The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-24
DAY BEFORE HRISTM AS.
BUSY, BUSTING, BUYING SCENES
ON TIE STREETS.
shoppers Hard at Work Decorating the
Churches with Evergreeps-The En-
press Companies and Postofhce-daii-
Ing Cif Cards.

preparafion for the glorious morrow. To-
understanding TO the old rhl me-eVef.-
body takes of his stocking, hangs u up IN
front Of the mantel and goes to bed early,
and even the mice, il IL said. keep stIll. Inc
coming lows Of the season peryade the at
mosnher, like the subtle fragrance of
distant flowers waited hitber by genial
winds. while the shopping streets are hlied
with the busy. busting. buying crowd whose
constant chatter rises OF the Indian sum-
mer air. and browns The din OF sireet~car
Lells. horses heels. and vehicle wheels.
E,en those whose belief Tor the lack OF ~
steals from the occasion its religious sisnil-
canoe. cannot escape the influence ana JON
in the general feeling Of good VIII to"ard
all men.
The weather could not be preiiier for
Christmas. though some people, Of course.
want snow and cold. but the latter carry
suffering and solitude 10 so many poor hearts
that the day should receive the heaIJeT re-
ception because of its promised mildness.
Outside Of the shoppers and housekeepeIs'
the busiest people az Christmas are the
postOiice men and thecNpress deliver! men.
True. the letter carrier, make 10 delivery
Christmas day. but they have 10 cohe't
mail and distribute il and get II IN shape
for handling during the sunday hours Of the
dav. The express companies. which some
body once enormously dubbed the sudden
express companies, have been 50 busy
that they had 10 cease calling 1or
packages. and besides were compelled 10
rent extra quarters 80 keep their matter.
Rut express parcels can't escape delivery.
4 cousin may send in a lot OF perlshaplr
Goods from the country. such a pdrcci
MIGHT not be- worth delivering If Kept
in the Office for twenty-four hours.
FAIR DECORATORS AT WORK.
The churches presented a busy scene. In
the orgau-loffs the clOirs rebearscd their
chants aud anthems and Adesie fIdeles,
while the young men and maldens OF the
parish sat around and chatted pleasantly a.
they twined The holly and cedar into stars
and other appropriate emhiems for church
dressing. How many loves have formed at
these church mectingss Probably the first
throbs came when the holly pricked the
Girl, fair white hand. .D0es il hurt yon
much :" gave. perhaps. the hrst intiina-
tion Of the manly feeling that had been
longing FOR a chance 10 say something ten
der. Maybe at one Of these gatherings TO-
night many fates may meet. and hearts De
cementcd and lives made happy or miser-
able. who can tell till the years have
nassedl With such chance happenings OF
fortune and circumstance, i il not hard to
believe that
FIlAII 7 - - A'FH NIN AAANAN Dh- 49, EH
Rough hew them as we may.
AT THE rosTOFFIcE.
Not even under Democratic rule did the
posfoilice ever see q prettlcr crowd OF pa
irons than it had yesterday. All day long a
rush Of beautiful women tnoi a line or "a
stream. women don't move m that way in
vaded the different departments and made
the clerks hustle. The stamp window was
the main I0int Of assault. and when tn
weak. mild hammered man inside had stood
and delivered. according 10 command. the
faiy victor Withdrew and began a skirmish
ire at the drop letter and parcel holes.
The mails are always heavier at Christ
mas than at any other time IN ihe year. ana
they are usually made so by women. livery
riri has a dozen or more friends aud feia-
tiyes to whom she sends the compliments OF
the season i'm the shape of a dainty Christ
mas card. or some little gift. And then
there's the beau or the brother away from
+ home: the married sister. who has gone 10
lands far ~distlnt-all these. besides others.
have 10 be materially thought OF, ana
/; Christmas tide furnishes sthe most oppor-
tune moment for methods of inexpensive
/ remembrance. Many young ladies as tne
time draws near. make up little lists ~
, people 10 whom they want 10 send some
b fhinr. Here is a sample, with the sweet
Q IININNNE = wv tt ~ hA'
Father. new pipe. ChOthcr SAYS I'm 10
+, get one that won't be so horfid aiter1ts been
used sOne timc.)
5 Mother. a new carriage robe. Clhe one
she has looks tacky. ! hate to 20 out VIII
it, 81,
Sister Agnes. a baby carriage. (She said
, she wanted one. send by express t.
= StauntOn.)
D Agnes husband: \ brown silk muller.
/. (send by mail 10 siauntonD
Brother Tom: \ smoking Jacket. go pl
, the store and have IL sent home this eve
ning.)
/, Aunt Mary: \ crochetted shawl. ihaN'
e delivered this EVENING"
Walter. my best Ltau, q mouchoir case
Il made it MYSELF. send 10y mail TINS morn
ing.)
sister sailie, n doll.
Cards: The Misses Bessie 4, Nirgie u
Judith G.. Mrs. Allen u. Carrie l. BESSIE i
Fannie G.. Mrs. Alfred I. III, Edward ]
. Juliet j.. John j.. Il. Mrs. {. u. l.. Name VI
y Mrs. Randolph y. Florence o.. Nellie J.
/ Miss Quescnl cy Is nd To Charlottesville .
- STAYED with her last summer. Gertrude !
= lsend 30 CObhaml. NI.). C0ndit :. (,end Il
Washington. that rrc>er girl tmail so AleN.
andrial. Clarence list zee. SOmtrNille ar
ley. Rosalie ~. and Mary y. something
II artistic.
= Don't forget the pair Of stockings fol
y Eliza, the house giri, and "a pair Of shoes ioi
Mary, the COOK.
u And have Won attended % All this;'
.lndecd | have" the girl replied, rs she
" held mp d pocket-book that looked ike as
, elephant had stamped on H.. This wa
. right well stocked with money week ago..
y STREET WINDOWS.
The gaiIy decorated windows alone CAV,
@ abundant evidence of The happy season, ant
= IL was difficult 90 make ones way through
q the mass 0f sur-ing purchasing humanity
Tonight the crush Will be greater. am,
: many articles will become gifts.
The markets are well supplied viii
turkeys. celery and other auNiiiiaies o.
2 the occasion, while carts could be ioun'
everywhere convenient with beautiful
cedar for decoration and mistlet0e pluckeC
y from the gum frees.
The market houses viii bo. in full blast AL
e day to-day up to o'clock tonight. Their,
will ie no market Christmas day.
= HOLIDAY MOTIFS.
h All the freight dcpots will be closed To-
d morrow. perishablc freight will be deliy-
cred for "A limited time during the morning
al hours mentioned in the advertisement.
The firing of pop crackers AT on near thl
Retreat for the Sick r>t. Lukc's Home dur
Ing Christmas has been forbidden.
ORPHANS DINNER.
The annual Christmas dinner Of the Male
i Asylum orphans will take place December
" 21th. al 3 O'Clock T.. NJ. The board Of direc.
e tors will De present. There will DE interest
i ing exercises and the public is invited Is
Z witness them. Mrs. Gill asks for contribu.
l. tons Of any kind. They can be left ut ans
store. and if she il telephOned to they ear
= be sent for. Boxes for monied contributions
q will De placed at The TINES. state and biz.
= patch Offices. our citizens GENERALLY arr
{ appealed 80 Ia aid Of this annual Oiierin. 81
: the boys Of the Male Orphan Asylum.