The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-12-24

OF all the holidays. there is none so
closely luwoyen with our love aud ycnera-
tion as the feast We celebrate tomorrow.
Among the great festivals Of the year
Christmas is the greatest and the most exact
ing In its demands; yet It's imperial robes are
not Of purple but Of emorald. 1t is dear to
us by long associations, that mellowed, but
never rusted by the lapse Of time, reach
into the far-ofT past, Its memories are rs
green as the perennial boughs with which
we greet its coming. 1t stirs our hearts
with tender retrospects; IT beams upon the
present like The Star in the East; it strength
ems our trust in the future
1t likewise makes loud call upon our
pocket books and not seldom imposes Sc
we're strain upon our credit
In its religious and social aspects, Christ
mas is a day of dual obligation-a day on
which TO make our peace anew with God
and man. So let us welcome its return,
and while duly observGnt OF its pious So
lemnities, be no less loyal to its generous
amenities. Upon this time honored anni-
versary, feasting and praise go hand in
hand, alike compatible with our duty as
good churchmen and good citizens. Homes
win be made more homelike by it, hearts
more happy, sympathies more broad and
bountful. Even were the story of Bethe-
hem a mere romance, the world were better
off for holiday that appeals so directly
to the nobler sensibiltles and more unset
fish attributes of our natures.
7 eing associated therefore with so much
that is precious both to remembrance and
hope--so peculiarly calculated to elevate
our thoughts above the sordid routine Of
everyday life, to smooth its asperities, in
tensify its friendships and expand Its afTec
tions-Christmas is, by origin and usage,
the day of all Others in the calendar for
works Of love and benevolence. And it is
a pleasant thing to know that here in
Washington the spirit of charity is no
hollow and ostentatious sentimentallsm,
hut an earnest, active reality that cheers
the lowliest habitatlons with its benisons
and scatters its solaces wherever there is sor-
Tow to heal. II not only remembers the poor
in its prayers, but with its purses. Where
me- we trust, each one Of us doing what lie
may to honor the coming festival as it de-
serves to he honored, that the National Cap
the continent--a city of full hearts, full
stomachs and full stockings.
THE Critic extends It's cheercst greeting
TO all and especially to the little folks who
are "looLing for the dawn" with such eager
and joyous expectation.
THERE was little trouble in Pittsburg
last August. The chief of police objected
to Il c "Imperal Austrian Consul" who is
located there, hanging flag over his door
way, because IT was in violation Of the city
regulations. The "lmperal Austrian
Minister in this city took up the matter
and wiote TO the Secretary of State about
it. In the course of this letter the Sim
perial Austrian Minister very moderately
says:
You will, therefore, he so kind, as a higher
ity. TO cause the chief of police in Pitts.
bl rg, having acted officially 10 be also Off
,ially and severely reprimanded, and to in
truct the local authorities with respect of
tleaty rights and international courtesy;
which lesson would, as it seems, do them
much good and avoid in future disagreeable
tIoubles.
In view:of all that has recently passed
between the United States and Austria, the
spectacle of the 'Imperial Austrian Minis
teri giving the Secretary of State of the
United States n lesson In international
courtesy is, to say the least, very edifyng.
Mr.. j. L. BRUCE Of this city, correspond
ent of the New York Enterprise, not long
since addressed a note to Hon. Roscoe
Conkling, requesting his opinion as to the
adyisability of an independent political
movement on the part of the colored race.
Mr.. Conkling says, In his reply
hThe advice you want can be better given In
future after the Administration and Congress
have manifested, as has not yet been done
the spirit and policy likely to govern here
after. SO for the present we will adjourn the
subject and wait till we are nearer the occa
sion requiring a solution of the question how
your people should place themselves and OF
what method they should proceed. You an.
they may rest assured that though out of pol
itics and with little or no influence, l am no
and shall not be an Indifferent spectator o
the attitude, rights and interests of the coloret
race.
THE influence of Mr. Parnell in thi
country and the estimation in which he Il
held are strkingly evinced by the actor
taken In regard to the next convention o
the Irish National League which was tC
have been held in Chicago in January Mr.
PANEL having sent a cablegram to the ef
feet that he would not attend the conven
tion at that time, it has been promptly de
cided that there shall be postponement tC
date when he can be present,
The workinemen make an entirely JUS
and reasonable request Of Speaker Carlisle
in asking that the Committee on Labor b,
constituted with due reference to their In
terests. They form large part OF the
people whose direct Representatives occupy
The lower House of Congress, and they hayt
right to be heard on all questions affecting
Their welfare.
SENATOR HAwLEY expressed the opinion
in New York yesterday that silver legisla
tion will remain about as 1t is during thi
session. Senator Hawley has fully graspeJ
what good-sized majority in the House o
Representatives in favor OF silver means.
The billiard tournament in progress II
Chicago does not attract one-tenth part O.
the attention that similar performance by
the same actors did short time ago. Hip
podromes were very interesting in the days
of the old Roman emperors.
--~-----
Mr.. CoSKLISG, though "out Of politics, y
and having "little or no influence is eyi-
IDENTIFY keeping sharp eye to windward, as
IL were.
WHEN Lieutenant General Sheridan re-
turnad from Arizona and New Mayicn this