Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-25
NIGHT BEFORE XMAS.
Broad Street ThrOnsed With Thousands
# Merry-MakerS and Shoppers.
The Thor0nghfare the Scene of the
LiveIicst Fun and Ncrriment, and
All Kinds the Night Made Hideous.

Twas the night before Christmas, and
all DER Broad street
Many creatures were stirring, and all
on their feet
The girls with big horns were out in full
force,
And they blew the tin instruments loud
~. Of course
The boys were there, too; yes, thousands
were there.
And they made noise enough themselves
for to scare.
The street was 80 crowded that hardly
man
More than was there already could find
room TO stand
And all fired crackers, and hallowed
and sang.
And everything went with great eclat
and bang.
Such were the scenes on Broad street
last night Christmas-Eve night is al
ways a great time for that thoroughfare,
and while hosts OF shoppers throng IL.
and the stores abutting thereon are libe-
rally patronized, indeed overwhelmed
with purchasers. yet there is large ele-
ment of pleasure-seekers always to be
found on each recurring eve Of the
great anniversary and they usually drift
IN great numbers 10 Broad street about
nightfall, and then history repeats itself
Last night, however. was an exception,
inasmuch as the number of people on
the street was much greater than ever
heretofore, and the noises Of every hide
Gus description were greatly increased.
Early yesterday morning the crowds be-
gan to gather on Broad street, and to
surge to and fro and in and out OF the
nd milf oh.
their numbers were added TO until at
o'clock. when the workshops and other
places OF business began emptying. the
crowd swelled TO immense proportions.
GI.-.lT CROWDS LAST NIGHT.
After supper the forces were greatly
augmented, and then, indeed did the bed
lam break loose. Many thousands of hu-
man beings, men. women and children,
or all ages and sizes and all colors were
IN the throng which moved almost cease
essly 10 and fro between Foushee and
seventh streets, and everybody was cele-
brating and enjoying the celebration 10
the full. Everybody seemed TO have a
tin-horn, and everybody seemed TO have
good lungs. leastwlse they blew on their
horns with great power, and such hideous
noises as they made could never be du-
plicated elsewhere. II is doubtful wheth-
er as many girls and grown ladies were
ever seen on the streets OF Richmond be-
fore with horns I'm their mouths or hands
All grades OF society were represented in
the throng. and perhaps in the great army
OF horn-blowers Mingled with the din OF
the horns was the loud reports OF pop
crackers. baby-wakers and torpedoes
which were fired off on all sides, and
everywhere, and as though these were
not sufficient TO cause the auricular or
gans Of every mortal within hearing dis
lance to run in twain, numerous small
boys, out for a good time and free from
the restraints of parental government
marched up and down, and gave vent to
the most excruciating of screeches and
cat-calls their large mouths were capable
Of
ALL WERE IN GOOD HUMOR.
Everything, however, seemed TO be in
harmony. The reports of the crackers
the blasts of the horns, and the cries of
the boys all blended together in a great
paean of Joy, and not one OF the thou
sands who formed part and parcel Of the
crowd, whether a participation in the noise
making or not, but what enjoyed IL, and
hoped TO be spared TO see many more
such annual celebrations.
Drunken men were conspicuous for
their absence on the street, and the
disorder CD which reigned was of the
most orderly character.
The stores were well patronlzed, espe-
cially at night and at midnight. when
many OF them closed their doors, the
counters looked as though cyclone had
struck them and devastated The large
stocks.