Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-25

4 0R0wL ABOUT TIE CNsEASoNADLB AND M
CLEMENT wEArHKR-NANY PEOPLE WENT TO
CHURcH-sASTA CLAUS VISITS THE oHupRIN's
HOSPITAL, THE SEwsBoYs' HoxR AND TIE
ORPHAN AsYLUMs
For those who like to imagine that they are
in London when they are actually somewhere
else. especially in the United States, the
weather today must have been extremely
gratifying. 1t also enabled their imagina-
tons to take a rest. which certainly was
quite boon, as any mental effort is popularity
supposed to be quite q severe tax upon people
OF this kind. However, everybody, Anglo
manias and just plain, everyday
American citizens alike. lived and moved
in an atmosphere that was damp and chilly.
Lowering clouds charged with moisture
held IN suspense hung over the city. The
pavements were moist and sticky, and il the
fog was not as thick as it was in London
recently it was not a very attractive garment
for nature to wear on the holiday when people
are supposed to be joyful in q rather demon
strative sort of fashion.
THE CELEBRATION WENT on.
Under this pail Of gloom, however. the citi-
zens of Washington managed to spend pleas
ant Christmas.
The advent OF the day was hailed and well
coined usual by the blare of the tin horn in
combination with the lungs of the small boy.
He was up early, and it may have been no
ticed that usually on Christmas morning the
small boy is up betimes; is the small CIR, and,
in fact. pare the children of larger growth, for
one reason or another. At any rate the city
wakes mp early on this festal occasion and the
citizens proceed to rejoice.
1t seems as if it would be better if nature
was more in accord with the feelings of the
human race, but somehow the two do
not always work together in harmony,
and so it has come to pass that
as ysa il. GT 5s quite
glorious sunlight, when the air seems
to be full of life and animation,
are quite as likely to mark occasions
Of mourning and sadness. The weather today
is evidently one of the instances where man
and nature do not entirely harmonic.
GOOD DEAL OF PLEASURE.
However, in spite Of the depressing face
Of nature and her frowns il not her tears, the
people Of Washington seemed very generally
to get a good deal of pleasure out of the
is largely q holiday Of the home. The interests
and pleasures Of the day center in the family
circles which is made as complete as is
possible. and when mutual affection serves
to heighten the ordinary intercourse
Of life, the spirit Of the dny, which is to make
sohiC ouo AoPPyt AHos AbS OSos SApRcooloA Al
the home.
THE RELIGIOUS oBsERvANcEs.
The religious phase Of Christmas was recog-
Episcopal and Lutheran churches of this city
In the Catholic Churches an early mass was
celebrated, as well as one at IL O'Clock,
and it was at this latter hour that the services
In the churches Of other denominations
were held. The programs of music
that had been prepared with SO much
care by the various choirs was listened to by
large and devout congregations, while the
tracery OF green that ran around pillars and
marked the curves Of arches and filed
in the spaces Of affairs with q rich
color Of green fresh from the woods formed a
an event the most joyful in the calendar Of the
Christian church.
NOT MANY on TIE STREETS.
The streets in the business section Of the
city were pretty we'll deserted and the closed
stores indicated how generally the holiday was
being observed. The saloons were, Of
the regular patrons were entertained
at the expense Of the proprietors. Christmas
hilarity that has q liquid inspiration as q rule
terminates in the police station and no doubt
the Police Court in the morning will have its
usual grist of cases.
Inc Chudren'S HOSPITAL.
Santa Claus did not pass by the Children's
Hospital last nigh. while making his
rounds. If he had some seventy-fve little
children would have been bitterly dis
appointed when they awakened this
morning. That would have been pity, for
many Of them have been born to q life Of suf-
fering and they ought to have what little pleas
ures are possible for those whose bodies are
racked with disease and pain. Santa Claus Of
oAv,ff anfv x,taa t,kkf,
ones, for it is we'll known thst he would rather
bring JOY into such lives than add to the full
ness and completeness of the lives OF those
who are endowed with health and all the coed
things of this world.
So the little ones hung up their stockings
last night and went to sleep with the implicit
faith that the good saint would surely pay them
a visit So he did.
THEIR LITTLE STOCKINGS FILLED.
He passed through the wards of the hospital and
dausing at each little bed he filed the stockings
with the things that delight childs heart. Per-
haps he paused long enough to look upon the lit
tie faces, some of them worn and pinched from
weeks Of suffering on beds of sickness and if he
did his jolly face must have shown the great
compassion which surely filed his heart
The scenes this morning in the wards of
the hospital were much the same as wit
messed in any properly conducted household
on Christmas morning, only the Joy
was not quite SO bolsterous. For the
time those that were suffering mn
have forgotten their pains and those who
were nearing convsiesence expressed their hap
piness in the bright happy tones and laughter
of childhood 1t was a very happy hour in the
Children's Hospital, the waking hour this
Christmas morning. and the members of the
board of lady visitors, who were in the conf
dence of Santa Claus. no doubt are Just as happy
the little ones Christmas at the Children's
Hospital don'tend so early in the day. This
morning the children received what thew es-
pecially expressed a wish for, as all good chill
dren do whom Santa Claus visits.
TREAT THIS AFTERNOON.
But this afternoon the board Of lady man.
ayers have arranged a treat for the children.
They will all be invited to the play room, and
all who can leave their beds will be there. Every
window in the room will be closed and
the curtains closely drawn and the gas will be
lighted. Right in the center of the room,
glowing with light and color. win be the most
beautiful Christmas tree. 1t will take the little
ones a good while TO see all the pretty things
that are on the tree, but there is no doubt that
each one will make an exact inventory and il
you go up next week or next month
or even later the children will be able
to tell you all about the tree
Then in one corner Of the room and in fact
all around the room were wagons and all kinds
OF toys and these were distributed TO the chill
1rep ba rbidran and toll ha;r