Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-25
CHRISTMAS OF YORE.
How the Yulelide Season Of the Long
Ago Mas Spent
TIME ron ALL TO NE JOLLY
The santa Claus Legend ana hs
wealth Of Meaning 10 the Young
g. walter Scott's Poem on the
xpnivcrsary-Drinlss of the Day

Annivcrsary-Drin Oh '"c p"''
This IS a day devoted solely by al
Christians in every part Of the world 10
tender and respectful, II not re'e'en''
memory in honor of the babe OF be'n-
,ehem." whose coming meant SO nue"
Cor mankind. II IL does not rightly indi-
cote His birthday on that lonely nlsh'
Ia Tho mango, at bethlehem, In Jnaea'
q has been so celebrated for nearly wv
wears IL is too late now 10 TX any o'"e'
date. This and hosts Of preceding gene
,a,,o,s have welcomed It's coming ana
,ovously celebrated its many genial at
tributes with the acclaim that noweu
from, n feeling of good brotherhood ana
the generally genial spirit Of the OCCASION
II man or woman, at least IN '"e
south is not In good humor and OF
giving mood on this festal OCCASION ne VI
she should he sidetracked without deiaS'
and with an abridgment OF the usu"'
privilege OF being helped TO aiisht ny INC
conductor of the train. EVERYBODY l"
christian countries is ready 10 AFFIRM anu
they do it, too
Christmas comes hut once year,
But when II comes II brings gooa ohee''
The old legend OF Santa Claus anu i ma
,r1thicsl stocking most gentraily ioau-,
With gifts for the young oas attain"
heretofore and will attain hereafter
nrene belief. no doubt, Ia me emu Va
zine II is a pleasant Illusion 10 'he
AZ. slnxr a00lR~ftDls
rnow no better. and equally aereeaole
90 ola folks. u they know something SUD
s,.,tial adorns the inside Of the s'oCh-
iny which is hung up for their behen''
Sometimes this is the case, espeCi"HS "
tho North. where II is the custom 10 iet
ola as well az young, get the peheii' Vi
= santa Claus visit Many an old cousei'
mas or female is thereby the net,er .n-
abled 10 determine what Is lh1lNiu"a"s
thought of them by the quality ana Naiue
~ the presents thus bestowed on uS'i'
OF course. on general principles ~
~ either sex Is naturally nquisitiVs' anu
wants 10 know the opinion of their con-
geners on their merits. Ihey mus ''''O
out and act accordingly
The merchants Of al cities. ana none
moro 81 than those of Richmond, use
every endeavor principally printers lnA
here, 10 attract custom 10 their places. Inc
goods generally disposed Of are those Gus
tomary 10 the festive period but IN spe e'' ~
instances costly jewelry ana other s'ui'
meets a ready sale to accommodate 'ns
requirements Of an overcoming anu
nrsss,ng sentimental emergency IL i
safe 70 say that for week past ChIlst-
mas buvers have kept Richmond mtt-
chants on the run. but IL was a welcome
race for the latter. 1t goes without tnc
saving that what the market aiioius ~.
e Ia EtHA
q Christmas dinner Is always OF lh'eIos'
10 the housekeeper II is equally &C, 'aih
that the hOusekeepers here nave zee"
lsvinp In stock all the week TO meet tne
,'e,,,,Ssmants real or supposed. of THE
day we celebrate" That the Richmond
markets hold everything good Tor
m. human system. and that everything
ia as cheap here as anywhere else' IL d
saving that cannot BE- contradicteu.
Roth celery and duplicate whist the
latter now much affected by Richmond
narties came from Kalamazoo. ms
outre-named place Is in Michigan once
a district Of Old Virginia.
Eggnog IS the great Christmas uppie
in O.d Virginia. Sometimes II is not maze
with milk, but this never Is the case Wheh
milk can be had.
There will be some good In Christmas
for most everybody, those who are edreu
for by others who are unable 10 take
co,e 90 themselves. as well OF the sun
dry arts which .fstinguish this locality
including those confined behind prison
walls. Christmas IL usually grand oc-
casion for the little folks; indeed the
prevalent impression IS that II was H.
vented especially for their benefit. lney
have been usually allowed 1.-THE liberty OF
license" on the occasion. which has oitei
been taken advantage OF by persons VI
an older growth to make things dlsasreea-
bic. and render necessary the interview
lion Of IT, police 1t is understood mat
the present Christmas will be noted for
its public order and decorum. the valorous
Major Howard Chief Of Police. having
expressed the intention TO partially aooi-
ish the small-boy- nuisance as
well as his more mature congener OF the
cannon cracker and blunderbus tin norm
ana East Rocky-mountain war-whoop. 1t
is well If i. proyss 10 be So
Even hundreds OF years agone Christ
mas was a synonym for warm welcome
and good cheer In the Old Country. Slr
Walter Scott gives a spirited description
OF such a happening in the days OF Old:
And well our Christian sires of old
Loved when the year its course mad
rolld; -.
And brought bllthe Christmas back
again,
With all his hospitable train.
Domestic and religious rite
Gave honor TO the holy night;
on Christmas-Eve the bells were rung;
ON Christmas Eve the mass was sung;
That only night in all the year,
Saw the stated priest the chalice rear.
The damssl donn'd her kirtle sheen;
The hall was dressed with holly green;
Forth TO the wood did merry-men so,
TO gather in the mistletoe.
Then open'd wide the Barons hall
TO vassal tenant serf and all;
Power laid his rod OF rule aside;
And ceremony dof'd his pride,
The heir, with roses In his shoes.
That night might village partner choose
The Lord. underogating, share
The vulgar game OF ''posh and pair"
All hailed with uncontrolled delight
And general voice the happy night;
That 20 the cottage. as the crown,
Brought tidlngs Of salvation down.
England was merry England, when
Old Christmas brought his sports again.