Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-15

near IL are seen angels In flowing robes
singing out a scroll of Illuminated paper
the Peace on earth and good will to-
wards men," or GLORY. glory. hallelujah.
The correct German Christmas-tree al
ways has an angel or a Christkind on the
topmost branch. with a tinsel star at the
end of a staff. like any pantomime fairy.
and z the tree belongs 10 a very orthodox
family there IS usually at It's foot small
toy group. representing the Saviours birth
I'm the stable az Bethlehem. The tree Top
resented. though grown from heath'n
root is no doubt still the tanebaum when
from Germany has become naturalizeI J.
America, France. and England.
The extrame Puritans have always set
their faces against Christmas obser-
vances. and, indeed. the Puritan parlia-
ment. of the Praise-G'd Barebones period.
abolished Christmas altogether. and made
| il a heinous crime Of lose-natiOnaity to
J exhibit holly and ivy on their walls.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS.
1t is true that the feast Of that date
had become an org.e and the Christmas
carol of that day was almost unfit FOR
publication: but, with the return OF
Charles II. and the Restoration holly
ivy. and mistlstoe came back with re-
newed attraction. and carols were sung
by village choirs all over the Continent
Of Europe.
THE PARIS CHOIR.
In some Of the PARKWAY counties Of
ENGLAND. where the changing fashions OF
London have not yet penetrated 70 the
rustcs. tn old-time custom is still con-
tnued Of the parish choir making the
rounds Of The homes Of the gentry and
singing Christmas carols.
4 wcll-known New York society man
RhO was the guest Of a titled English.
man at the atters country house du
ring the Christmas season. described thD
io.ags Of the parish choir TO the writer
iu this way:
"Thc carols stn sung I'm the country
.n some parts Of England by boys in
sm0ck-fr0cks. with ribbons tied To their
bats and shoulders. are a curious mix
ure Of rel gious and profane; ana ] re-.
al "a verse or two of these noels that
are really comic;
Looking ont Of my window one night
was passing q Christmas week in ID
North Countrec'-tO learn what was th
.iuse OF a s1biucd mutt ring and whis-
0rIng in the carrIage-drive in front
the old EIzabethan house, ! saw
come dozen chaw bacOns, most OF whom
arried lanterns. arranging themselves in
h8lf-circle on thu snow outside
cone wh.te-ha red old man. " th spec
IrIes ans hillL-u NuIlltI Nl1N 20
held clariOnet, and seemed TO ID
he preceutor. lie was probably the par
lsh clerk Another was presiding ove'
n enormous bass viol. while a small
Boy. who was envelop d a a wOrsted
comforter and gloves which together
acarly concealed him, held aioft small
fr-tree ON pole. with lantern hang
.rr from beneath the baughs.
"The clerk was so impr ssed with the
lightly Of hls position that he took SOM
,ine % make his preparations which
period was employed by the choir in
.tamping their feet and c'apping their
arms across them 20 i op up their caloric
Tier. was "a keen, wintry wind. which
carried an sounds away now and then
except the few notes that the double
bass erunted out; bat J caught the most
important stanza and have never forgot
cu 10.
Imagine them sung 10 the few notes
W some monotonous old canticle. accom-
panied by the dysrertlc means Of the VOL
md the ear-pi rcing discords Of the clario-
not. with the hilarious cries OF north
wind in the old park trees joining in, and
yJu VIII have a faint idea Of the beauty
1f this serenaQe