St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-21
PAST AND PRESENT.
The Contrast Of Early Christ
masses in Minneap-
oils
With That Of To-Day Strik-
ingly Brought to
Mind.
Some Yule Time Reveples
Of a Sentimental
Turn.
Christmas Jollity Is Not Alone
the Property Of the
Rich.


by a handful of native Americans in an
orthodox and conventional manner.
|. The half-breeds were in the habit of
making the winter season OF feStlvl-
ties, and Christmas week differed but
slightly, in this regard, from any other
week of the winter months. From 1850
to 1860 the history of Minneapolis is the
story of grand struggle on the part OF
its citizens to develop her infant in
duStries and to attain commercial rec
ognition in the marts of the world.
The decade was the most important,
perhaps, in the history of the city. 1t
was a practical era and the utilitarlan
tendencies of the time have left an in
effaceable impression, fondness OF
push and enterprise characteristic of
the progressive people who inhabit the
city today. Christmas obseryances
grew apace with the growth the
town. The chase, and wild
outdoor sports and orgies of the
half-breeds disappeared before the
more refined practices of better clvlli-
cation, and Christmas in Minneapolis
became to be generally observed as
Christian holiday, season of worship
olN ihiONOhO NlhSloiOlis
1t is we'll worth time to pause for
time this Saturday evening, the last be-
fore the Christmas of 1890, on the cor
ner Of Nieollet avenue and Fourth
street, and note ones surroundings and
the moving picture that is happily pass
ing. Evidences of a-high and perfect
ing urban development are about one,
the results of centuries of mental Specu-
lation and the concrete expression of
ideas that stimulated the brain Of act
i've thinkers, before the cross had sup
planted the star and crescent. Com
meFce. science, wealth and poverty ap-
peal 10 the eye. The characteristics of
a metropolis of the nineteenth century
are visible, and yet Minneapolis cannot
be said to be but little more than two
score years of age. The man who built
its first house still walks its streets, hale
and hearty. How the hearts Of its liv
ing pioneers and first settlers must
palpitate with joy on witnessing the
fruits of their arduOus labors, the real
iZation of their most eXt-ayagant
dreams.
The avenue is throbbing with life.
| The brilliantly lighted and decorated
shops are crowded with weli-dressed
| patrons. The markets of the world
have been drawn upon to cater to the
| tastes and wants of this multitude of
buyers who clamOr to spend Of their
| Sustenance. The utmost good humOr
prevails, and there is the suggestion of
| happiness and hilarity in the very air.
| The feeling is contagious. and one does
| not restrain ones feelings from flowing
| outward and mingling with the inviSi-
! bic stream of eXpectant and present
| Joy, whose current ruSheS the thr0ng
| to the consumatiOn of its desires. IN
| consciously one becomes factor in this
| product of varied humanity, tiny
screw in the mechanism that revolves
| the panorama, if not part of the pict-
| ure itself.
An elegant equippage wheels up the
avenue. The vehicle is magnificently
upholstered, and its polished panels
mirror the changeful scene. The horses
are thoroughbreds, and the driver is
| put to his best to check their bounding
| spirits. Richly gowned and wrapped
| women and brayely accoutered men re-
| cline upon the cushioned seats and view
| the passing show. 1t is a theater party.
| A pretty girl leans from the carriage
| and gazeS toward a brilliantly dec
grated shop window. On an opposite
| corner standing in the full glare of an
electric lamp, is a group of young gal
lants. AS the carriage dashes by they
salute the girl and saunter up the ave.
| nue..
A meanly clad woman leading dirty
| Shiyering child by the hand slowly
wends her way through jostling crowds,
| piteously asking for aims. A we'll.
dressed mechanic hears her cry and
deity slips coin into her hand. The
woman turns to thank him, but the fel
low has gone. tits impossible to meas
| ure the distance that stretches itself be
tween the actors in these incidents
The performers are types, the out
growths of metropolitan life, far apart
in the scale of human endeavor and en-
vironment. yet, for tonight, united by
a chord that touched at either end is re
| sponsive along its line.
For more than fortnight past the
avenue has been an exposition universe
and the town tonight is viewing the eX
hibits. 1t is as lively but far more in
terestlng than a Partisan boulevard. L
is indiyidualized. The shops are re
Splendent. The proposition OF one o.
them unbends himself and with graciou,
mien talks this wise to friend:
"'Twill be the most satiSfactor,
Christmas Minneapolis has ever known
not so much for what it is but for wha
it promises. Reflect upon it-all of til i
has been accomplished since you and
were born. | mean our mercantile finan
cial, educational and social Importance
We have kept abreast of the times. Sc,
our mills and mammoth warehouses
our temples of worship and bedecke,
theaterS; palaces of stone and bricl
= and marble; gorgeous hostelre
and oriental saloons, and incom
araln ah f.,
mind and body. Have yor
observed how the manufacturing inter
eSts of Minneapolis have grown durin,
the past year. We will foster and en-
courage that movement. Certainly w
| are tending to great future. Soon W
shall shout vale to the departing stree
, | car. Do you know the establishment o
| rapid transit emphasizes an epoch in th
city's history. The coming of the frs
4 electric car was an episode. Talk abou
moral reform. There is less crime pei
| petrated in Minneapolis than in any cit
of its size and population in the cour
try. The police records and court dock
, | cts prove this statement true. Som
people will quarrel with the administrs
ton of affairs in paradise, but l say lie
we'll enough alone. o, yes, it will be
} glorious Christmas! and tell you, m
, | friend, within twenty years we sha
have population of a quarter of mil
on. Allous."
The city is in holiday attire. Begir
ming with this Christmas eve. 16S, 0C
n will here be more or. less subjected t
the influences of the greatest feast ola
D in Christendom. Gentle, Jew an
pagan will all feel the touch, be
never so light, of the Christ who evar
gelizes the world. The poor shall tast
n of the sweets of philanthropy an
Christian charity; the prisoner shall ne
neglected. In the hours of worshi
0 shall arise incense of the faithful
a., Twill be Christmas for the rich,
Christmas for the poor and Christina
O for the godly and the ungodly. TIL
theaters as we'll as the churches wi
| thror.. oraar thair doorS tho cnIoorc MI