The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-26
CHRISTMAS IN PORTLAND.
HOW the Day Was Observed In
the City.

Christmas day opened misty overhead and
nasty under foot. Just before midnight
there had been a smart rain followed in the
early morning hours by snow fall. The
snow in turn gave way to rain and the pave
ments were consequently slushy Just after
the hour for morning services at the churches
the skies cleared and the sun illumined the
rest of the day with its presence.
The early mass at the Catholic Cathedra al
and st. Dominic's drew thrOngs of worship
pers, while the ten o'clock mass filled the
churches. The music at both was very fine
and reflected great credit upon the choir and
organists. The published programmes were
fully rendered. At the Episcopal churches
the choirs also rendered the programmes
printed in the PRESS with much style and
expression, and the sermons by the rectors
were appropriate to the day Christmas
emblems and trimmings we're noticeable in
these churches.
At the Cathedral and st. Dominic's masses
were celebrated from an early hour, the last
mass not beginning till 1880 a. m. The
bishop pontificated assisted by the priests
of the Cathedral. He also preached at mass
X.
and tasteful new church presented beauti-
full appearance. This was the first Christmas
mass in the new church. Fathers Murphy
and Reardon, who have been untiring in
their efforts to make this beautiful temple
worthy of the people of st. Dominic's have
been signally successful. At the vesper SER
vice the Rt. Rev. Bishop Healy favored the
congregation with most eloquent and in
structive sermon.
Places OF business were generally closed
and yet the streets had more of a holiday
appearance than customary, for there were
more people out In the afternoon there
was fair attendance at the Stockbridge en-
tertainment at City hail.
An excellent dinner was given at the Aims
house to the inmates by Mr.. and Mrs. RAN
dali. The worthy poor in their wing, some
thirteen in number, were provided with
liberal allowance OF turkey and fixings. and
good dinner of roast beef and roast pork
to the other inmates, who numbered over a
hundred. Christmas dinners of excellent
quality were furnished the inmates of the
Aged Mems and Aged Women's Homes, Fe-
male Orphan Asylum and the jail
Inc First Free Baptist Sunday School had
Christmas tree and concert in the evening
The exercises included quartette and solo
singing, rectations and presentations of
diologue and tableaux entitled Home
Life"
Pine street Sunday School had their tree
and concert, with exercises of very pleas
ant and interesting nature.
There were number of private entertain
ments with Christmas trees.
The railroad trains brought large num-
Der of passengers home to enjoy Christmas
dinner.
In the evening there was dance at Gil
bert's ball which was we'll attended, and the
usual Stockbridge audience listened to the
Symphony Orchestra at City hall.
The letter carriers and express companies
had little rest, for they had their hands full
distributing letters and packages during the
day.
The Knights of ST. Alban Commanderv.
with the knights Of other Communicates, met
at the Falmouth Hotel at noon and renewed
their annual pledges.