Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-26
XMAS IN RICHMOND.
The Great Festival Observed In q Hearty
But DecorouS Manner.
DINNER TO THE VETERANS.
After Enjoying the Meal DIR. Hoge Ad.
dresses Them--Supday- School Cese-
bration--Notes and Incidents.

1 1it Vd'tlltlSSS Oh May.
All that was needed to make a typical
spring day was the breath Of flowers and
the song OF birds.
Indeed. ever since Saturday The weather
had been exceptionally mild for this cca-
son OF the year. Sunday was lovely
day. and the church services of that day,
as we'll as those OF Yesterday. were at
tended by vast throngs.
The outdoor celebration Of Christmas
Day was, on the whole less boisterous
than for some years past In the morn
ing and again at night there were I'm
mense crowds on Broad street, and full
rein was given to hlarity. but, as far as
possible. horn-blowing on the part of
grown men was suppressed by the police.
and for nervous and sick persons that
was great point gained.
HELPED THE POOR.
The fact tnat there was on immense
amount of suffering and want in the city
did not go unrecognized, and great deal
of charity was dispensed. This good work
was not confined TO the rich and we'll
to-do. but was INDUCED in by many who
had very little to give.
| At the Home for the Aged special efforts
were made to give happiness to the in
mates and the orphans were well looked
/ after. The boys at the Male Orphan
| Asylum for the most part spent the day
| with relatives and friends Last night
/ they they had a display of fireworks on
| the grounds of the asylum, and THURSDAY
| will have their regular Christmas dinner.
| The authorities of the city Jail and the
| penitentiary spread tempting. dinners Tor
| the unfortunateS under their charge.
| Family dinners were the rule through
out the city, and last night there were,
rs usual. brilliant displays Of fireworks
| in the residential sections OF the CITY,
! A feature of the demonstration last
night was the number of bonfires that
were blazing all over the city. The small
! boys organized raids on ash-bsrrels ana
! dry-gcods boxes, and these were consumed
/ hy the hundreds. The fireworks were
confined 10 the early hours OF the night
and by midnight the city was about as
| quiet as usual.
Tho Veterans Christmas Dinner.
Thanksgiving-Day Captain Bigger was
asked over the phone by Dispatch re-
! porter If he would give the veterans any
| thing extra for dinner that day. He re-
piled In the negative but added that on
| Christmas he intended TO put the big pot
| I'm the little one IL he "busted" the latter
| in the operation. Captain Bigger Kept
his promise and yesterday spread himself
! in spreading a feast that the veterans
! will not soon forget
The menu was as follows:
Cold Corned Beef. Horse Radish, Roast
| Turkey. Cranberry Sauce, Baked Ham,
! Roast Shoat Apple Sauce. Sweet-Potatoes,
1 Irtc pickles.,
| Celery. Wheat Bread. Crackers, Cheese,
! Apples. Oranges, Bananas, Mixed Nuts,
| Raisins, Mixed Candy. Sponge Cake
| Chocolate Cake, Currant Cake, Mince Pie,
| Tea, Coffee, Cigars
The card was handsomely embellished
on the front with a picture OF General
Lee. and on the third leaf a sprls OF
| holly. Under the holly was this sehu-
ment:
"In your hearts may bells of gladness
Ring their happy chime;
| Fain would we that naught OF sauhess
Cloud this blessed time"
And nsnebt OF sadness did cloud the
blessed time
Rev DIR. Hoge, who is dear 10 the heart
| Of every veteran, asked the blessing, and
| then the men fell to and did ample JUS
| tice TO the feast.
The West-End Band was In attendance
| and furnished the music. Among the
| selections were "Home Sweet Home ana
"Dixie,"Ithe first notes of the latter be-
| ing the signal for "rebel yen lha'
shook the mess-han
ADDRESSED BY DIR. HOGE.
After the dinner DR.. Hoge made the
veterans an address. He commenced by
| congratuating them that they hau i sucn
| q comfortable home. where they were
! sheltered In winter and where on the spa
| cious lawn under the shade Of the trees
! thev could enjoy the breezes or SUM ner.
But all these provisions for their COM
fort. he said. were nothing more than they
were entitled TO: nothing more than
grateful public ought to contribute 10
the men who had sacrificed everything 10
their conviction of duty in taking up arms
for the defence of all that was uedieS'
to them on earth.
7, nos az little as the people of every
southern state should be content to 40
10 establish and endow soldiers nome
with all the equipments that can MAKE
,rannuil and happy the closing years
Of the lives OF men whose strength hau
been enfeebled by age and shattereu ny
the hardships OF war. The wooden leg
The annty sleeve the battle-scarred lace
made it's own appeal and demonstrate
the veteran's light TO a generous mann
tenance when no longer able TO pro'iue
for himself. % ,ha
The monarchical government o. .ne
old world set us the example In the re-
80 nrovsled for the old soldier who
- ,,ndicated national honor on the
INA and for the disabled sailor VINO had
Trlneed his country's flag with glory on
The sea. and republics should not be less
grateful than monarchles
NORTHERN PENSIONERS.
The northern veteran or the civil war
49,. tha advantage of q share in the one
hundred and sixty millions expended an
r,,a1,v IN pensions and as the SURVIVORS
of the conflict seem 10 be multiplying IN
etead of diminishing with the passage OF
years n Is difficult to estimate the amount
ultimately to be expended for the support
Of men who got on the pension-roli WIFI
ont ever having been on the musler-roii'
We cannot give you pensions. SAID III.
roye. but II would be a violation OF every
sentiment of patriotic obligation and graf
itnde II we did not at least give you
shelter and food and raiinent.
The Confederate army was distln-
,p,shed by some characteristics that
should never be forgotten. Ii was COM
posed mainly Of volunteers, and not OF
conscripts. No army ever took the Held
that contained 50 large proportion Oh
Intelligent and educated men. III was
from this class that the first volunteers
came. Colleges, universities. and even
theological seminaries emptied themselves
and all exercises in these institutions
were suspended because all the students |
we're in the ranks. 1t Is said that the
Rockbridge Artillery Company had In IL
seven masters OF art from the University
of Virginia, forty-two graduates OF col
leses. and nineteen theological students
From my native county of Prince Edward
INV noble friend, DIR. Atkinson. president
OF Hampden- Sidney College, marched 10
the field with seventy-two OF his own
students and those of Union Theological
Seminary.
Another characteristic OF the Confede-
rate army was the heroism displayed
after the defeat. and the almost incredi-
bile energy with which the survivors OF
the conflict addressed themselves 10 the
OF their shattered fortunes
and the upbuilding Of the whole structure
OF the states upon the ruins OF unsuc-
cessful war.
Anothar characteristic. continued pr.
rfoge. is the intense affection with which
the memories OF the conflict are cherish
"a. in womans care and love In gatner-
ing the remains OF the fallen into ceme-