Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
THE BITTER SWEET.
Some Curious Contrasts Of an Ap-
preaching Christmastide
THATISEOT ALL JOY, NOR SORROW.
The Prosperous and the Poor Spend Lively
Saturday Night.
DECEPTION IN PACKAGES AND PEOPLE

DECEPTION IN PACKAGES AND PEOPLE
christmas" she whispered tenderly, al
she leaned over the heavy plate glass case,
Christmas comes but once year." and
she fixed her lovely dear blue eyes on 9
solitaire that could fit no other finger but
the third.
eyes," he muttered, eyeing the stone that
dazzled her eyes, and would have razzle-
dazzled his monthly pittance, "Chfistmas
comes but once year, and guess that will
be about the frequency Of my calls here
after"
What sight Fifth avenue was last night
the last Saturday preceding Christmas
when weary toilers felt they were able to
spend a mite at least to those upon whom
they would willingly have squandered thou
sands. 1t was largely and numerously a
package night, and the. fatal parcel, like a
skirmish line, led the advancing thousands.
Packages objective and packages sugges-
tive, packets large and packets small, and
parcels containing everything above the
earth. and upon the earth and in Allegheny
were encountered in the jam, and jammed
in the encounter.
A peculiar thing about these numerous
bundles was that the poorer the bearer the
larger the package, but little examination
would soon show the cause Of this appar-
ent paradox. Scratch the protruding bun
dies of that weary woman who is jostled at
the corner while waiting for car, and one
will find cheaply painted hobby horse, a
rough winters coat, or perhaps few pounds
of candy.
Then il that proud, befrizzled and be-
furred lady was to exhibit the contents of
her sleek muff the tiny packets would de-
velop into diamond, or lovely jewel of
some sort. Still even an inopportune growler
dare not say mothers love is measured by
the value of gift.
Two thorough Bohemians stood at the cor
ner of Smithfeld and Fifth last evening,
and with lazy curiosity allowed their we'll
dressed forms to be tossed and tumbled
about by the crowd, while they debated
whether the 81 70 in the pocket Of one, and
the appealing vacuum in the stomachs of
both, should be spent for small bottle or
round double steak.
THEY WE'RE HUNGRY.
The small bottle was about to get it in the
neck when the moneyed man stepped to the
curb and accosted an object there that ap-
parently had no mission on earth. It was
up in years and down at the heels; a formerly
red tie apologized but dimly for lack Of
linen, and, as for the Christmas swim, he
wasn't in it. The poor fellow, sick and out
of work, was being pushed by the gay
crowd into the cub, where he belonged
The gambler-for such he Was-rejoined his
friend in moment.
"well, said the latter dryly, "let's have
the drink.
''You must be Fatisfed with something
less than champagne. paid that poor devil
for Christmas present what borrowed
from him one drunken night six years ago."
"Who was he?"
"a barkeeper."
"What did you owe him?"
Zone seventy-fve."
"Busted?"
"BustedP'
Along, toward 9 and 10 o'clock affairs
seemed, TO take more practical turn with
the many purchasers. Packets became
bundles, and bundles became cumbersome.
The markets were actually raided and
shorn of everything eatable, for Saturday
night is cheap night, and game, chickens
and fruit will keep until Wednesday
surely. These practical buyers, too, seemed
to be the most cheerful of all, and no
wonder, for first, and especially, these were
certain Of pleasing the' recipients. No
mis6t, mispurchased, misplaced present
with them, for the beautiful adaptation Of
edibles to any human personality, palate
and praise is something remarkable.
HERE'S LooKIN' AT Us.
And the saloons! how they fourished, and
how they will flourish from now until Janu-
airy 1, when the usual weakened, watery-
eyed imbecile will swear his name to a piece
of paper and ask the Lord to take care of a
thirst for beverage that was never invented
until some 600 years A. D.
Some one or two places were especially re-
for their light, life and brilliancy.
The doubly elongated bars were crowded |
three and four deep, while an extra force of |
white-coated men supplied the whirling, |
dizzy crowd. "The holiday" ""What fun,''
and "We must celebrate, you know" and |
faster and wilder cane the jest and mirth,
while Drowned mill men elbowed sleek-faced |
employers to reach the smiling Bacchus.
And away out in the East End a proud
head was held little lower, and in another,
but lowly cottage, wife's tired face grew
yrayer, and her worn heart was dead, while
both listened Tor step now grown unsteady
Ind for voice now maudlin. And in the
mind of each the very rich and the very
DOOR, there arose vision of lowly stable,
Ind a soft sweet light that played about the
lewiy born who came to save men, and tears
rom the very soul trickled alike through
,ejeweled or poor bare shriveled fingers for
he one who did not come.
Heigho! What jolly time this Christ
mas is.