Smyrna times., 1884-12-31

u
OF what was received as an edifying, re
ireshing and profitable discourse. full o.
good counsel to the church at home
and replete with information and in.
structiOn.
Christmas Day-HOw Observed
Thursday was cold, crisp, typical
Christmas day and there was nothing
to complain of about the weather, ex.
cept some would have preferred it a
little mite" warmer, but it was al
most universally voted tip-top day,
full of good cheer and inward social
warmth. There were many surprises
in the beautiful presents that passed
from friend to friend, and es-
pecially those left ostensibly by Old
krlss put the Juvenile portion of the
community in "A state of exultation such
as they had not been in for a year.
The six o'clock meeting at the NJ. E..
Church, because of the snowy and lev
condition of the street was not so well
attended as usual, but about fifty per-
sons were present and perhaps no
others commenced the day more in
harmony with its intent, than they in
singing the spirited old hymn, "While
shepherds watched their. flocks bv
night, &C."
AT st. Peters Chapel the prepara-
tions were elaborate in its dressing of
evergreen, excelling probably anv for
mer Christmas tide in the beauty of its
trimming. A good audience was out
at eleven O'Clock to hear the rector.
Rev. VIM. b. Gorden, in the deli
very of Christmas sermon-a dis
course in which there was not only 4
beautiful grouping of thought, but a
chasteness Of style, and impressiveness
OF utterance that made it especially en-
Joyable to his audience. At night the
house was crowded to attend the ex-
erclses Of the Sunday School, the chief
feature being II gift to each mem
Der OF the school. The tree was hand
somely trimmed and when the numer-
Gus wax candles scattered among its
branches were lighted. it presented n
beautiful spectacle. The exercises con-
sisted largely of singing, one of the
selections being solo by Miss Della
Wilson, which was especially well rem.
dered
The other entertainment of the even
ing was the Meigs- Underhill Combina-
ton at the Town Hall, which seemed
to be highly enjoyed by nearly all of
the large number who attended.
30 much for the prearranged. There
Is always Il spontaniety about the han
Pemngs OF Christmas that precludes
foreordinatiOn, as to the events of the
uay. There are always incidents
scenes on the streets, personal sur
prses, events that belong only to the
day that are entertaining in themselves
but would hardly bear transmission to
these columns. In public wav the
DAY bore an unusual musical stamn.
The Independent Cornet Band. col
pred, has always been in the habit of
giving concert some time in the the
norning'and taking suthin'" when
invited, but the Gen. Birney Fife and
Drum Corps, of New Castle, who had
come down the evening before as the
guests of the young Smyrna Fife and
Drum Corps, who were chuck full"
u music, were on the ground first. fol-
owed by the Smyrna Cornet Band in
heir new and bright uniforms. These
wo formed u line and while the two
we're marching past the Smyrna House
II the stable yard of which the Inde-
PENDENT COrnet Band had formed in
me, they, although uninvited, imme- {
lately Joined in the procession, and. !
when the Smyrna COrnet struck up a
une, they, with charming impudence, ,
you'd play some other tune at the same
ime, hoping thus to drown things out |
enerally. As soon as the Fife and S
'rum Corps saw the object Of the col
red band it struck up also, completely
rowning out the Independent Band /
y counter marching upon it. Thus f
latters stood until they got back to c
ne Smyrna House. where, as soon as ;
ne Smyrna COrnet began to play they 1
ere again broken in upon by the col I
red band, and it was again drowned f
ut by the Fife and Drum Corps, and v
he crowd who had gathered to witness a
le spectacle had the pleasure (?) of "
caring three bands, all playing differ a
It tunes at the same time. The bands C
dividually were cOmplimented for fl
aking good music, but after the nov b
ty was over, the inharmonious fl
rains were considered neither patri- d
&c nor religious. As no committee
I'd been appointed to decide which Fl
vi the best lungs, that remained an ii
determinate question, but the v,
nyrna COrnet exhibited better taste rC
pulling away from such a combi- it
tion and marching up the street, in tt
lich act they were followed by the N
'um Corps bt
The Americus Club had set out" pl
their rooms in the Johnson building va
d the contents of the richly loaded pl
Die were highly enjoyed by both -
lies and gentlemen. We had a snow, m
fact several of them, but not enough /
good sleighing. The latter would
We made the season complete in
cry detail.