St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-26
A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Notes on the Day as Passed BY st
Paul Citizens.


The thoroughfares yesterday presented
striking contrast to their appearance dur
ing the past two weeks qmetuae
reigned that was Sabbath-like in its in
tensity. Carriages and hanSOms were busy,
Int the people on the sidewalks were few
and far between, excepting in the early
forenoon. when the churches opened their
doors and let out the crowds of worShlpperS
who had appropriately celebrated the birth
day anniversary of the Savior OF the world.
Especial efforts were put forth IN churcn
decorations, in many cases the material
principally used being eVergreens wrought
into appropriate designs.
~
The people were evidently giving their
closest attention to turkey and cranberry
sauce. and other choice edibles, never possess
ing the same degree of palatable favor that
they do on Christmas. The hotel menus
had an extra touch on them. French names
to puzzle the wits of the diner were run In,
and corkage was knocked off OF wines and
other bottled luXuries.
~
The man who went into the heat OF Dattle
Yesterday morning against uneomparaole
cuisine, with large number OF silver DOL
lars elinking cheerily in his pocket, came
out of the fray at night broke" in a large
majority of cases, and when he was safely
ensconced in his room before the glowing
CRATE he began to strike trial balance OF
his accounts on his finger-tips, and this
is what he gave himself credit for: Zone
dollar to the waiter, one dollar to the ele-
vator bow. one dollar to the bootblack, one
dollar to Nhe poStman, one dollar to the
janitor, one dollar TO the barber, one dollar
to the brusher, one dollar to the chamber
maid" and so on ad intinitum. And there
then were ct cetefaS. that Oh cold Christ
mas day are considered necessary to the
warmth and comfort of every well-regu-
lated citizen, and which put the pocket
book to a severe test.
~
Free lunches grew on every bush, and
they were all -'dandies' in the fullest i'm
pIication of the term. East Seventh street
walked away with the palm for making the
greatest number of scientific points in this
feature. and the crowds that hung around
them from early morning till late at night
gave evidence that the Christmas, at least
with them, had been a very merry one.
Where for months past, expressionless
bologna sausage and ham had
laid. Yesterday turkey and chicken roasted,
inviting the passer by to drop in and take
nip, whether they could afford fve-cent
erythng went with freedom characteristic
of the American way of doing business.
-
OF course there were heads noticed on
the street swelled little beyond their nor
NAL PROPORTIONS, but as a general thing the
heads. though swelling to unusual glrth,
were commercially level, and steered the
wearer Alright, barring an occasional col
lison with lamp post or telegraph pole
that happened to be few feet closer the
sidewalk than the law allows.
The police force were prancing around III
the foreground, as usual. and kept an eye
on the public welfare, now and then for
saking their duty long enough to test the
SAVIOR of an unusually inviting free lunch or
to collar a fifteen-cent Havana, that on any
other dav would tip the scales at only a
nickel. Everybody seemed flush, everybody
seemed happy, and everybody seemed glad
that Christmas comes but once per annum.
-
The places of amusement did rushing
business all the afternoon and evening. At
the dime museums eight or ten perform
ances were given to large audiences. The
theaters had matinees and did good bust
ness.
~
The destitute homes of the city were re-
membered by many kind hearts who learned
anew that charity, like mercy ''blesses
him that gives and him that takes" and
many found the keenest pleasure of the
day in thus swelling the sum OF happiness
that the days mission was to bring. Chill
dren of luxury sacrificed their store of
''things," and made wan faces beam with
Joyous exultation. Carriages halted at
lowly cottages and rough shanties, and de-
parted with lighter loads. Merchant
princes gave vicariously, and even footed it
from one home of want and misery to an
other; and willing hands and hearts from
every station sought out and blessed abid-
ing places of poverty and sorrow. And
the deepest joy and most heartfelt gratitude
rose from the lowlieSt homes. Several
Sunday schools made united effort in this
direction.
Each class of the First Baptist school WIS.,
tied -arnily together and left a merry
Christmas and a bountiful donation
of luXuries as well as necessi-
ties. The donations of the Park
Congregational school were given to Mr..
lrmscher, the city missionary, to distribute.
The contributions were so generous that
a large two-seated buggy was barely able to
hold them. Mr.. Irmscher also received
about $125 in money from various private
parties, which he largely invested in neces
stiles and In materials for good many
bountiful dinners, spending most of the
day in making his distributions. The Jack
son Street NJ. E. school gave seventeen
baskets, which were distributed by him.
This donation, like the others, consisted of
turkeys, fruits, candy, toys, groceries.
clothing, etc. The Unity church distributed
similar bounty on Thursday. Many FAM
lilies were also visited to a substantial pur-
pose by the ladies of the Relief society. 1t
is a satisfaction to know that much more
was done in this direction this year, and
with the Sunday schools it is especially a
new departure.
THE CHURCHES CROWDED.
Carols and Anthems Heard by Thou
sands--Sunday schools.
The services held at the cathedral yester-
day were attended by very large congrega-
tions. and were of a very solemn and I'M
pressive nature In the morning at
o'clock POntitical mass was observed with