Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-23
Christmas is here
And turkeys are fat,
Please drop a coin
In the barber-boy's hat.

Christmas has always been in Virginia
a DAY devoted TO social enjoyment, visit
ing friends, exchanging friendly greetings.
and dispensing the generous hospitality
FOR which Virginia has always been noted.
In ante-bellum days during this halcyon
period the wassal bowl Of every family
land every family had one) was always
filed, whether its contents consisted or
eggnog, or apple-jack, or other mixtures
of more substantial and invigorating
sort and these fluids were only preludes
TO generously -pi cvide1 and finely-served
slbstantials, to all of which everybody
was welcome. Christmas in the country
was the time for cementing old friends
and making new ones. The time In
the city was a counterpart Of that in
the country. In both localities aims
giving was practiced Old-tme Christ
masses were full of enjoyment. The man
Of the house commanded the situation,
because he owned his own help, who were
always present Now he does not. and
the help ne has is apt TO quit him at
Christmas when most needed and with
out notice. The new order of things
leaves the household work. as well as
the entertaining of guests, to the care
of those who formerly in this favored
ard fivorite season used 10 be at their
best when displaying a soulful and gen.
erous hospitality. The whrligg or
time has brought about an unwelcome
combination of servant and hostess. Of
course there Is not now such vast deal
of visiting as used be the case In Nir-
glnia People who are able are just as
willing to entertain .heir friends as they
ever were; alas! many Of them are not
able to do SO.
Most of my Christmasses for many
years have been spent away from home.
I had fine time in 1852 at Corte MADEIRA,
a point a little way from San Francisco
across the bay, which was reached by
boat through various saline sloughs.
saw there three Virginians-Dr. James
Poindexter and Mr.. David Crane, CT this
CITY. and Mr.. Tyler Curtis, OF Hanover
all have long passed the great divide.
| WAS then running a saw-mill for Key
nolds & Co. In carrying supplies TO u
Won passed by San Quenten. site OF the
California State penitentiary. The latter
consisted OF a big bark that had been run
In on the rocks on high tide. and then
shored up. When the prisoners krocked
off work and went aboard for the night
IL is safe to say that no greater aegre-
gate OF human scoundreiism was ever
gathered toBetneT III IL SihiiaI SpoSN' 49,
conyicts made bricks on a hillside; down
AT the waters edge there was high nag
stalf. from which hung the United states
nag. AS / passed there one morning IN
a sloop the authorities Were using the
lanyards to trice up a recalcitrant prison.
or. called Jimmy, from Town" He was
from New South Wales, ana OF that
species called In the then-expressive no
menclasure OF the Golden State sgd
ney Duck" This implied capacity ior
action ranging from murder &c getting en-
with a handkerchief. Jimmy, from
Town" had attempted TO abbreviate tne
existence OF one Of his prison congeners.
when / saw him he was getting what
paddy gave the drum" and was reply
ing. to us the poets "few brief remarks,
with curses not deep, but .oud. The sicop
I usually went over on was COMMANDED
by one man, who In himself constituted
captain, mate. crew. and cook. He was
an old schoolmate. who met nns>pect-
edly on the waters OF San Francisco
bay. His name was Granville Clark. q
nephew Of Mr.. Sam Ciariee. the noted
book-bindsr 20 long employed by lam
doIph q English. Both uncle and 1spnew
sse Icing dead. This Christians sss apens