Bismarck weekly tribune., 1888-12-28
MERRY MAKING.
Christmas Eve in Bismarck is Oh
served in the Regular
Old-Time Style.
Many Evidences Of Prosperity and
Happiness and Many Promis-
ing Signs of the Times.
Christmas Trees, Sociability-A Good
Start for TO-Day-A Ball
This Evening.

This Evening.
Christmas Eve in Bismarck
(From Tuesdays Daily.]
AS if waiting to give the people of Bis
Marck and the Missouri slope genuine
Christmas surprise the weather king kept
pouring in the balmy, languid warmth of
spring until all hope of a genuine merry
sleigh bell Christmas was abandoned. There
was much said about q "green" Christmas
and all the old superstitions regarding the
"full churchyard" and general death and
disaster were reviewed. The people of Da-
kota are proud of their delightful weather
and are prone to boast of the perpetual
summer which they enjoy, but when it
comes to having the dust flying in the
streets all of December; when there is
danger of having sun-strokes on Christmas;
when the happy yule-tide is to be robbed
of fluffy snow banks and crystal-bedecked
trees, bereft of sleigh bells and daughter
in the sharp, crisp air''-when these rever-
sails of sacred customs are threatened, the
northwestern heart rebels.
The fear that this disappointment would
fall upon the Missouri slope had become
SO great that arrangements were being
made for base ball games and other out
door sports in the hope of compensating
for the loss, but the weather king was
prompt with his welcome surprise and sent
the beautiful Christmas snow to revive the
old memories and cheer the Dakotans with
the memories of the Old.fashiOned Christ
mas celebrations, when the sleigh ride and
the sssharp, crisp air" were the greatest at
fractions OF the day. The snow came yes
terday morning and the glorious Christmas
the olden time.
Christmas eve in Bismarck was full of
life and joy and generosity. A livelier day
in the capital since the frontier
boom cannot be recalled. Every
business man enjoyed a splendid
trade and the amount of money expended
in holiday goods was convincing proof of
the prosperity Of the country. Many were
the costly and beautiful presents given last
evening and many were the houses made
happy by the tokens of regard and friend
ship received from old Santa Claus.
The chief attractions of the evening were
the Christmas trees at the churches. At
the Presbyterian church an extensive pro-
gramme had been arranged and the attend
ance was very large. The church was
crowded and the young people were in
Claus, Miss Edith Winchester represented
Mother Goose and Mr.. Winchester led the
exercises. Mr.. Winchester read a telegram
from Santa Claus which informed the lit
tie folks that he would arrive at nine
o'clock, and then read another to the effect
that he had lost his reindeers while at
tempting to cross the river but that Mother
Goose had gone to the rescue with canoe
latter telegram was received with applause
as Miss Winchester Mother Goose -ap-
peared in handsomely designed canoe
beneath the tree. The programme con-
sisted OF recitations, music and speeches
and the presents distributed among the
members Of the congregation were numer-
Gus and elegant. The little folks were all
remembered and were given candy, pop
corn and all the Christmas sweets.
At the Baptist church the tree was
equally attractive, and the church was
filled with the maids and matrOns, Youths
and gallants Of that denomination. The
recitatiOns and musical selections were
good and the presents were OF the most
dazzling and desirable character. 1t was
joyous CIlIlSUIudS cvC lOI ulCIlD6fS OF The
Baptist church.
At numerous other places in the city
the festivities last evening were of high
order, and in many of the houses the fam
lily Christmas trees were magnificent speci-
mems of the central object OF a we'll regu-
lated Christmas celebration.
Among the many expressions of friend
ship and good fellowship the TRIBUNE will
be pardoned for mentioning those which
transformed its office into bedlam of en-
joyment early last evening. AS is the
custom with the paper, every one of the
thirty employees was given present and
every married man in the Office was given
q good tat turkey for his Christmas dinner
But before the management OF the Office
could distribute these presents the printers
called the members of the editorial and
business departments into the composing
room and presented them with handsome
presents; N. H;Jewell was given magnif-
icent gold-headed cane; A. N. Leslie was
presented with a gold watch-chain and
charm; j. NJ: Quinn received an ink ST and
unique design, and handsome meer-
Nm pipes were presented to Foreman
.,tr OF the job rooms and Foreman Con-
INF the news room. 1t was merry
to-, in the TRIBUNE office and is men
me $ matter of pride in these days of
col between employer and emplove.
pollghout the city similar evidences of
., leer and friendship were noticeable
- no community etween the oceans has
more cause for rejoicing than this, the most
promising Of all. To-day, the little folk
and the big folk, and all who have been re-
membered will pass the day in exchanging
congratulations, and after sumptuOus din
ners and social reunions the populace OF
frollcsome mood will gather in theAthene-
um to indulge in the invig0rating dance.
The Opium Smuggling Case.
The smuggling case now being tried in
this CITY is one of the most intarastino In