The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-26
How Christmas Day Was Spant In
Public and Private Circles.
JUNE WEATHER PREVAILED.
There Was No Snow Nor Other Evidc nces
OF vinter-How the Day Was OBJ
served I'm the Churches and the Pub
lie Institutions.

Christmas came and went yesterday
much after the manner OF its innumeraDle
predecessors. Those who had made prep
arations to enjoy the day filled out their
full measure of happiness. The few
disgruntled individuals who didn't see
any sense in Christmas, and, unfortunate
ly there are always some such persons In
every community, enjoyed themselves,
too, but not in the way that the author
of Christmas designed.
The weather was pleasant for an ideal
Fourth of July. About noon and for three
hours thereafter the sun beat merciessly
down upon thousands scurrying here and
there in quest of turkey dinners. Winter
wrapped individuals gravitated toward
the shady side of the street with surpris-
ing unanimity and handkerchiefs
that had been provided for another pur-
pose were utilized to remove surplus and
unwarranted perspiration. Dark-colored
clouds made frequent detours OF the
heavens and the jewellers on the streets
predicted rain, but the spirit OF Christ
mas that pervaded the air must have for
hidden for not drop fell during the en-
tire day.
A Snowless Christmas.
There WIS only one drawback to the
full and perfect enjoyment of the day, the
absence of the conventional mantle OF
snow. 1t hardly seemed like Christmas
without il, and ALL the sprawling
turkeys with their accompaniment OF
cranberry sauce and fixin's couldn't make
it seem Just like the Christmas day that
our ancestors have SO often chrori ricled.
There was no skating, either, and small
boys who were remembered with
pair of steel runners were obliged
to content themselves with putting
the instruments on their feet and gliding
over the parlor carpets. There was no
snow baliing, no coasting down the num-
berless hills, no frostbitten ears,
no benumbrd. fingers and toes,
no cheeks painted pink by the
inimitably artistic hand of brisk
nor'easter. But the turkey and his brave
hosts of culinary delicacies supplied in a
measure all these deficits. People ate and
were thank ;ul and blowed their fingers,
not to warm them, but to cool them off.
7he Days Charities.
The great financial depression and its
effect upon the poor was not forgotten by
those upon whom Fate had smiled i'm a
kindlier mood. Throughout the length
and breadth OF the city the emissaries of
charity scurried hither and thither, bear
ing their offerings to the poverty
haunted. Every public institution
for the aid of the unfortunate and the
helpless did its duty toward its charges
and many bed Of pain was smoothed by
the philanthrophic hand of some kindly
doer of good.
At the Old Ladies' home there was a
bountiful spread of turkey and various
forms Of good cheer. AT the Home for
Aged Men, the Home for Aged Colored
Women, the Colored Childrens' Shelter,
st. Eliza beth's home and the st. Aloysius
Home for Infants there were the usual
Christmas remembrances. AT the Tobey
Street Home for Children there was an
elaborate menu of turkey and fixings and
in the morning paternal visit from
Santa Claus. At the Sophia Little Home
there was plenty to eat and Christmas
tree of mammoth proportions and
heavily laden with appropriate
gifts. A beef supper arrived at the Sea-
mems Bethel with all sails spread and was
speedily shipped by the hungry mariners.
At the Hotel Arlington Mrs John 3dley
and her daughter entertained 100 small
knights of the blacking box
and shoe brush who polished
off their hungry mouths with turkey
bones with all the care and assiduity that
they are wont to bestow upon the shoes of
the most fastidious grandee of society.
Nearly 20C0 ravenous youngsters filled
their empty stomachs at the poor chill
dren's dinner at Infantry hall.
At the Turn Verein hall there was an
exposition of the hearty manner in which
the Teuton.c Christmas is celebrated, while
at the Rhode Island hospital the officers
did themselves proud in their efforts TO
make the day one OF joy and feasting. The
employees were also remembered here.
AT the Dexter asylum the day was
quietly observed with genuine English
dinner and devotional exercises.
In the Churches.
The churches celebrated Christmas in
appropriate vein. The Roger Williams
Baptist Sunday school children assembled
az Wanskuck hall in the evening and let
loose their praise and merriment in the
form CT program OF dialogues ,recitations,
songs and choruses. At the morning SER
vice of The church there was concert of
unusual attractiveness.
At the first Presbyterian church there
was Christmas tree in the evening and
very entertaining program OF songs and
recitations. At the Jefferson street Baptist
there was festival of song with addresses
and orchestral music.
The catholic church also celebrated the
day with appropriate ceremonies and fes-
tivit!es. The cathedral held the regular
masses, and intersperscd the solemnities
with a varied program OF music. st.
Mary's and 81 Joseph's had devotional ex-
ercises and music programs. The church OF
the Immaculate Conception devoted spe-
cisl pains 10 hs music, and st. Johns
church also provided an excellent pro-
gram.
The state Instit tutions.
The state institutions commemorated
Christmas I'm the usual manner. AZ the
House OF Correction high mass was cole