The Indianapolis journal., 1895-12-26
A BALMY CHRISTMAS
BEAUTIFUL WEATHER BROUGHT
MANY PEOPLE OUT OFF DOORS.
Thenters Had Rig Holiday Audiences
Services at the Catholic Churches
collection for Orphans.

After a week or more Of rainy and muddy
weather, Christmas day opened yesterday
with all appearance of a break in the ex-
listing conditions and a promise of some fair
weather. II was fair April or May day,
and not at all such day as would impress
the people that it was Christmas. 1t was
such a day. however, as would bring many
people out to the streets. During the morn
ing few stores were open and some be-
lated purchasers could be found searching
for the presents they had forgotten or per-
chance for one to give TO some friends who
had unexpectedly sent a Christmas greet
ing, but had been forgotten by the belated
buyer. The stores were all closed after the
noon hour. and clerks went to their homes
to enjoy the usual good dinner of the sea-
son.
A kindly feeling of fellowship and good
will toward men seemed to be in the air all
day. Everybody that appeared on the street
seemed to wear an expression of content
ment, and many were the thoughts of what
the good mother or wife at home was pre-
pairing for the noontime cheer The travel
ers who happened to be in the city were not
forgotten by those whose business il is to
care for their wants at 81 TO s. day. All
the hotels had special dinners, embracing
all the good things in the market, and many
that could scarcely be bought here. Be-
sides the Christmas staples, such as tur-
key, game and indigestible plum pudding
with brandy sauce, there were many dishes
with French names and a more Frenchy
appearance, covered with sauces that a
chemist could not analyze. Some OF the
city people preferred the hotel dinner to
their own home. and placed their names on
the registers. All this. was very much to
the liking of the walters and other hep
about the hotels. Christmas tips are always
abundant, and, from the smiling faces of
the walters, they seemed to have reaped
bountiful harvest.
After the good things on the dinner tables
had been disposed of to the best advantage
many of the people started out to see their
friends and offer and receive congratula-
tions. The weather seemed to be settled;
the sun had showed itself for short time
and the clouds were high in the air. Wash
ington street, especially at the transfer cor
ners, seemed to take on some of its activ-
ity of the week just past, although the
people were not hurrying hither and thither
as they were Tuesday. They walked slowly
and moved about as though the day was to
| be long one.
The usual holiday crowd attended the
| theaters. The matinees did not quite I'll
| the houses, but in the evening standing
room was all that could be had. When
| the curtain went up on 1.-The Rivals at the
| Grand there was not a seat for sale on the
first floor, and not a dozen above. At En-
| glish's and the Park the crowd was ever
greater. Reports received by Dickson q
| Talbot from their other houses show thai
! not one failed to bring good returns for The
| day. At the Empire a good show filled the
house both afternoon and evening. The at.
! tendance at all the houses in the evening
was more than usual, and caused GLAD
smiles to play around the mouths of those
who profited by il.