Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-26
THE CITY'S CHRISTMAS.
PEOPLE GENERALLY STAY AT
HOME AND EAT TURKEY.

--
A Quiet Day Quietly CeIebrsted-The
Services in the Observation-Disclosures
of children Made Happy by santa
Reu1embered-scenes in the Streets
The Ulumlnations and Fireworks.
Christmas, 1886. has come and gone.
A queter Christmas day was never
known in Savannah. The streets--for
there the appearance of things, barring
an occasional unsteady step and now and
then feeble cheer or a song-were more
like Sunday than any other day. The
weather, after the rain on Friday, prom
ised to be on its good behavior. and the
prom Sc was well kept. The air was cool
and braclpg. 1t might have been called
a green Christmas In the North, but it
wasn't here. 1t was just the sort OF
Christmas day that everybody seemed to
thoroughly ENJOY.
IN THE STREETS.
TIE grocery stores and toyshops and a
few retail houses were open during the
forenoon, but most OF the business places
were closed except the saloons. and, as
usual, they did rushing business all
dav. Turkey and salads were on every
sidebosrd and free lunch urter, and
what was left last night were toe dishes
and heaps of tangled bones. Christmas
cheer was the cause OF many unsteady
legs and a zigzag walk later on III the
day,
After the morning church services were
over and during the early afternoon there
were few people, comparatively speaking,
on the streets. Most of the festivities
occurred in doors.
THE FESTIVITIES INDOORS.
After the busy rush Of weeks past
everybody was glad to stay at home.
The few that we're abroad did not forget
that there We're many to whom Christmas
does not bring bundles filed with many
gifts and the kindly membranes of
relatives and friends. The poor were not
forgotten. Distributions OF bread, meat,
turkeys and soup were made all over the
city, and hundreds of hearts were made
glad by the thoughtful remembrances of
the charitable, whose good doing will
long be blessed. In some OF the churches
the collections were for the poor and the
plates were loaded.
HAPPY LITTLE ONES.
Thechildren of course enjoyed the day
most of any one. In hundreds of homes
they were the first risers and, having eX-
amined the hundred and one presents
they received, were ready for a days
Iroic. The squares were full of bright
faced, merry little ones, with hearts as
light as their faces were bright and hap
pY In the afternoon the park was
thronged and everyone carried some ia
vorite gift. The small boys patriotism
was I'm oou nded, and with pockets stuffed
with peppers and tOrpedoes, he sailed
out early and made day oft.
THE FIREWORKS DISPLAYS.
As soon as it was dark bon6res were
lighted in the squares south Of Liberty
street ard were kept burning until mid
night. The displays of fireworks In some
of the squares we're more extensive than
have ever been seen before on Christmas.
The air was filled with rockets and
Roman candles and the ground was COW
ered with peppers, Chinese bombs and
torpedoes. Pulaski and Chatham squares
bad the principal displays in the south
western part of the city. In spite of the
ordinances forbidding the firing of
crackers north of Liberty street and the
vigilance OF the police the patriotic
residents of that part of the city managed
70 get rid OF their patriotism by now and
then bonfire or a discharge Of rockets.
More arrests were made north of Liberty
street than in all of the other wards
together. They we're mostly for violating
the fireworks ordinance.