Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-29
ALTON VERY ORDERLY
An Exceedingly Quiet Observance Of The
Great Holiday.
YET 1T WAS
ENJOYED.
SANTA Claus Crossed the GIMP on
Timc-Somc Christmas and New
Year welsh FAIRIES
Personal and General.
Correspondence Of the Dlspatch)


things progress toward perfection, then
we are surely on the right track. Never
has there been so quiet and orderly
Christmas here since the Scotch-lrish
Covenautcrs tested the freestOne water
on this side Of the Blue Ridge and colo
nized Alton. Three packs Of popcrackers
exploded on Nelson avenue, and ten or
a dozen roman candles Illuminating the
weird gorges of the Albomarie turnpike
constitute our widest designations IN hre-
works. The sweetness Of great relief
has settled upon the canine species ana
the small boy is exalted into a pattern OF
virtue. Time was, and not so far away
when Alton, in her holiday festivities
was a little rough. But the emigration
Of two or three bad negroes-to WASH
ington. Of course-and the breaking up
Of the saloon about a mile above mere
on the Moun.ain-Top road has greatly
couduced TO a better state Of things Ana
80 about the railroad, the pubic ways
and the stores there was more quiet nap
piness among all classes Of people ana
less uproari0us hilariy.
SANTA CLAUS.
Santa Claus-the same keen-eyed,
v,bite-boarded santa, under whatever
other kindly alias-crossed Rockiish Gap
on time. and left a wake OF peace ana
plenty. stuffed stockings, and just sum
Gent cggnoe. perhaps in when 10 uiiHh
his heal d and wish him many HAPPY re-
turns. Among the families Of the neisn-
horhOCd the day was celebrated WIN
quiet home parties There was the ou0l
of cedar and holly IN the house uecora-
tions and the sound of tin horns IN the
hands of sturdy mountaineers woke 'he
echoes I'm tie rocks. The belief Is very
PREVALENT with country people that the
.ows kneel IN their stalls Christmas-EEe
as the oxen did ln the mangrr at the
inc Of the nativity IN Bethlehem but IL
is a sin to find this out, ana we must
trust 10 the tradition About the other
Christmas superstition, the cabdllsuc
vish-bone of a turkey, there Is no room
for doubt: and our sentimental efis
had a sure way Of finding out VINO Would
be married first.
IN the matter Of supersttions christ
mas and New Year s-Day differ very
greatly. At the former season II Is
nonillarlv believed that witches, ghosts
fairies. and hobgonlins are not only pow
erless. but are even afraid 10 venture
abroad. But for New Years-Day, ana the
niebt before it. however far back one
NAV 20 IN investigating, be VIII ma that
Of an DAYS none are so rich In FOLK lore
charms. spells, and incantatons Inc
Scotch ana Welsh are peculiarly aniuehi
I'm these New Year suQcrsuuons. In a
volume Of folk ballads, published In l'so'
a Scotch poet writes:
con New Years-Eve the path along
The mikmad shoriens with a song
Her solitary way,
She sees the fairies with t'cir queen
Trim hand in hand the circld srecn'
AND heats them raise. al times unseen
The ear enchanting Law
WELSH FAIRIES.
In wales the fairies are th' nght 10 pe
rampant on Newly ears we. ana 10
have a great fonlness for children Moe
batida the fond mother who has In any
80, offen5ed the Tywyth Teg during the
now diving wear. Let her watch well the
cradle which holds he. darling or the
malicious fairies will come and steal
away her child. and substitute Tor Il
chaugeling. or "plentynneWid "a pullhs.
frightful brat that grows up lull OF al
evil. 10 lamp or candle must be taken
ont Of the house on New-N year nlSni'
or some member OF the family VIII ule
before the expiration Of the new year.
and to throw out water ashes' OF any
/ thing. however worthless, is sure ausu-
~ that waste and want VIII IoilO" io'
the next twelve months.
II Is an old German custom 10 hght
bonfire before the house, and as the
/ Gre blazes I'D or dies down is the good
/ or u-fortune Of the household. The asnes
are carefully saved as special virtue IS
/ attached to them in the cure or certain
| forr,s Of disease Few persons know
/ nat the pathetic story OF rip Van Win
| kle" who drinks with the ghosty crew
/ of IIendrjck ia the Catskills and sleeps
/ for twenty years is really founded upon
! a New-Year's legend Of the hariZ noun
| tains. .-..,..,.
Several parties have been given through
| the neighborhood. Mrs. Dugald MacGre-
! eor's 5-o'clock tea was a delightful en-
| tertaiument for the young folks.
Quite the most engrossing subject Tor
! discussion and arrangement is the tour
na,nent and ball Of to-day. There Will
he twelve knights. in the fun panoply Of
/ conquest. for the smiles of lovely maid
ems. The tournament ball will be given
/ al the Allen mansion at night. and VIII
/ he largely attended by the swell set.
DIR. Hartwen Smith, of Clifton Forge
IS visiting his parents for the holidays.
Mr.. j. Lewis Goodloe, Of stanton.
| took his Christmas dinner at Oman with
| the home folks.
Miss Hill, Of Charlottesville. is visit
Ing at Locust Dale
Miss Matte Lpscom came 70 Red
lands" for the Christmas week.
Several persons from here attended the
/ marriage Of Miss Leola NewcOmb ID MIR.
| Charles Hartman, which took place in
E2acfa i'ffv las Tuesday.