Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-06
A NOVEL CHRISTMAS
MERELY SPENT on THE BANKS
OF THE AMERICAN.
Have Santa Claus and a Grand
Theatrical Jamboree.

EDS RECORD UNION: " Christmas comes
but once a year " is saying that doubtless
has its peculiar appreciation by all classes
in Christendom, bur to few, if indeed, to
any, has it the deep significance that pris
oners attach to it when it is permitted
them to hold a reception to old Santa
Claus in prison, as it was the privilege of
those confined in this institution to do
Christmas, the last day before General
McComb's retiracy, the appreciation in
which the visit of Old Nick is held being
atested by the laudible zest with which
the pleasure of the festive occasion is en-
tered into by the average prisoner. am
prompted to lay before the numerous
readers of the RECORD UEIoN a brief out
line of the features of the day as seen
from the inside of the prison. The exer-
cises opened with divine service at S A. NJ.
conducted by the Rev. NJ. Gualco, moral
instructor OF that institution, as many of
the "penitents being permitted to re-
ceive communion as were prepared TO do
so, after which the gospel of st. Luke IL.
1-20, relating the old, old, yet ever new
story" of the nativity glad tidings of
great joy, peace on earth, good will toward
men, was read, to which, as well as to
the interesting and highly instructive dis
| course that followed the reading, the ut
most attention was paid by the audience
of prisoners. The attendance was quite
large The speaker did not propose. he
promised, TO discuss at great length the
points establishing the divine character
| and mission of the Savior, to celebrate the
! birth of whom it had been our high
| privilege to gather, the facts being too well
established already to render it necessary
| to enter into a discussion of the proofs.
Altogether the discourse was most edifying
and instructive. The choir and organist
| furnished the music during the hour of
! service, the musicians all being prisoners.
| The Father at the conclusion of the service
| referred to preparations that he had OBJ
served were being made to further celebrate
the occasion elsewhere in the prison, by
| the prisoners generally, and expressed the
hope that they should have a pleasant
time without any feature to detract from
| thorough enjoyment of it, and wished the
audience g Merry Christmas
After religious worship, the feature of the
day was theatrical performance given by
convicts, in the spacious hall ordinarily
used as the dining-roOm. While the stage
was being prepared dancing was INDUCED
| III. MS W do LlSdlS Lie
taking the places of ladies in the figures
| were to be distinguished by the absence of
their "head-gear" only. Groups of these
might be seen sitting demurely about on
the benches around the spacious hall, wait
| ing for partners to invite them to Join in
" tripping the light fantastic " in cotillion
or waltz or polka, meanwhile passing
such apparently envious remarks on
passers-by in the dance representing the
| fortunate bellies of the occasion as giddv
| things" or in tones of mock sympathy
calling to another, Julia, your back hairs
coming down." which, to a fellow with a
short crop in his bare head, was so OBJ
viously ridiculous as to provoke nerriment
all around. Thus the interval in which
| the stage was erected and the paraphernalia
! for the various performances was being
arranged passed pleasantly. To speak of
| the theatricals in detail would make this
| article too long. Sufficient to say that the
| performances were creditable throughout
and many of them possessed of merit
| The performance was free" Although a
regular detail of police were present, not
| the slightest disturbance of any sort &C.
| CURED to require the presence of officers
Two colored showmen did well. The "hod
carrier" represented by some prisoner
whose number had not been announced
pleased all present.
| But the feature of the entertainment per-
| haps that deserves special mention. was
| that of discourse by a prisoner who an
| nounced his prison number to be 1,221.
| representing himself to be an Itinerant
Preacher" The burnt cork concealed his
identity, but he was doubtless known to
| the prisoners. He was dressed in ortho-
dox " fashion, and had quite ponderous
volume under his arm, representing Bible,
| but which looked more like Patent Office
report or a Congressional Record. Placing
his book on the little table before him he
opened it reverently" and apparently
began scanning its pages for a suitable text.
He then pretended to read his text, The
American river is the hard = river in
America to cross, - - Ten years III tie s.one
granite quarry at Folsom Prison." etc.
The point in regard to the difficulty of
crossing the American river at this point
will be appreciated when it is understood
that the river here forms part of the prison
boundary line, the inviting hills stretching
beyond. The remarks relating to ten years
experience in the granite stone quarry bore
telling points to the initiated hearers, who
showed their approval of the itinerant
preachers remarks by encoripg him re-
peatedly, till at last, almost exhausted phys
ically, he declared that he had called to
spend only few minutes, but had deter
mined more deliberately that if he was
treated properly he should stay about four
years and butt" as the odd months of
term are denominated by the prisoners.
This brought the house down, as four years
and butt tailed correctly with what
was known to remain of his ten-year term
IN the granite stone quarry. Being en-
cored again he fired his plug hat in the
most unbecoming style, for member of
the cloth, at the audience, and retired for
good amidst general applause The man
ager of the performances thanked the au-
dience for their kind attention, and ex-
pressed in appropriate and grateful terms,