Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-24

90 VII hiSldaS times IN respects
~ not what they were sixty years ago, "
said an old timer to STAR reporter few days
ago, and he continued, "there was fun in those
DAYS. The city when I was boy was indeed
one Of magnificent distances-hke hamlets OF
neighborhoods located in the vicinity of good
water from spring or pump and between them
through the wild growth of brush. tree and
vine meandered q single wagon track. Even
It'll, T and other leading streets were but
sparsely built up. There were less than dozen
churches here in all and they were usually in
pairs. like the public schools. each denomina-
tion having one in the eastern section and one
in the vessern-St- Peters and st. Matthews.
Catholic: Christ and st. Johns. Episcopal First
md Second baptist; First and Second Presby-
terrain; Foundry, Ebenezer Fourth street, and
Wesley, Methodist. The only Lutheran church
then vas the Concortiia. in the first ward.
THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING
''Then the hanging up of the Christmas stock
ing was well nigh universal, and in many
families it was not only the children's hosiery
which on Christmas morning was found filed
hanging ut the mantel, but the stockings of our
parents kept them company. As to what there
was put in them: Well. TOYS were in less variety
and were less elaborate than now. and for that
matter 40 were The cakes and pies, candies DC.
boy for the wooden horse or tin horn and in
the stockings were usually placed an apple,
some ralSlns. nuts and candies, With the doll or
horse or top. But all did not fare thusly, for
In the cases Of those who did not behave we'll
or who showed an ugly disposition their stock
ings would show on Christmas morning a
switch. which they were taught had been
placed there by Bell Snickle,' as Santa Clans
or Kris kingle was then called. and the children
all firmly believing that Bell Snicale,' was a
rpa1r NOR md fhs-Ir ra-ts n a bt
hint the reformation of the youthful delin-
quent wss often accomplished.
CHRISTMAS EGG-SoG.
II have said that the toys were less elaborate
than now. but not SO was that decoction known
as egg-nOg. We made it in those days and 1T
was something to banker after. Everybody
knew it was coming and the boys. anticipating
the pleasure OF the frothy drink. soon learned
that the hen laid the egg and was its friend.
Many time for the few weeks before Christ
mas has the hens cackle called forth the re-
mark. - Suther aig for Chris mus How did
We enjoy Christm2s2 What was the program?
Well, the night before al Ter Witnessing the cake
and pie baking. the children were sent to bed
Such pies! None of your bought mince
meat then. Every family made its own nince
meat then, and. for that matter. excepting the
TOYS. nuts and raisins Christmas things were
manufactured at home. Early in the morning
merry jingle of the fire bells. with the firing
OF the old tirt-lock guns and pistols and crack
ers (for We had them then. but in more limited
supply. &woke u.s. As soon rs half dressed We
had our stockings and were discussing the con-
tents. Then all was impa:ience for the DO ling
of the kettle and the connection OF the egg-nOg.
Everybody drank il and some of our best peo-
pie strict members of tine church. thought it the
proper thing to feel the effects of liquor on
that day.
THE RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE.
SLOW was the religious observance? Well, /
was not old enough TO be interested that way
sixty years ago. but some years after. when,
having no money and not being able Ito keep up
With the procession" with the boys. went to
church. for had no other place to go. 1t was
the proper thing then for the sparkling young
man to ring the door bell of his best girl at an
early hour and go to the early services at
church. Breakfast was of little account that
morning. A cup or two of egg-nog. with cake.
acted as q starter and then the male portion Of
the family would hasten 10 their neighbors and
go through the fofmality of wishing merry
Christmas and samDling the egg-nog, and
when full they would, if they could, return to
ind the stsy-at-home part of the family equally
full. There Is one thing that the present gem
Grafton would not now enjoy.
SHORT HOLIDAY.
christmas holidays were OF txenty-four hours
duration, sometimes thirty-six. The govern
ment employees were sometimes allowed to
-
were expected back on the 18th. Even on
New Years dav the clerks worked up to noon
and then called on the President. So il was
with tn school children as to the HOLIDAYS
But IL w.S noticeable that the most unhealthy
day in TIE year for school children was Deem
Der 70. for but few teachers could make a re-
spectacle showing. Headaches and pains from
oSer-eating kept most of the pupils at home.
The eolored oystermen suffered at the hands
of the boys II those DAYS. especially about
H. l.
the fact that the police did not amount TO much
and the poor colOred man. slave or free. could
not give testimony against a white person. little
or blg Well. the FISHERMAN about Christmas
would eheerfully answer the call of a crowd of
boys, and thinking they had Clipped in their
fps and levys.' would measure out a pint
or a quart might be called. As each one of
the crowd gulped down his two or three mouth
fuls they would suddenly remember an errand
or that ii was time to be in and run off, and
when the cup va- empty 1t would be handed
back and the young seapcgrace would take to
his heels When, however, the oysterman
would chase the boy and the latter be in dan
ger of being caught the bucket would be at
tackled and rather than lose all he would give
up the chase II, however. he still continued
the pursuit some little devei would over,urn
the bucket i upset bucket. kicked it over
once and when | saw how hard the man took it
i was cut and afterward We never lost a chance
OF pursuadlng our parents to buy from him.
But FEW CHRISTMAS TREES
II have said that there were no Christmas en-
tertainments given by Sunday schools then and
there were but few Christmas trees in private
houses. These we're almost entirely confined
To our German citizens then. Lager was then
unknown and the light beverages were ale and
porter at the houses where the Germans and
English congregated, and old rye the favor
lite At the resorts Of our Irish friends re-
member one resort kept by German not half
mile from the court house. He married a
widow with grown children and she was a yery
handsome woman and her daughters as hand
SOME ss she WAS She was quite close in money
matters and when behind the bar would ALWAYS
demand a MP (64 cents) for a drink while
the old man would charge but cents Con-
sequentiy, when one day she was standing on
the top Of barrel pumping ale and the top
gave way letting her fall IL, there little sym-
pathy felt for her He a Jolly old fellow
and years after his marriage he learned
that when he married her she was the legal wife
of another man. Her husband came along one
day and when our German friend learned that be
had another mans wife ON his hands he quietly
talked the matter over to both. and finally of
fered the husband 800 for a quit claim, This
the husband accepted and left. As have said
before, he was a fine old fellow and at Christ
mas time especially entertained handsomely.
SUNDAY SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS.
II thirk have said that there were but few
n anv celebrations by Sunday schools The