St. Paul daily globe., 1892-12-26
MINNEAPOLIS.
CHRISTMAS IN MINNEAPOLIS.

How was Christmas spent in Mime
apolis? Just as Christmas was spent
year ago-ten years ago-a hundred
years ago. Although that is not strictly
correct. One hundred years ago
Christmas was holiday, a fes-
tival; now it is an nsti,u-
ton. 1t has lost in heartiness
and gained in pretpntiouSness. Then
1t was the occasion Of genuine sociabil-
ity; now it is often degraded TO mere
vehicle of display, On Christmas day,
in the old days, the sons and daughters
gathered around the family hearthstone
ard for that one day, at least,
forgot the workaday world gave them
selves up to simple. un0stentaiious JOY
of association of loved ones. They
brought their children with them, if
they were so fortunate as 10 have them,
and lived over again in watching the
little ones, the simple Joys and
mysteries and surprises OF their
own childhCod's Christmas. They
decked out The Christmas
tree and joined in the romps of the
youngsters and told wonderful tales of
good old Santa Claus, his reindeer, his
sledge, his ineXhauStible pack af treas
ures for good children and his wonder
ful ard mysterious dcScenis through
wide old chimneyS without ever fleck-
my his own snow-white beard or tarnisf-
ing his load of bright presents. Atdinner
tho turkey was the center of all atten-
tiOn, and the great dish Oh the table.
After it came the mince pies that only
mother could make. Then enjoyment
Of the ruddy fire, and comfortable, harm
less gossip; and in tie evening nuts,
roasted apples, and cider or home
brewed punch.
All that was in the days before rail
roads and million-hunting. Now the
SONS and daughters are too far away
from home and too busy wifi business
to gather around the home board at
Christmas. The day OF days is
holiday uuder protest. The Christ
mas tree is an ornament,
mysterious bearer OF wonderful fruits.
Except in the homes Of the poor and
simple the turkey has been dropped
down from his proud position of sII-
preme eminence to the common rank of
one of a number of accessories. Too
often the elaborate menu of the big
hotel and the SumptuOuS cafe is accepted
in lieu of the simple home feast and
the Christmas dinner is eaten III the
glare of publicity aid to an orchestral
accompaniment, substitute for happy
laughter and bright faces. 1he young
men and the young women, too far
away from home to lie with their
friends, do not satisfy Their longing
for a real Christmas dinner, but
cloy their appetites with the chefs
cOnc0clions. After dinner they become
bilious and mediate upon the fiat
purse, souvenir of desire to make rs
good showing as the next in satisfying
the geEteel blackmailing methods which
have become q part of Christmas. the
institution, in all cities.
So Minneapolis people. being resi-
cents of a modern city, celebrated
Christmas according to the new dispen-
satiOn. Sunday and Christmas having
been rolled into one by the revolution
of Mother Earth, no one had a reason
able excuse for remaining away from
church. For all the churches held
services, and all services were
given, IN some degree, Christmas
character. In many houses of worship
the ceremonies were elaborate. Nearly
all the Catholic and Episcopal churches
held three services Of them
four. Every churca was crowded. The
Scandinavian churches. especially those
Of the Lutheran creed. were the earliest
opened. Before daylight the Christmas
anthems were rolling skyward from
them, and the rest of the day was given
up to merrymaking.
Old Boreas was kind and plentifully
besprinked the streets with snow for
the sleighing parties. Late in the day
he became altogether too kind. Frost
bitten cheeks and noses testify to it.
All in all, 1t was the Christmas of
every year with all the modern so-called
improvements. AS The world ceie-
brated so Minneapolis celebrated, and
Ndid it as we'll as did any other city.