the mails and the
express offices. The post Office employees
have been taxed to their utmost. 1t is esti-
mated that in this city alone upwards of
10000 extra Christmas parcels passed through
the Office. The carriers. always industrious,
we're more busy than ever, and to complete
the Sunday morning delivery one of them was
obliged to load up four times at the Office.
The business of the American Express Com
pany has been simply immense for a week
past and their Office in Augusta has been
piled high with boxes and packages, while in
nearly all the offices along the line of the rail
road it was necessary to increase the working
force. On the route between Bangor and
the Express Company was twice rs large as
that of last year. Where usually only a crate
and one man were needed an entire car and
three men were required last week, and daily
two extra cars were run to transport the
Christmas presents. The lateness of the
train Saturday afternoon was owing to the
delay caused in transferring the Christmas
packages from one train to another at Port
land. Monday evening the Unitarian, First
Baptist and Methodist churches in this city
each had Christmas tree. The vestries
were well filled and the trees being lastly
decorated presented a very handsome appear
ance. As is the rule on such occasions the
boys and girls craunched their pop corn and
unbounded delight.
Ar ST. MARKS CHURCH.
Christmas had this year double celebra-
ton in St. Marks church by service on
Sunday evening and on Christmas morning
The music on both occasions was notable
feature, being made up of selections from the
ample resources which the Feast itself fur
nshes. Art in all its departments has drawn
its chief and best inspiration from the events
commemorated by the great Christian Festi-
walls. Music is no exception to this rule,
and from its more general cultivation and
adoption 10 particular occasions, it becomes
specially suitable as an expression of reli-
gicus feeling.
Every one probably who attended the
Christmas services at St. Marks must have
been Impressed with the suita5leness of the
selections. and with the degree of excellence
with which they we're rendered. The organ
and orchestral accomplishments combined to
give force and incisiveness to the clear, ring
ing voices of the choir. who rendered their
parts in excellent tone. and for the most part
with admirable correctness in time.
Among the many features the Deus Msera-
tur by Parker: the carol enc room in the
Inn" by Gauntlet and especially the anthem
"Hosanna," by Albert Lowe, one of the most
striking and original compositions we have
heard may be mentioned. Everyone who
loves Christina. and good music will, we
think be glad that the endeavor to properly
celebrate the Christmas fenst. was on this
occasion attended with so good q degree of
success The sermons at the two services
we're preached by the pastor.
OS CUsHNoc HEIGHTS.
Christmas was observed by the people OF
Cushnoc Heights by having two large well
filled trees at the chapel. An entertainment
was given under the auspices of the Sabbath
school. and the rendition Of all the parts were
pronounced excellent. Singing by select
rl ir with guitar accompaniment. together
with the singing of Christmas carols by the
children lent erchantment to the occasion,
making all feel that Christmas time is indeed
the happiest season of the year. Directly
after the entertainment followed the distribu-
ton of presents. some of them quite valuable