Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-27
A QUIET CHRISTMAS.
THE DAY CELEBRATED IN A HEARTY
BUT ORDERLY MANNER.
Little Hiiarity and Lots OF Fun-Few Ac-
cidents and Many Big Dinners-
Church Services.
Christmas, 1890. was real old.fashioned

The pleasant weather Of the first half OF
the week was succeeded about midday
Thursday by snowfall, which increased
in volume as night came on.
Long before dark the outer world was at
tired in mantle Of white. making Christ
mas picture complete in every detail.
Aside from the beauty of the sight this
had the effect Of driving from the street
most of the pleasure-makers and greatly
reduced the consumption Of fre-crackers--
conducting greatly to 1.-THE peace and dig
nifty of the Commonwealth"
QUIET DAY.
Comparatively speaking the day one OF
the most orderly for years. There was
small amount of drunkenness. confined TO
a great extent TO boys. There was the
usual number Of fights, only one of which
was any wav serious, a negro shooting an
other man Of the same color.
The bad weather prevented the CUSTOM
ary Christmas fires. only one alarm being
turned in during the entire dav, and that
was in no way attributable to Christmas.
FEATURES OF THE OCCASION.
One Of the humors of the day might have
been seen near the corner of Eighth and
Broad streets about 2:30 Christmas morn
ing. Two little boys. apparently about ten
or twelve years of age, were partners In
big caual-boat horn az least sixteen feet
long. One would walk in front with the
mouth of the instrument tucked under his
arm while Che other would "toot" away
with right good will. They would relieve
each other alternately. No suspicion Of a
smile crossed the face of either. They had
evidently set out with the intention OF
staying up all night. and were beginning
TO recognize the seriousness of the under
taking.
In the afternoon band OF four
negro musicians were taken in tow by a
gentleman from one of the counties.
When FIRST sighted they were play
ing "Sam Jones's March with a
slight mixture of johnny. get the gun
At this time the notes were full and the
men weak for drink. Under the minis
tratious Of the gentleman from - the
men became full and the notes weak and
uncertain.
The keeper of a refreshment-stand on
Broad street became greatly incensed at
that any person who would blow one
in his place was "a thief" The
result of the pronunciamento was the
pitching of one dissenter into cuspa-:
dore, while another was forcibly elected
without the formality of opening the door,
greatly 10 the "detriment and dlshgura-
tion" Of u ground plate-glass.
CASUALTIES.
There was no very serious casualty OF
any kind. although one young man. whose
name could not be learned. was unfor-
tunate enough 70 have one OF his hands
badly mangled by the explosion OF toy
cannon in the nelghborhood OF Seventh
and Broad streets.
Asusual there were n number OF blach
eyes, bloody noses. and bruised hands
arising from the fun" The same playfu
spirit led to one colored boy tapping an
other over the head with a brick, frac
turing bis skull slightly.
Yesterday found no falling of in the an
nual showing of swelled heads" anC
dyspepucs.
ALL MADE PRESENTS.
There was the customary interchange o
seasonable remembrances. The purchase
Of weeks, which represented the saving
of months, changed hands. the numbe
and value of which would be hard TO com
pute.
Santa Claus was the conveyer Of thou
eand9 of these. many were delivered b.
hand. and still others descended to thei
recipients from the time-honored Christ
mas-tree.
OF all the days IN the year Christmas
, the one that eYerybody has plenty of tim
| TO eat dinner. and generally "a plenty Z
| eat. to). Everybody availed himself OF tn
| chance, and the consumption of GOO
things was enormous. Turkeys IN particu
lar were fully represented. Estimatin
that there are II, 900 families in the city q
least 5000 feasted on the fowl. Averaging
! them at seven pounds each. there woul
| have been a total of $4,000 pounds OF =" tn
! bird" eaten, TO say nothing of 'scallop an
| hash TO-DAY and yesterday. The eggno
was not neglected. which fact was atteste
| TO yesterday by numerous headaches.
IN THE CHURCHES.
The cold, threatening weather OF the forenoo
| kept many persons at home. but notwithstaDi
| ing the congregations were fairly large A. al
| OF the churches whore services were held. Mos
| OF the edinces were appropriately decorste'
with holly and cedar. In all Of the Catholic an
! Episcopal churches, where the programme
| published In Sundays Dispatch were execute
| 10y well-traine1 choirs, she music was Joyous an
| Inspiring. Bishop A. n. Randolph preached a
/ st. Paurs, and most OF the other Episcopal pa
| pits were filed by tho respective pastors. 81
| Of the sermons were in keeping with the oc'a
| s,on celebrated and bore on the text OF the day
"feAce AMI good WILL
| The Mothodlsts held their annual Christina
union services at II O'Clock at Broai-stree
| church. A largo congregation assembled 70 hes
| Rev Dr. i. A. Peterson, OF Trinity church, VII
| by appolntment preached the sermon from III
| text :" His Name shall DO called WONDERFUL
| lt was discourse timely Ia theme aud puf
| pose; and tne pothos and powor embraced j
| its elegant delivery were very marked. Tn
| speaker brought out tho wholesome Lessons In
culcsted In the hfe Of Christ tho God.ms
| whose birth W. now celebrate, impressing lore
| bly, upon his hearers the importance OF sific
IN rsyerful imitation OF iiis attrDn'es ana chs'
| acter.
! The music, though not elaborate. was well ar
ranged and appropriate, being under the d
/ rection OF Mr.. \. samuel Jones. OF the laure
Street church. with his former choir OF well
| selected singers. Tho opening anthem was
| sing unto the Lord" by Perkins.
| Rev. Dr. Tudor the pastor, announced tha
/ the Offering on this occasion would Dy comm0
consent be given 20 the Home Tor Aged Womet
aa institution we'll known ~ worthy 81 ali time
| ot hearty support
Tho Presbyterians had no special service. bu
| the Sunday school OF the Third church, Rev.
| p. Cannon, pastOr, celebrated its aDniTersar
| Thursday night The attendance was yer
| large and tns evening one Of great eDjoymeu
/ Prtzes and presents were Distributed. and
| happy address was delivered by Er. J. ID,
sleight, who is very popular as Suaday-scho'
| talser.
The Christmas musical programme will De rc
peated at All-Saints church tomorrow instea
| Of January 4th, as announced Ia last sunday
| paper.
| The Christmas celebration st fmmAnu'
| church mas been postponed on account of ID
| weather until next Monday night, Docember 29Ii
| CHRISTMAS RECEPTION AT Y. N. "a.
/ ihe Young Mems Christian Association hello
| reception on Christmas afternoon. Open hous
/ was Kept 10 all comers. About o'clock the yis
| tors gathered Ia the parlor and engaged la sins
| ing reading, and recitstionA The music va
rendered By the Young Mems Christian Asso,ii
| ton choir. Messrs. Anderson. Moore, and Mic
| recited iD their usual clever style.
All o'clock the company we're Invited 70 ps
take % bountiful repast which had ts'
spread for them.
Mr.. W. Chase Morton, chairman OF tho RtceI
tion Committee, presided over the banques vii
his usual grace, and saw that every one Vas We
supplied and at home.
Mr. G. VI. Wallace, Jr. wss made toastmnsts
for tho evening. Among those who respende
we're: Mr.. W. l.. britt 20 the toast "kichmou
College y: Mr.. +. w. Gardner. Of the Dix
Literary Society, to "0ratory"; MI. w. NJ
Jones To Young Mems Christian Association
After supper an entertainment vas given 10 u
main hall Character imporsonsuons ana roc
tations comprised the programme.
| An enjoyable tme was spent by all preSo
and he Association received high praise for !
oDen-hesrted Hospitality
SUNDAY MEETINGS At 7. n. C. A.
The mems meeting ata p. N. VIII De concus
cd by Mr. George W. Anderson. short speecns
spirited singing, warm Welcome. AL men q