The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-24
EVE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
The Streets ThTOnsed With Merry
going People.

The Last Purchases Made and the
Secret Corners Of Houses Filled
With Presents To-day-The Rush OF
Shoppers the Same as 1t Always Is
on Christmas Eve-Broughton and
Bull Streets Like Carnival Scene.
To-day is Christmas eve according to
the calendar, but yesterday was Christ
mas eve so far as all practical purposes
were concerned.
The streets were filed with holiday
shoppers all day and up to late hour at
night finishing up the Christmas pur-
chases which are to fill the stockings of
the little ones tonight and make 81 ad the
hearts of many, both old and young, to-
morrow. As yesterday was practically
Christmas eve, so today will practically
take the place II tomorrow, com
bining appropriately the day
of rest and worship with
home enjoyment, good dinners and a gen
eral exchange of presents among those
above the juvenile age, especially among
the sentimentally inclined.
1t was noticed by the merchants yes
terday that two-thirds turned more to
useful articles rather than to the merely
ornamental Hard times have taught
some good lessons, at any rate.
CHRISTMAS IN THE MARKET.
The market was place worth visiting
yesterday. The stalls were loaded with
substantial supplies Of every character,
big quarters of beef, launches of venison,
freshly killed pork from pigs roasting
size to 2-year-olds, mutton and veal,
turkeys, ducks and poultry without
end and quantities of quail. The
butchers stalls presented quite a
holiday appearance, with boughs OF
cedar and pine tastefully arranged and
strung with oranges and other fruits.
Judging by the heavy sales there viii be
nc lack of supplies for good living in the
city's homes to-day and tomorrow. In a
large city like Savannah, however, there
must be many homes in these hard times
unsupplied with Christmas cheer, and the
more fortunate should not forget to look
around them for chance to furnish good
cheer where it may be lacking.
JoLLITY N THE STREETS.
The streets we're filed last night with
uproarious and boisterous but good
humored crowds. The young people from
all over the city seemed to have locked
down town to see the sights. Pande-
monium seemed turned loose on Bull,
Broughton, Congress and Barnard streets,
with the babel of voices, the shouts of the
merry-makers, the braying of horns and
the banging of cannon crackers, while
the blaze of rockets and candles filed the
air.
Disorder of serious kind, however,
was rare and the police had little to do
except to caution the crowds by their
presence. Chief Green had a special de-
tail Of police on the principal streets to
Baughn was stationed at Bull and
Broughton streets, where the throngs
were greatest, with police on each cor
ner. The presence of the police had
good effect and their active services were
seldom required.
THE RAILROADS CHRISTMAS.
The railroads carried out large
crowds yesterday and last night of peo-
pie going to spend Christmas at their
homes or with friends in the coun-
try. Large crowds Of turpentine hands
passed through the city during the week
en- route to their homes in North Caro-
lima and South Carolina, where it is the
custom Of many of them who can afford it
to spend the holidays. They will begin
passing bQEOuEU again III january.
Christmas falling on Monday means
two days holiday for hundreds of people.
General work will not begin until
Tuesday, when business will again re-
sumo full sway, Christmas is always OBJ
served as holiday in Savannah. Many
business houses will not open at all that
day and the majority of the retail estab-
hshments will only open for few hours
In the morning
The afternoon and night will be gem
orally given up to celebration Of the day.
The usual holiday hours will be observed
by the postotfce The money order reg
istry and stamp departments will be
closed all day. The general delivery
window will be open until 10 o'clock a. m.
The mailing department will be open as
usual. Carriers will make the usual de-
iveries and collections up to 10 o'clock
a. m.
The custom house, the court house, the
city exchange the cotton exchange, and
the board of trade will be closed for the
day. Bay street will be almost as quiet
tomorrow as to-day. The banks, of course
will all be closed.
FIREWORKS TURNED LOOSE.
According to all reports, last night was
only preliminary showing of what the
younger element will do tomorrow night
The boys have thousands of barrels saved
up, and the dealers in fireworks report
very heavy sales. Fireworks are cheaper
this year than ever before, and the guam
titles Of fireworks sold ought to give un
limited pleasure to the boys this week.
One firm reported last night that it had
almost closed out its very large stock OF
fireworks. II did not have a single can
non cracker left. The boys used their
barrels sparingly last week, but the full
blaze Of glory may be expected to burst
forth tomorrow night.
PRETTY SLICK THIS.