The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-25

alWayS been tnc great lcstNai Oi tnc peo-
ple.s All classes have looked forward TO
II with q vague sensation OF expected hap
piness-rich and poor, master and servant,
gray-haired elders, and above all, the chill
drcn. Each and all seem to have greeted
It as a time OF mirth aud goodwill to men,
and this influence Of the season is perhaps
as strong in the nineteenth century as in
the olden time, when the homes OF the old
planters on the James and the York were
the scenes at Christmas Of so much merri-
ment and rejoicing.
ENGLISH MEMORIES.
Looking back 10 that early period, and
reading old letters and other family memo
rials, il Is impossible not to see that, To the
Virginians, the season was one OF immense
enjoyment. Whatever they had lett behind
in the home land, they had brought Christ
mas with them TO this country, and its i'm
pOrtance in their eyes is easily accounted
for. The people were nearly without eX-
ception descendants OF members OF the
Church OF England, and these churchmen
q little while before had been good Roman
Catholics. They had abiured the old COM
munion, but their old loves were still dear
10 them, and among these none was
stronger than attachment TO Christmas. For
ages IL had been celebrated with pomp and
rejoicing in the grand cathedrals; year by
year the chimes OF the great old abbeys had
greeted il; rich and poor had come to-
gether for the day i'm a common brother
hood, flowing wassail cheered all hearts,
gifts were given TO the poor, sheep and
oxen were roasted whole in the court
wards of the manorlal halls" carols well
coined the day OF JOY, and all connected
with the anniversary of the birth OF the
Prince of Peace served to emphasize the
sentiment of common humanity. which
was the burden Of His teaching.
MUSIC OF THE BANJO.
1t is not surprising, therefore, that
the Virginians, the descendants OF these
old devOtees OF Christmas, should
have attached paramount import
ance to the great occasion. In every
generation from the settlement to the
present the day has been celebrated as
time of rejoicing. Love and kindness,
mirth and enjoyment, the meetings OF rela-
tives, the Interchange OF gifts, and the IN
dulgence Of innocent pleasures, have
marked the season. The scattered men,
bers of the family have assembled beneath
the old family roof tree, business has been
mas week has been spent in mirth, kind
ness, and the enjoyment OF good cheer by
all, from the gray haired master and mistress
of the mansion TO the children-even the
ragged Youthful Africans who laugh and
feast in honor OF the time, and dance be-
fore the blazing fires in their cabins to the
music of the banjo.
WILD FOWL.
The points OF difference in detail be-
tween the old English celebration OF Christ
mas and that Of the Virginlans are not
marked. One of the instincts Of the race
is to cling to the habits OF ances-
tors-to think that old things are best !;
and the hardy adventures who founded
the Commonwealth brought the Christ
mas legends with them. They had lew
| - Merry Christmases," however, in those
first days of danger and difficulty, and
worthy Captain Smith had the least merri-
ment OF all. In the very first year OF the
settlement in the Virginia wilds luckless
fate found him prisoner at 4" the time OF
Christmas in the woods OF the York,
where his life was only saved by the inter-
position OF PocahontaS. We afterward find
him selecting the same season for his last
and decisive raid against the Emperor
companions, he set out through snow and
ice on his expedition, but we are told by
the old chr0niclers that "the eXtreame
winde. ravne, frost, and snow caused us
TO keepe Christmas among the salvages,
where we weere never more merry, nor fed
on more plenty OF good Oysters, Fish.
Flesh. Wide fO,ol, and good bread, nor
neuer had better fires in England" This
| nf
Christmas which occurs in Virginia his
tory shows the instructive English pro-
cliyities of the old adventurers. They
were going TO crush Powhatan, ard duly
performed that work, but on the way kept
| the good season with that feast Of "wild
fowl.n doubtless turkey, roasted brown in
the "smOky houses OF Kecoughtan" be-
fore those blazing Christmas fires which
brought back old England.
| In the ancient records OF Hening we find
single additional hint of the manner OF
| Christmas-keeping not so merry; it was
, the season for attacking the savages. Three
| times yearly, but especially "before the
frost OF Christmas" the adventures were
| TO arm and march with bloody intent on the
dusky people; to raid the forests on the
banks OF the rivers .'from Floneer de Hun
dred TO AccOmack -; and whosoever was
"lamed" was to be cured at the public
expense-a Christmas not so merry, no
doubt, TO many.
INDIANS AND AFRICANS.
But before very long while these old
4" hard times " OF the plantation gave way to
sunshine and enjoyment. The indians
caused no more trouble, and the planter In
his manor-house, with strong shutters and
palisades, could invite his neighbors TO
come and share with him the mirth and
kindness of the Christmas time, without
fear, and after the good old English fashion.
The old records give us glimpses Of the
worthy people in the midst Of their enjoy
ments-Of the sturdy commander OF
hundred with "gold lace on his Clothes"
which others are not to indulge in;
of his dame, the smiling hostess in her
high heels and EliZabethan ruff; and the
crowding children and grandchildren
around the hospitable board; with the sleek
Africans who have arrived in the Dutch
shin peering in at the door and laughing. IL
is certain that these dusky retainers had
their share OF the feast; that ale and strong
waters fell to them as to the rest; and
that they then and there imbi0ed the
undying African conviction that Christ
mas, as it .'comes but once year." ought
to be time OF rejoicing. Under the new
order OF thngs-in the year 1Ss3-while so
much bas changed, this African sentiment
has undergone none whatever. The SIM
pie and childish race, acting invariably
from impulse and habit, still cling with
obstinate tenacity TO the old Christmas
legend. While the skepticism OF the
Latins and Teutons, so intelligent that
they doubt all things, laughs at faith, the
poor African, with no intelligence what
ever, we are told, will not abandon his.
With him Christmas is still what IL was In
the nioIls middle age---a solemn mystery as