The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-27
HOW CHRISTMAS WAS PASSED
a Resume Of the Way the Day Was Spent
In Richmond.
THE MUSIC IN THE CHURCHES TO-DAY.
Religious Services in the Houses of Wor.
ship-Jolly Times In tho Clubs-famiiy
Reunions-Tho Weather.

| hHoiHti hhhifoI hIJ Oh tlo ElcdL Nhii''''"o
festival Of the Nativity has been celebrated.
Ii was happy day for most Of Richmond's
citizens. Besides the religious observances
there were so many happy family gatherings.
kindly membranes Of the poor, the aged
and the sick and 80 many Jolly assemblages
Of kindred spirits. The dag rolled in with
shout; ii left the city with q song. and the
Christmas Of 1891 will long lie remembered as
one full of en- oyment and pleasure.
With the first blue streaks of dawn the aver
age Richmond citizen began 10 celebrate,
| and throughout the merry occasion each one
spent his time rs his tastes, ideas. con-
science and pocketbook would dictate.
| There were happy family gatherings in all
| parts Of the CITY. and among all classes OF
! citizens, and around the mi5,y-topped bowl
| the health OF the COMPANY was quaned ana
the sacred ties of friendship forged anew.
IBEwEATHEE OFT or TUNE.
| The weather was not at all suited 10 the oc-
cason The department at Washington did
not do right by Richmond. for the cold wave
| that arrived here last evening should have
reached the city Christmas eve night As It
| was Christmas day was one Of the warmest
| that has been in Richmond for years. the
mercury continually dancing between 20 and
| 70.
/ very remarkable occurrence took place.
! or rather did not take place, IN the fact that
| during the entire Christmas day there was
not single alarm Of fire. tirecrackers and
| fireworks were set off with recklessness
| that was surprising but the unprecedented
! record refused 20 be broken. and .he tiremen,
! for one Christmas at least. were allowed the
! privilege OF eating their turkey undlsturoed
| and resting by their fresides.
There was but little disorder except by
those who looked too often on the flowing
| bowl and these individuals, when found too
tired 10 navigate were considerably con-
| Quoted to the statiOD-hOuses by the blue
coated guardians of the law. These repre-
sentetiyes OF law and equity were very con
siderate. for it was only after IL was fully
demonstrated t. them that the gentleman
with the Jag could 20 no further that they
essayed 10 put him in a dull, dark cell.
IN THE AFTERNOON.
On Christmas afternoon Broad street was
lined with people. and amid the booming Of
those new-fangled dynamite crackers and the
law-defying tin horn the pretty Richmond
girl with her striking and Jaunty gown,
picked her way 10 the matinee. In most In
stances she was accompanied by young
man. for il IS q well-knOwn fact that few
ladies go out on Christmas day without the
company of some individual Of the sterner
sex.
At the matinees both the Theater and Mo
Fart Academy were crowded.
One Of the boxes mt the Theatre was occu-
pied by the following young mon, the guests
of Mr.. Samuel Bendheim: Messrs Moses
Rose Alexander Meyers and Daniel Whit
lock
At the evening performance Of The
Twelve Temptations another large audi
ence attended and after the first act Mr..
Charles H. Yale. manager of the company,
presented 10 Messrs. Branch and Leath
tokens of esteem from the employees of tho
house. Mr.. Branch was the happy re-
cipient Of a eold-headed cane. while NJ.
Leath received pretty gift in the shape
Of "A gold match box. Mr. Branch. though
taken by SURPRISE responded cheerfully TO
Mr.. Iale's happy effort. and said IN the course
of his remarks that the success Of the Theatre
was in q great measure due to the admirable
aid received from the employees.
At The CLUBS.
At the clubs matters were quiet. after the
ioviai proceedings OF the night before
Christmas. At the Bohemian Club. on Broad
street. open house" was kept until late
hour. and Mr.. George Ives the efficient man
ager of that establishment. served every one
who called with "a most enjoyable repast. The
menu embraced many of The yiands 10 be
found in an Old-fasnOned Christmas dinner
and Nj. Samuel Bendbeim On behalf of the
members Of the club made "a complimentary
speech at the noon dinner. .lle spoke of the
appreciation and thanks due Mr.. Ives for the
successful management Of the club. and paid
Just tribute to that managers ability in the
serving OF such an enjoyable collation..
THE CHURCHES.
The cathedral and other Catholic churches
were we'll attended, especially the High
Mass at st. Peters ut $50 O'Clock in the morn
ing. Between that time and 1890 O'Clock
number Of masses were said. and at the lat |
ter hour Bishop Van de Nyver celebrated
Pontifcal High Mass. Rev. Father Tierney
preached the sermon. The ediiice was pref
tily decorated with flowers and the music |
was brilliant and joyous.
At the Episcopal churches sermons apprO- |
pirate To the occasion we're delivered and the |
music rendered was in excellent keeping with |
the lOyOusness OF the nativity anniversary At |
Park Place and Broad-street Methodist |
churches services were held and attended by
large congregations At Park-Place church an |
elaborate musical programme was rendered |
and Rev. Or. Bledsoe delivered an earnest |
and impressive sermon.
For years past Jolly crowd has been in the |
habit of gathering in the morning of Christ |
mas day at the drugstore of Mr.. Polk Miller. |
on Main and Ninth streets. The same habit !
was kept up this year, and about IL o'clock |
on Friday morning some twenty FIVE or thirty |
gentlemen assembled IN the room IN the rear |
of the drugstore and for two or three hours |
the assemblage had the rare opportunity 70 |
listen to a number of musical pieces which |
gave great circuit 10 Illoee WHO executed them.
There was some very fine singing and ex-
cellent instrumental music. The principal |
singers were Messrs. Polk Miller and L. ID. |
Hotchkiss. The instrumental part consisted |
of performances on the banO and violin The
following gentlemen took part in il: II T.
Miller. violin; 1oney Miller, violin; Polk
Miller, banjo. d. +. Davis, banjo; J.. c.
Davis banjo.
Among those present were Messrs. 81 T.
Clark. W. i. Allen. Colonel Miles T. Cary.
George $. Stokes M Tompkins. Ashton /
Starke. \. NJ. TOmlinsop.
Captain Charles II. Epps held n Christmas
reception at his residence on Marshall street
and number Of city officials and other citi-
zens called The host entertained his guests
most bountiiully and the occasion was indeed
pleasurable
MUSIC TO-DAY.
In number of the churches to-day special
services will be held. while in the Episcopal
and Catholic churches the same musical pro-
gramme will be rendered
At the Grace street PRESBYTERIAN church
the following attractive programme will be
rendered
Morning service: Organ voluntary. March
Midor), Christmas anthem, PRISE the
Lord Porter Hymn a. 'Hark What
Means Those Holy Voices ~ DYKES. Of
fertory. Memories Of Bethlehem" lPorter1
Hymn Y. To Us a Child is Born (HolbrookC
Hymn 49, Around the Sayiour's Lofty
Throne (Schubert) Postlude. "Finalen
(Widor).