davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24

There will be no steamer from either
West Point or Baltimore via the YORK
River Line, either Christmas day or New
Years. This is done In order 10 give
employees their deserved holiday.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24

church: a special musical programme has
been arranged. Shout The Glad It'd
ings." by A. ARSON. GLORY To God In
The Highest by II. +. Daubs Subject
OF sermon will be THE Great Christmas
Gift"
Night service: special music Gracious
Spirit, Love Divine" by X. A. Lewis.
Lslgh-street.
At Leigh Street Baptist church. Sunday
night. the services will be especially APP
propriate 10 the season. The programme
is as follows:
Organ preude.-"Variations on Jerusa-
lem. the Golden" Spark. Voluntary BY
the choir" Magnify Jehovahs Name"
Hayden. Scripture reading. Luke II: 10.
Hymn: Joy to the World" Prayer. Of
fertory Beautiful Star" by male quar-
tette. Sermon by Pastor. Text: GLORY
TO God IN the Highest, and on Earth,
Peace. Good Win to Men" Voluntary,
GLORY 70 God in the Highest" Haydn.
Doxology. Benediction. organ postlude.
in G, Whiting. Leslie L. watson. organ
ist.
Grovs-Avenue Bapls Church.
In addition to the regular hymns. the
following selections will be sung at the
Christmas service at Grove Avenue
church.
Christmas carol. "In the Temple. Sang
the Children" Main. To be sung by forty
children. "Sing. o Heavens" Danks
Upon a Starry Night" Mosenthal
"Hark, the Angels Singing" Holden
unto Us a Child Is Born" Dudley
Buck. Ring out the Bells" Mosenthai
The following compose the choir: Mrs.
Vara Winston, Miss Miriam Pitcher, Miss
Minnie Gibbs. Miss Retta Gibson, Miss
Ella Bryant Mr.. II. l.. Taylor, Mr.. II.
c. Sims. Mr.. John 5. Harrison, Mr.. L. ;.
Dobson, MIR. l.. II. jenkins. organist and
director.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24
ATrensnred Volume.

There was day when ] tried 70 be
Ileve that Santa ClaIs came down the
chimney. but although 1 was bat 81
or seven years Old / was very sceptical
rs 20 the story about his enow-siedge
reindeer and bells. 1 never heard the
bells. however long ] kept awake. one
OF my earliest-remembered Christmas
presents was "a History of the United
States. fairly we'll illustrated. ana !
frcBfure the volume yet among ouher
"'N'" 1,cr.tstf COCK
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24

vas brought mp a Presbyterian, in
the Province Of Ulster. Ireland. We had
no religious services FOR Christmas-Day,
and no marked festivities The mind of
the Presbyterians was in strong react
ion against the combination Of tradi-
tioDal devotion and Of dissipation con-
nected with the day The feeling was
that man-made holidays OF rehglous
tvne operated AGAINST true Sabba;h-ob-
ssrvance.-recarding which they had
stroug convictions. If questioned on the
natter enc of them would have said: IF
Il had been intended by the Creator that
the day was to be kept holy, the Bible
would have mentioned il, and there would
be no doubt about the date Of our
saviours birth"
II viii be seen, therefore, that I have
no special remembrance Of the FIRST
Christmas-D Day."
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24
ThePoet Train.

Father-Mother-thre sisters died
In New Orleans ere / was -Four.
No Xmas on that southland shore,
In Water-Grave of River Tide.
Alone they sent me TO the North,
To far away Ancestral Home.
From yellow Fever's stricken South,
A little orphan Boy, alone!
In Waltham, In TheOld- Bay-State.
on Farm. -Four miles from Town away,
never had a X-mas-Day,
Nor Toys, nor Santa Claus Playmates'
New Engianders Con Goldfish Balls,
And Baked Beans, Brown Bread, jam
bOrecs)
Had no Xmas in old Time Halls
In my BOyhoOd. among old Trees,
Where Winter Snow covered Stone Walls,
GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24

My earliest recollection Of Christmas IS
in the old farm house where my brothers
and myself eagerly watched for the first
movement or sound I'm the household. 10
bounce out Of bed and see what Santa
Claus had placed in the stockings hung up
by the chimney place the night before.
Mingled with these surprises was the
teachings of a sanity mother re-echoing
the angels song Of Peace on Earth, Good
Will to Men"
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24
other Commitiees.

The Committee on Cemeteries met yes
terday morning In the Council chamber
and signed the pay roll OF the department
20 enable the employees TO draw their
salaries before the holidays.
The Committee on Streets will meet
I'm the City Engineers office next Saturday,
December 90th. at +. NJ, when the
Eighth street tunnel matter Is to be final
ly disposed Of.
At that meeting bids will also be open
ed for the laying OF new brick pavement
repairing and relaying OF old brick pave
ment setting OF curbing and tagging
furnishing Of cement. inlet stones, iron
frames and covers to inlets, sewer pipes
and branches. The contract for the tur-
nishing Of fuel during the next three
months will also be awarded on that oc-
casiOn.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24
A. r. sPoFFoRD.
Before the Footlfgh's.


Christmas Il was nearly FIVE years old
was the day Of my first appearance on
any siege. IL was in Cheltenham Eng
Land. ard I was TO dance that night be
tn cen the acts Of a Christmas pantomime
in which both my mother and father
took prom inent Tarts. That event-to me
OF course. a wcignty onc-was all alb
sorbing iE our home. and the Christmas
Tree, with lbs PERCUSSION Of hOlly-bsrries
a. their brightest scarlet. had less OF
. charm 20 me that Christmas than IL
has ever had since. For was l not 80
wear a fairy's dress that night-tO carry
o fairys wand, and had / not tip-toed
every day FOR many days at my mothers
dtetter 10 peep at a pair of gilded shoes
/ was TO wear that night? / can we'll
remember the glare OF lights as / ran on
from the entrance and the applause, out
Il compliment 90 my mother, who was
a great favorite, ny first attempt no
dancing. aud my running back - the
entrance TO be picked up ard given a kiss
OF approval by my mother. The pass
Ing wears have destroyed many illusions,
but that night was a real triumph for
PATTI ROSA
CoioradoS Governor and Wis Playmntcs.
My birthplace was jamestown, New
York in 1895 jamestown was then
small village settled principally by New
Englanders. Ny parents were Vermont
era by birth. Puritan by religion, and
were among the pioneer settlers Of West
ern New York. then called THE Holland
Purchase" In the early days there was
no Episcopal or Catholic church at
Jamestown, and. though there We're doubt
less some families in the village who rec
0guized Christmas in the way OF dinners
ana gifts. there was no public religious
observance Of this holiday Thanksgiv-
Ing Day took the place Of Christmas. not
only for public exercises, but for gifts
aud family reunions. ! must have been at
least nine years old. before L personally
participated In Christmas ceremonies Of
any kind. except upon the anniversaries.
10 wish my friends "A Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year"
The FIRST notable Christmas event which
/ remember IS. that a playmate about my
ago. BY the name OF Albert Pier, whose
parents were UDiversalists. hung up his
Stockings one ChristTlas-EVe. and the
neat morning found them crammed fun
OK oats Albert was very indignant. and,
5natcldng the stockings from the nail
Where they hung. he slashed them around
snptying the oats all over the kitchen
noor, but his anger was appe&sed when
ne found a couple OF silver half dollars
.ao boon concealed among the oats. Now
1.s wss In 1884 long before the pestilent /
ss~ss-pu8 and Eoh-bug were known. and |
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24
JOHN HALL.
Til. Librarian OF Congress.

The fact IS never had an early Christ
mas. NV father was Of the old New
England Puritan stock, all Of whom re-
earded Christmas celebrations as SAVIOR
ing OF Romanlsm or Episcopaliauism SO
we had no Christmas. but only Thanks
giving. -.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24
AWARDING CONTRACTS.
The City Advertising Goes 70 the state at
the Rate OF Twelve Cents an Inch.

The Committee on Accounts and Printing
met I'm the Council chamber yesterday
afternoon TO award the contracts for the
ensuing year. The contract for advertis-
ing was given TO the state, at its price Of
twelve cents per inch. The contract for
printing Of books and pamphlets was
given 10 Mr.. c. y. Williams, and that for
job printing 20 Messrs. J. w. Randolph
& Co. The award for book-binding and
blank books was referred to a sub-com-
mittee consisting OF the chairman, Mr..
Mcdowell, and the secretary, Mr. oodson.
The same action was taken IN regard 10
the awarding Of the contract for sta
tiOnery.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24
LOUISE IMOGEN GUINEY.
"My Country. IT'S of Thee. &"

The first Christmas within my recollec-
ton must have been in 1872 when / was
four years of age. Il was in the city,
then the town of Boston, when Boston
was diminutive metropolis; the next
following census gave 1t but 42 00) inh3bi-
tarts. Christmas in those days was ce.e-
bra ted I'm the Puritan city almost solely
by families attached TO the Episcopal and
Roman Catholic churches. and sparinely
by the MethOdists. There were, If
remember correctly, but two EPISCOPAL
churches in the town, one Roman Catholic,
and one Methodist. The people OF the
town generally took no notice of the fes-
tival. As a day of joy and Of presents.
it was destined 10 wait many years.
was born near Christ church, I'm Salem
street. and 1 well remember how the
chime Of bells from December 1st, till
Christmas, and afterwards till New Year,
used to ring in the day by changing
noise every evening The object seemed
to be simply to produce sound by striking
all the seven or eight bells at once.
several times between dark and nine or
ten o'clock. On Christmas-Day the old
North Christi church, profusely orna-
mcnted with evergreens gathered a
crowded congregation and the changing
bells sounded for some time before the
service and also at the close. People
who depended on their Thanksgiving tur-
key usually doated on their Christmas
goose. Presents were not, as a general
thing, exchanged, and the day found but
slight celebration. On December 3lst thu
clangor of the bells continued till mid
night. after which three or four sweet
Psalm tunes were played, ringing the
old year out and the New Year In. as
i'm the parish churches in the mother
country. We read I'm English story
books of the Christmas-boX (gifD, but
most children knew nothing of such
celebration of the day.
Happy are the children, of whatever age
OF these modern times, to whom the day
is made happest in all the year
SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24
(MRs) FRANK LESl
A.To Cnrdinnl GIbbons.

The earliest reconections Of the Car
dlpal about Xmas are that he looked
forward 10 the day with liveliest anIici-
patton OF Joy and pleasure. And doubt
less an element OF that joy and pleasure
was the knowledge Of the extra amount
o. goodies" he would get.
c. II. THOMAS. Chancellor.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24
A Magnolia Xmas.

M, first Christmas as an infant. was
paseed at Albany-a very cradle or the
American pleasures Of st. Nicholas among
Dutch settlers; but the first Christmas OF
which / have childish remembrance, was
passed in New Orleans. to which my par
ents had emigrated / hear now the merry
chimes of the Cathedral as the colored
nurse entered the bedroom with an arm
ful Of toys and knick-knacks.
''These we're am too much little Massa-
for TO 90 In we're stocking-not even in
such big one as my old man Peter wears
over his broad shins.
Never a Xmas has passed without my
seeing again and again the wealth that the
dusky Santa Claus heaped upon the cover
lid white as the hoar frost that outside
threatened the late sugar cane ana
oranges. Chief among the gifts was
tin locomotive and train Of tin cars. FOR
railroading then was a novelty; and
French top. which as II spun was sup
posed through a musical arrangement in
side 10 hum a few bars of the Mhrsei liaise.
How merry the dusky Santa Claus be-
came. and how her white teeth beamed as
she answered nv query did she come
down the chimney" with a ito be sure
honey-sure as Massa gave me gold half
eagle-and don't yer see how the scot has
rnade me blaelSer than everT'
Had / not gone to sleep dreaming OF
Dunder and Bitten. recalling the rhymes
they had read 10 me, then recently writ
ten for 1.-THE Night Before Xmas" by
one Clement. the son Of Bishop Moore?
Did I not then, and there qualify my
childish fancy to finally lead me to a life
membership OF New Yorks Saint Nicho-
las Society," Have l ever forgotten that
first Christmas dinner at the plantation
house OF an uncle, not far from the Cres-
cent city. on a Plaquemina bayou-the
SPANISH gombo soup, the Barrataria oys-
ters. the caribbean pompans. the Lake
Ponchartain trout. the Kentucky ham, and
the desert Of candy made Of fresh planta-
ton rnolasses In which were imbedded the
spicy kernels Of Pecan nuts freshly gath
cred? My library then and there began
with q book by the great juvenile writer
OF the day. "Peter Parley"-a Boston
Goodrich, who even realized In life that
name. Would that could live over again
the remembered Joys OF that first Xmas
or again sink 20 sleep 70 dream that
seated In the sleigh OF Santa Claus l
was being driven along the frozen milky
way In the heavens above. That childish
Merry Christmas OF 1877 well belonged TO
the then ERA Of good tseiing'' ccnsecrate
The morning call., 1893-10-02

had better have drink on the subject.
just then Mr.. Chase drove up to the saloon
in his buggy and in,isted upon Andrews
going to the Morgue with him.
Andrews had not LETT the Morgue more
than an hour when hin brother George xp.
peared. He took a lod1 at the corpse and
burst into tears. calling out, "Rene, Repe,
my poor brother" Stik sobbine and cry-
Ing he made his way to the Coroner 8
Office and wanted an Undertaken sent for
at once. He was ASSURE that the body
was not that of bis brothu, but that only
made him angry. Even after being told
that his brother had callel at the Office
about an hour before to prove that he was
not the dead man he would lot believe ii.
and left the Office to hunt up an under.
taker.
Deputy Coroner Carew id not know
what to do. as George seemed determin ed
to have the body, and he taephoned to
Mr.. Chase to send Rene to The Morgue
again. About 3 o'clock Rene. and Mr..
Chase's son appeared and waited for about
an hour for Georges return with the un,
dertaker. But as he did not return Rene
was induced to write him a note telling
him not to fret. as he was still alive, W hicli
it was hoped would convince hin of his
error.
The brothers had not seen each otler for
two years.
The unidentified card Is again halglng
on the wall at the head of the corpse.
The morning call., 1893-10-02
TUTOR IN FRUIT.
A South African Studies
Horticulture.
The Government of Cape Colony
Sends a Commissioner to Learn
California Methods.

]. B. Cillie, special travelling agent for
the Government of Cape Colony, left for
his home in South Africa last night, after
spending SIX weeks devoted to horticul-
tural Investigations in this State.
Il was sent to California" said Mr..
Cilie just prior to his departure, ito look
into your methods of raising fruit for the
subsequent instruction of far mers OF the
CAPE You know the climate of South
Africa bears a strong resemblance to that
Of California. Yesterday and to-day give
a fair idea of the temperature in j Johannes
burg all the year round. We are not sub
ject, however. TO the cool spells OF San
Francisco and we get our rain en- tirely in
the summer. The winters are invariably
dry.
"Fruit-growing has been much neglected
at the Cape. Nothing in the line of citrus
culture has been attempted, except In an
amateur way. A few orange trees have
been grown in gardens as curiosities. They
have borne fruit so well that it Is evident
that orange-growing on large scale would
prove profitable. Accordingly the Premier
of Cape Colony commissioned me to visit
California to study fruit-growing," and
Mr.. Cillie exhibited red-sealed credentials
from his Government.
IN my Investigations / have visited
twenty-five counties in this State, in the
course of which, travelled 1000 miles, back
and forth. / have taken practical instruc-
tion in pruning. grating. budding and irri-
CATION, and believe myself competent to
manage an orange grove. Through your
State horticultural officers l have secured
seeds of all the varieties OF oranges, lem.
ons. figs. apricots, peaches, pears and
grapes. [ have also procured quantity
Of Horticultural implements, such as prun-
ing knives and shears and dryers for the
preparation of fruit.
Cape Colony is growing rapidly. and
with its increase in population the Govern
ment desires to secure correspondingly
greater production in natural growth.
Cape Town now has population oil
100000. two electric railroads and foul
daily papers. l think the country pre-
sents nnrivaled opportunities for young
man -
The morning call., 1893-10-02
TO HAVE A HOME.
Argonauts Will Provide
for Their Old.
Plan by Which Their Needy Mem.
bers May Be Cared for During
Their Declining Years.

The Argonauts of California, society
which was organized by nine pioneers on
Admission day, have added new PROPOSE
tion to the enumeration of purposes for
which the association was formed. At
their last meeting the gentlemen present
adopted an amendment to their constitu-
ton calling for the building and main
tenance of "a home IN which aged and
INDECENT argonauts may spend the even
ing of their life free from worldly cares."
The president of the Argonauts Edward
Holland, proprietor of the Commercial
Hotel, explains that, after the "h ome"
has been established its running expenses
may be considerably covered in the follow
ing manner: In the event of members
death the sum of 500 is to be given to his
heirs as a death benefit, but 10 case: OF an
old bachelor who has no body to take care
of him, he could be cared for In the
"home" during his declining years, and
when he died the 500 could be turned
over to that institution.
OF course, while the Arg0nauts have
decided to have such a "home." nothing
yet has oeen done toward locating site
for one. and it may be some time befeI
any such steps can be taken. -.
1t was also agreed that the safest way to
keep all the funds of the society would be
to deposit them in some bank. and when:
6V6T OIL was 10 Uo iuot W phy"tt W
check. The members are to pay an IN
itiation fee amounting to SIS and yearly
dues amounting to S12. =:
Ths idea of.this organization is to admit
as members all who have been twenty-five
years in the State. Thus the perpetuation
of the society and its rapid growth, 1t may
be said, are at once assured.
The Socisty Of California Pioneers. by
an irOnclad clause in their constitution.
will mot admit any man W hO came tn Cali
fOrnia later than January l, 1850.
There are two classes Of members in the
Pioneers" the first EN- bracing those who
arrived prior to January l, 1849, and their
male descendants. and the second those
who came prior to January /, 1850. and
their male descendants. But as some time
or other the old pioneers must die off, it is
distant when the Pioneers" will virtually
have. CEASED to exist. Therefore. to pro-
vide an organization which would be per-
petuai and also not exclude mon identified
with tine early history of the State, the
"Argonauts" was organized ito cherish
the memories of the choice spirits who
braved the difficulties confronting them in
the settlament and subsequent develop
ment of California"
Mr.. Holland has set apart little parlor
of his hotel as starter for the society 5
meeting-place and library. The officers
are: Edward Holland, president; Joseph
T. Terry, first vice-president; O. A. Deer
ing, second vice-president; Rev. DR.. Will
liam Smith. secretary, and Charles l.. Pat
ton, treasurer. Besides these five gentle
men, the originators Of the. society were
Graves. A certificate of membership has
been adopted, the very artistic feature of
which is half-tone engraving of the
"GOlden Gate'
The morning call., 1893-10-02
THE NEW RECTOR
OF St. Luke'S Delivers His
First Sermon.
A Late Arrival From the East Meets
With Gratifying Reception
at Yesterdays Services.

1t must have been gratifying to the new
rector of st. Luke's Church, the Rev. Will
liam II. Moreland. yesterday when he
looked out over the large congregation
gathered to hear him deliver his initial
sermon in that parish. Mr.. Moreland has
for the past eight years been the rector of
the Church of the Good Shepherd at
Nashua, n Fl. he arrived from the East
on Wednesday last in response to a call
from the vestry of st. Luke's and entered
upon the duties of his new charge yester-
day.
Mr.. Moreland is young man, notwith-
standing that he has been some years in
the ministry. He is little below the
medium in height. of slender figure. a
fluent speaker with pleasing style of de-
livery. and he speaks-0r did yesterday
without notes.
The altar was prettily decorated with
ferns and potted plants, a large vase of
green foliage banked in the rear forming a
very effective background. The services
of the EDiScopalian church are always i'm
pressive, the surpliced choir and the pie
turesQue accessories utilized adding TO the
sOlemnlty and having marked effect upon
the minds of the beholders.
Tue rector based his remarks upon the
Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians,
fourth chapter and fifth verse, and said
that he cnuld find no better words than
those of the text with which to begin his
ministry among them: For we preach
not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord
and ourselves your servants for Jesus
sake"
The speaker said he had not come over
5000 miles to court public favor, to exalt
himself rr for other similar motives, but / o
preach Jesus Christ. Taxing up the life
of the Master while he was on earth, he
said there was nothing unreal about it.
and pictured him as common citizen,
using it as an illustra alton of the mistaken
idea that Christians were different from
ybody else in their hopes, desires and
inellnations.
The rector somewhat startled many of
his congregation when he stated that as