Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-25
AD0UBLE CHRISTMAS
Two Days to Be Devoted to The
Celebration Of the Festival.
BROAD STREET LAST NIGHT.
Crowded with People and Noisy with Fire
works-Churoh Services To-Day
Present.siaking. &c.


of Christmas this year--a religious anu
for want of better word, what NAV Dc
termed n secular observance. AS the an
,iversary falls upon Sunday, even those
denominations which do not ordinarily
recognize il as a strictly religious festival
will 90 so on this occasion; for in all the
churches the services will bear upon tho
evei't it commentaries. In the Catholic.
Fuiscopal. and Lutheran churches and
IN some OF those Of other denomina-
tions there will be special and elaborate
music. The musical programmesfor these
places of worship were published IN last
Sundays DISPATCH so tho people have
had n week in which to decide where they
will 90. The music IN many instances VIII
be very fine.
Monday will be the secular celebration
n holiday gwen up to feasting, merriment,
ard the exchange of presents. The banks,
nubiic Offices. and schools will be closed.
and there will be general suspension or
business Sunday hours only VIII DO oO-
served al the post-otilce.
THE OLD. OLD STORY.
There can be nothing new in Christmas
observance, either as regards religious, OF
other features. The present generation
will simply 20 over the same road that has
been travelled by many generations ag0ne.
Not one lot or title has been taken away
from or added 10 the story that inspires
4he celebration of the season. IL IS the
saIne yesterday. to-day, and for oil time.
Yet its suggestions are as fresh as when u
was frat told. IL IS a story that makes the
whole world kin, and whose influences
have proved the all-oonquering power.
The rave that boamed from the star OF
Bethlehem ara love, forgiveness, hope,
charity and they have frightened with
the ages. The music that announced the
birth of the Desire of the nations
has gathered cadence and volume as
fine centuries have rolled by. To-
dav these rays penetrate the souls
and this music echoes IN the hearts
OF millions. stimulating even those VINO
do not confess their spell TO goou dseus
and GOOD resolutions. On Christmas more
than on all other days all civilized people
strive to obey the Divine command, Love
one another"
TIE SOCIAL FEATURES.
The social features Of Christmas, which
will be confined largely TO Monday, Will
be family reunions. entertainments. and
Christmas-tree gatherings. In every Ger
man household nearly there will be a
CHRISTMAS tree. and this custom will OBJ
tam IN many native houses. Tonight few
children who have not been disllluslonlzed
on the subiect of Santa Claus Will get
full nights rest. Unfortunate!y, however,
the age is becoming so practical that there
is decided tendency to dlspel the oeilet
IN the legendary hero.
Should the weather prove favorable
number of Richmond sportsmen Will be
found IN the fields on Monday, as 1t has
been a long time since game has been more
abundant.
The Capitol will be closed on Monday
and all the heads Of departments wall re-
main in Richmond except Colonel Marye,
who lives III Ashland. The Governor sad
yesterday he expected TO spend the day
quietly at home.
The Christmas mails have not been as
heavy this year as usual. but the express
people have been driven to the utmost OF
their ability TO make deliveries OF packages
forwarded through the company.
FIRING PoP-CBAcKERs.
No orders have been issued in regard to
firing pOp-crackers, but Major Poe said
yesterday that this matter would he kept
within bounds by the police.
To-day all the hotels Will give Christmas
dinners 10 their guests and special friends,
aud last evening many employers added
something extra to the Christmas bill OF
fare of their employees.
If this weather continues it is very
probably that a good many of the young
people will spend most of Monday skating
on Reservoir lake and the ponds near the
city.
Following the usual custom Christmas
dinners Will be given at the charitable and
Pinel institutions. and at the latter such
liberty will be allowed as IS consistent
with discipline.
COLD CHRIsTMAs-RvE.
Yesterday-the of the great festival
was the coolest day of the season, and the
earth was frozen as hard as a stone. Every
fountain in the public parks was rigid
with ice, and water in the cutters re-
NAMED frozen throughout the entire day.
In the early part OF the morning the cold
was intense. the thermometer at O'Clock
registering % degrees. As the hours wore
on Jack Frost began 70 lose his grip some
what, but at no time during the day was
the weather comfortable, and last night
the mercury dropped again and lowered
around IN the neighborhoOd of "a.
The reservoir was frozen over. but the
ice was hardly thick enough for skating.
The chill blasts of winter penetrated every
nook and Granny in the city and fought
with the very fresldes for supremacy.
Hundreds-yes. thOusands--of merry faces
felt the frosty breath of winter in their
cheek and tinged many nose with roseate
hues almost as bright as the holly berries
which put our cosy homes In holiday at
tire.
But 1t was Christmas-eve-the eve of
the day that comes but once year -
and the public were not to be outdOne,
Many who, but for the disagreeable wea-
ther would have made their appearance
OH the streets fingered at home. but not.
Il n IN q N
ty surged back and forth upon the leading
thoroughfaros. The absentees were hardly
missed.
GREAT CROWDS OF LADIES.
Women of all ages and sizes, heavily
wrapped in their furs and cloaks and bear
ing all manners of bundles, constituted by
far the greater part of the crowd, but the
masculine contingent, with clOsely-b but
toned overcOats and thick gloves, were
also out in full force. Just before dusk
the multitude on Broad street was enor-
nous, and the tnoroughfare was not de-
serted until long after ii O'Clock. Last
night the noises of tin-horns and pop
crackers began TO make themselves heard
and things became quite lively.
There were number OF happy presenta-
tious yesterday, and many of the leading
firms III the city gave all of their employees
useful presents.
REMEMBERED TBEIR EMPLOYEES.
The employees of the Allen a. Ginter.
Kinney Brothers, and Z. Whitlock branches
of the American Tobacco Company ell re-
ceived generous donations, as did also the
operatives of the Chemical Works. the
Randolph Box-FactOry, and other large
firms. Each of the 1875 employees of II.
Rosenberg were well remembered. as were
also those of Mr.. James Noodall. The
presents given by the firms mentioned
above consisted for the most part of candy,
turkeys, &c. One company, who employ
q large number Of hands. demonstrated
their kindness by giving each man a silver
dollar.
Business will be suspended throughout
the city tomorrow. and the public will
surrender themselves entirely to pleasure.
The tobacco-factores, the banks. the
founderies. and nearly all the stores will
be closed, while the great mills of the
Tredegar Iron Works and Belle Isle Will
likewise shut down. The operatives of the
latter establishments Will not resume work
for week.
MUSIC AT RASDoLPH-sTBEET.
The music and Christmas services at
Randolph-Street church tot day will be un-
usually interesting. This morning there
will be an organ voluntary, followed by an
anthem, after which the hymn "Hark
What Mean Those Holy Voices ?" will be
sung. This will be succeeded by the an
them. o Give Thanks" after which the
pastor. Rev. w. L. Jolly. will preach on
The Year and Its Lessons