Evening journal., 1889-12-26
CHRISTMAS OBSERVANCE
HOW THE DAY WAS SPENT IN
THIS CITY.

weather was that of spring. balmy,
mild and clear was the air, aud the sun
shine was as bright and warm, shining
from sky without cloud, as q fine day
in April or early May. The Oldest
inhabitant of the city has diff
ficulty in recalling Christmas
day, even in his boyhood, so balmy and
spring like. The highest temperature
yesterday was 5S degrees and the lowest
50san average of IS higher than last
Christmas. and so high above other years
that there is no record Of any previous
Christmas Day temperature for compari-
son.
The beautiful weather coaxed people
out Of doors aud they thronged the prin-
ciple streets all day. Market streets,
at times, was almost as crowded as on
Monday or Tuesday. Large congrega-
tions attended the various churches that
held services and worshipped the new
born Christ as they listened with rever-
ence to the beautiful music. Many
men in their anxiety to do the day JUS
tice, visited too many saloons, and the
evidences of good will they obtained
caused them to be overcome with fullness
Of ioy. Considerable drunkenness was
noticed on the streets, but withal there
were few disturbances, and the prompt
and quick work of the police kept the
city comparatively quiet.
The Brandywine Park was popular as
a strolling place during the day, and a
number of freaks Of nature were found,
brought out by the springlike weather.
William Massey and wife gathered a
dozen large full bloom dandelions with
long stems. Park Guard Sullivan caught
a large butterfly which was futtering
uneasily about looking for the dande-
lions.
Riverview and the Wilmington and
Brandywine cemeteries had many visi-
tors, and tributes to departed friends or
loved ones, in the form of flowers, were
laid on hundreds of graves.
The Eighth street electric cars were
crowded all day. People took rides on
them as a novelty, going to the terminus
and returning at once. All thu saddle
horses obtainable were in service aud
many young man has sore muscles to-
day. caused by the unaocustomed jolting
in the saddle. 1t was beautiful day for
driving, and many handsome turnouts
and numerous livery teams span over the
best roads leading out of the city.
The incoming and outgoing mails of
the past three days, were the heaviest
|
From Monday morning to Tuesday morn
. ing seventy-one sacks were sent away foi
, all points Seventeen of them contained
J mail matter and the remainder, package:
: and parcels. Tuesdays traffic exceeded
that OF Monday. Yesterdays outgoing
mail was very light, but the incoming
mail was the heaviest ever received.
( The letter carriers were loaded will
t mail on Tuesday. They had a heavy de
1 livery on Tuesday afternoon and many o
them required assistants. The wes
side carriers carried the bulk At
o'clock yesterday morning when they lef
the post Office each carried two pouche
and had packages tied to hi n with ropes
x Each carrier had an assistant rugged ou
/. in the same manner. The carrier who's
q district is towards Trenton Place had
! eartload Of packages.
The residents did not forget the me
who have been 80 faithful aud prompt il
= the past, but rewarded them with pres
a ents of articles and money. The dealer
\ In Eighth Street Market gave Walter {
! Davis big turkey, and he carried HON
sacks of presents and a good sum 0
' money.
In the Churches.
e All the Episcopal and Catholl
3 churches held services during the da
q and several Of those of other denomins
g tions held prayer meetings The churches
in which services were held were appro
priately decorated with holly and ever
greens.
t Services were held at Old Swede
T Church from midnight ON Christmas Ev
10 until 10 80 o'clock on Christmas mori
a ing. Services we're also held at daybrea
d aud at 10 80 o'clock Rev. Martin T
u Dunlap conducted the services and tl
n choir under William DRvidssn's leader
10 ship rendered good music.
); Bishop Coleman preached at the 10. 8
Y o'clock service at st. Johns The sur
pliced choir furnished good music
q Rev H. Ashton Henry preached I
a Trinity Church at 1890 a. m. Per,
= Pyle, a theological student, assisted
"a the services Good music was render.
"a by the surplicsd choir of twenty fol
ie voices, under the leadership Of organi
Ia T. Leslie Carpenter
I, Professor c. B. Rhoads led the mus
10 at Calvary. Rev. David Howard 2Teach'
s, the morning sermon. Services were al
held in the St. Andrews and Immanu
churches.
At st. Peter Pro-Cathedral holy cor
munion was celebrated as 5 o'cloe
Vicar General j. A. Ly ons preached t
=. - sermon. Bishop Curtis was celebrant
= : the high mass at 1870 o'clock. The
70 s was vesper service In the eveniu
- Similar services were held at st. P,
- rick's, ST.. Mary's, st. Pauls, st. Ann
y. and the Church Of the Sacred Hea'
Il Orchestras accompanied the choirs at
~ Paurs and the Church OF the Sacr
- ~ Heart
az At Grace, Union, Epworth and Sct
~ NJ e. Churchs daybreak prayer meetin
~ no were held. Sermons were preached
~ the Rodney Street Presbyterian, the N
Jerusalum and Scott M. K. Churches
~. 10. 80 q. m.
Ks Several of the Sunday schools he
he their Christmas festival last evening.
IS: Kindness That is Appreciated.
X. The Harlan and Hollinswerth award
ais prizes Of $685. to the apprentices in tn
A employ for merit in their efforts TO pl
ere feet themselves in their trades.
De number Of pea jackets were also given
~, the apprentices.
an William Baedenkopf & Brother ga
~ each of their employees a turkey. So
ne John p Donahoe.
The jackson and Sharp Company
tributad thirty Institute Library tick
a. among its employees.
his The Poor and Unfortunate.
l. The Inmates Of the New Castle
an, received many large baskets Of prov
lT- ,,raca,fo f.rr, f,.fnY