Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-25

N.r in0 uignt Nt4ore tnflSi inlS. Whti
through the house
Nrt . creature was stlrring-not even a
wrsc.
stockings were hung by the chimney
1- hopes tat st. Nicholas soon would
ls lferc."
Clement c. Moore
r.r.- Christmas. even If he is an
,,re-s..o ola person who comes around
e..ort regard 20 the times and frus-
t-.tes Che economies of people who want
p. save. is a worthy man Of a benevo-
t.t nature. and brings in his train
. measure Of
jest and youthful iollty."
The necessary elements of the Christ
r. -r.rit are peace and eood viii. Not
81, have the Christmas spirit IS not
d. love ones ne.ehbor. and 10 live with
..- laye for ones neig boz IS 10 live WITH
on Che greatest luxury in iife IL IS the
o-. th'ng Indispensable without which
C ,,mas IS am empty name.
oa-h an the past Year Of distress
-l TIE rich have given thousan' IS
a. ars. it is the poor who have given
-t freely. There is no way OF calcu-
.rr- the kind deeds of neighbor 10
-.-rror tll the judgment-day. The only
-.r.ral form Of RELIEF is the help given
t. frtnd 90 friend Our word charity has
.--.e.l for away from tce charles OF the
e t. which signided the treating of
-.I>ou kindly as 20 he We're Of the same
lI or kin as ones self.
IL is painful fact that charity has
ban made So repulsive that even many or
r-e who are in great distress are uh-
81 Ing 20 accept help.
bod. Hrrrr.
January 9th 10 December 18th 10y Jlils
ir the YEAR A. II. 3d. There is no
festival in our Christian calendar around
rr.ch cinss So many interesting ana
strange customs.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.
The great feast Of saturn was held
.r December. when the people decorated
-.- temples with such green things as
-.av could frd The Christian custom ls
-.p same transferred 90 Him VINO was
lrrn iu Bethlehem. The holly or "'liy-
--ao IS called CLrlsts thorn in Ge-.-any
ana Scandinavia. from its use in church
decorations @nd its putung forth lts
berries az Christmas time. The carry
Christians gave an embiemauc turn 10
the custom referring 10 the righteous
branch" and justify.ng the custom from
Isaiah ix l3 The glory of Lebanon
shall come unto thee. the nr-tree, tne
,.ne-tree. and the box together. 10 Deau'-
fr The place 0f my sanctuary.
Another ancient custom ls the singing
-f Christmas carols. which are in COM
remorar0n OF the song Of the angels 10
-r- shepherd- at the nativity The Woil
q welsh one, and signifies "a love
r-~q" and its appropriateness is ap-
rst perhaps the most generally in
---a-tlug OF all the oN Christmas customs
U.s. me Christmas Box" wnich had lis oi4-
,- ir the early days OF Christianity, Wh-n
lv.s we're placed in churches for pro-
81 eclols charities. and openei on III
-.e -Dsv. The contents were distilDuteI
r-,t fav bv the priests. and called the
Coles ~ the "Christmds-Bo or we
...r money" Ii was customary lot '-o
t.fs of The houses % give small sums
rr money 20 their subordinate 70 p-1
'-t- the box before mass on Ohils'Hia'-
I -. .
su-what later apprentices cafrled
i.1 round 20 their master Gus ~.
f.- tra- rratuities. but this custom i.as
since OIL. year 1876 been gradually dying
rt lrtI it has become almost '1thc''
SPECIAL. SERVICES TO-DAY.
rta lay win De observed wi-h special
services in many Of the churches OF ln-
and special musical prc2ramm-
t.. been arranged TO take place AZ
FL. Catholic. Episcopal.an. and Lutheran
l..r.res. while in the churches OF seNe-
other denominations special ser
ulf be held in accordance win
-t- e-rarrernents already given IN the
-f.h.
merchants of the city. whose stores
have f0r tho past O. weeks ueeh
f--rrra w.tl busy purchasers, are Juoi-
81
r.ttr.r have reaped. 10 has been gene
- conceded that the season has been
a. Dtceationaily good one. and has quite
uer.l % the expectations or the
.l- ones.
LARGE SALES IN ART
,t OF The large dry-goods men were
s.r by Dispatch reporter yesterday
sr questioned AS 20 the particular
.rra.s in which the bulk Of the
tuas business had been confined.
N was the general consensus Of opinion
rert 20 the toy departments the
.tma. ant departments had been most
ral.y patronized.
.ae Christmas books contain innumer-
a5e stories that are pretty and fanci-
kept weu within the limits Of child
Intelligence and the vocabu-
l.f WATCH children can understand even
t frey cannot employ IL.
Christmas cards this year have present
Ct wonderful and wide choice or
c.rfy subjects TO find fresh designs
trf rew IDEAS Tor Christmas cards seemed
t~ost an impossible task 10 shc ma
-'y ~ the people. but the selection
q rear has been enormous and varied.
I.. regular lines Of staples have been
.tereIiy Datronized. and there has been
O.. Immense sale Of dainty silverware.
Iofoersp sph-frames, and miscellaneous ar
tcrs
GREAT SCARCITY OF TURKEYS.
There was great scarcity Of turkeys In
tfe Richmond markets yesterday and
Irc.s were high The warm weather
vented The usual quantity Of dressed
+.af being brought in from the nearby
lr-s and the shipments by rail were
f.f large Not iu years al this season
fno suppiy been 50 limited or so IN
i.ror ln quality. Prices ranged from a
siue 10 ~ cents per pound. Other
i.a.s were more scarce than ordinarily,
end celery wss both scarce and high. In
tae afternoon Il was almost impossible
~ pct any that was good. The negro
employers o. the American Tobacco
'1mnanys sfcmmery were more fortu-
ie 'r getting Christmas turkeys than
'.e average citizen was And they dld
Ao' have 20 pay for theirs either
THE SCHOOLS TAKE HOLIDAY.
Richmond College and the Woman's
ns..e t'NI-