New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-24
REJOICINGS OF YULETIDE.
GREAT PREPARATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS.
SHOPS AND STREETS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND

SHOPS AND STREETS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND
| MUSIC IN THE CHURCHES.
Christmas IL, of course, the holiday OF the whole
year most looked forward to both In city and country
ihe head and front of that gay season with which
| December Closes n week sacred to good cheer and
merrimeut family reunions, to friendly wishes and
icmembrances The place that 1t has alwaSs held with
ts legends Santa Claus and the birth OF Christ IN
the farcies of children 10 continues TO hold In great
part in the minds of grown-up men and women; moro
secure In this than average church or patriotic
festival that il gathers together In itself the pomp and
dignity and hallowed associations of the one and the
popular abandon, the froc, the enthusiasm OF the
other 1t would be strange il double-sided holt
day did not continually gain ground. Under Its
shadow. certainly within the last twenty years New
Years Day has faded gradually into nothingness
tiresome. humdum space Of rest Thanksgiving Day,
too, has lost something of It's Importance and-pDpu
larty before this gayer festival and In the land
of the Pilgrims, where Christmas vas looked upon as
pagan festival two hundred yea its sttraotivc
ness and observance have grown apace. All signs
point to merrier holiday this year than ever. Ii the
small forests Of green pine and laurel brush that line
the streets; the dazzling shop-w ndows. full OF all
that is brightest and most foucifuI, toys, books,
ribbons. Iaccs highly colored figures in rich stufs,
pantomines and performances the throngs OF
shoppers the sidewalks eager ond jostiing, pouring
in and of he great stores, weighed dowp some OF
them from ont Of town. with bundles-f all these
things count for anything there will be more jolly
Santa Clauses in the chimney, buging stockings
waiting for expectant Youngsters tomorrow morning
than on any other Christmas morning New York has
known.
The big shopping streets uptown, Fourteenth
Twenty third, Broadway Sixth-ave even Fhth-avc,
In part, have been ammed with sightseers and pur
chascrs for two weeks With increasing railroad |
facilities this city IS turning into vast shopping
centre for New-York State New-Jersey and even |
Pennsylvania, and things are running fast toward |
huge single shops and bazaars. Looking up Four
feminist. yesterday from the Sixth Avenue Elevated
station, the sonth sidewalk dense black mass
of bobbing heads aud struggling shoulders as far
the eye could reach Not break. not bit of paving
stone could be just below the crowd wa at Its
scethng point under the big windows Of Macys store,
where the pretty panoramic groups representing
dozen nations slid slowly along their grooves
from end to the other TO the intense delight of the
long suffering buG enrap lured spectators Strung along
the gutter all the up to Filtl-ave and Broadway
merchants OF all sol Is, CRYING their holiday
wares. toys, eewgaws, kn'ck -knacls, decorations,
pine. holly, straw pumes, even mslleoe SAID to be
imported Some OF them were blowing horns or
Whistles trsting their lungs alone. but their
eager yOcierations lost Themselves III the din and
murmur OF the crowded pas cment that oycrpowerng
buzz a vast crowd purposes each trying to
make bis way FORWARD backward, chaing at the
loss Of time and the distance OF his goal.
Twenty -third-st. tess crowded, but the pres
evenly distributed along The shops on
the south sidewalk. and the overflow more easily
into Fiiih-aye. ut Madison SQUARE. Broadway was
blocked u west side between Madison and Union
Squares. where the big fashionable stores close
and the street filed with people again
below tourtcentl-st lar a. he New-l Ork Hotel.
Over III Graud-s beyond che BOWery It was the
same picture OF rushing, busll:ng men and women
a lmost all here with parcels their hands-eager 10
catch the last for purchases before Christmas
actually came. Even among the poorest Of the East
Sders whatever their nationality. great il set
OF display and giftgiyIng to celebrate the
universal holiday. Ne beer 81 Op butchers stall IN
the rhabber districts can Afford TO lie without Its
Christians greens. pines and laurel stretched III les
toons the doorposis or dangling ron the ceiling
and the walls Churches cSeryV here are dressed III
decorations anywhere thar show from the street.
Trinity Church is elnboratcy hung with pine
wreails. crosses, circles and stars lbe pulpit IS
of pine and laurel. but the decorations. like The
interior OF the church itself, sober in tone a
Christmas gas pipes has been built IN the
vestbule. II will be covered with pine and bs ung
With toys Tor the Smdayschoo festival this alter
Grace Church has also been freely wrcathed in
r.e-n long strings oil pine twining about the pillars
and branches OF laurel, Frightened with red berries.
nassed the pulpit, the lectern and the other
points of support within the rail- The gresn VIII be
set Oh with flowers OF all cpors on Christmas Day Az
he Protestant Episcopal cbucnes are beng decorated
10 well many Of the other Protes' ant ones. The
Roman Cathode churches Wall have scrv ces OF course
hut great attempt at display with
lowers aud trimmings has been ade bv any of them
trinity Church, Grace Church. St Marks 81. AIMS,
Epiphany. Christ Church. the Church OF the Sacred
Heart tho Church oi the Holy Iun0cents tne Church
,f the Beloved Disciple, and South Church, Fifihave
md Twenty hrs,-st, haze al announced SPECIAL /
musical programmes Christmas Day. There viii be
abundance OF good music too. in the other churches
EhIcn have rot yet given out Published lIst. u
The Department OF Charities and Correction has v
obtained large supply oil FOWLS, chic ems and II
uricys chiefly Tor the inmates o. the public hospitals Il
md asyums. The orphan asylums 100. and the o
'arious branches of the Chdren's aid Society will
extra good dinners evening entertainments 81
honor the day. These however, do mol all come
N Christmas Day, but scattered through the two III
lays before aud the two days alter The ncwsboys u
,oOttacts and others OF their kind will have tree "
nners various places and chances m the grab-bags
provided by benefcent ladies n usual. 3,
The Trinity chimes will be rung twice on Christmas n
)aY at 1890 a. IN. and y. The following carols >,
y:ll be given Ring Ou the Bells SEE, the Morn -
ny Star Is Dwelling" Christmas Bells are Peang," -
Angels From the Realms Oh Gory " Iiark What "
ounds are Sweetly Sealing" Gory to God in The 81
iighest," and o. Come All Ye Faithful" ~
The Christmas mails this year have been heavier &c
ban ever before. The extra amount OF mail matter "a
ecane notice able weeks much earlier THAI 81
sual. Superintendent Richards estimates the in III
rease at % per cent the mails at the holiday
eason Last year The increase in packages is
specially great, and more articles have teen sent
rom the great drggoo,s stores than in any previous
ear. L
Postmaster Pearson says that the work which is !.
early double that dull times. is performed without -
oticeabie delay The Poet Once will be open early =,
the morning tomorrow, and ouiy delivery will OF
c made. cI
FEASIS FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN 4,
INNER AT THE FLORENCE MIDNIGHT MISSION y,