The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-24
| ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
no COMMEMORATE THE BIRTH OF
7HE BABE or BETHLLHEH.
Preparafions on All sides for the joyf"i
Event-Seryiccs and Music In the
Churches-A General Holiday.

Tomorrow Is christmas-Day, and the
splrit of the gladstone season is IN the
air. Everything is in holiday sarD 10
nttingly commemorate the day upon
which. nearly nineteen hundred years
ago. at Bethlehem. Of Judea, the infant
Saviour, robed in swadding clothes, lay
in a manger, while above him in the
East hung bright star. guiding by its
rays tie wise men who came. bring to the
royal infant precious gifts OF gold. frank
incense, and myrrh.
Upon this hallowed day all cares OF
business are thrown aside. and Joy reigns
supreme the season being spent In al
most as many ways as there are indi-
viduals TO observe it,
DIR. STARR AT PARK-PLACE.
In almost every church there will be
services with music especially arranged
for the occasion. At Park-Place Meth
odst church the exercises will be con-
Quoted by Rev. DR.. W. @. Starr, Of
Broad-Street church. and the public IS
cordially invited to attend.
At the Church Of the Covenant, at II
o'clock in the morning, Rev. Dr. Il. ?.
Kerr. d. D.. will deliver. by request his
lecture on "The Flight into Egypt. the
Land OF the Pharaohs." This lecture is
considered by many TO be the finest
that the talented divine Of the First
church has delivered in his late Palestine
series
Services will also be held at the fol-
lowing churches with special music
Catholic-St. Peters. Sacred Heart St
Mary's. ST. Patricks. and St. Josephs.
Episcopal--St Pauls. Holy Trinity. ST.
James. Grace. St. Johns, Monumental.
and Emmanuel.
Among the other churches where spe-
cial services, with carefully arranged
music will be held. are Leigh-Street
Baptist. Centenary. Park-Placc, St.
Johns German-Lutheran, Church Of the
Covenant. and others.
The ime-honored custom OF gifts from
friend to friend has never been more
thoroughly observed than this year. and
for days past the streets have been a
hurrying mass of humanity each one
intent on purchasing some memento 70
gladden. the heart of some loved one.
The store windows fairly shine with
wealth of everything that the heart can
desire. and at prices to suit the pocket
books Of all.
Some idea Of the great Christmas trade
can be obtained from visit TO the eN-
press office, where such is the rush II
waited on. although an extra force is at
work. while at the post-oiilce IL is al
most as bad, packages of every size.
shape. and variety being piled up IN
every available space.
THE FESTIVE FEATURES.
Great preparations are also in pro-
gress to furnish abundance OF good cheer
for all The hotels will each and all
provide an unusually elaborate biil-of-
fare dinner at the jefferson being served
al o'clock while at the other hotels tie
usual hours will be observed.
The gallant veterans at Lee Camp Sol
diers' Home VIII have a feast. The fol-
lowing elaborate menu will be prepared
FOR their delectaton under direction Of
the Con{mandaut, Colonel Charles +.
Bigger. who never neglects the comfort
of the old soldiers:
stewcd oysters.
Roast Turkey. Cranberry Sauce,
Brunswick stew
Roast Shoat. Apple Sauce,
Baked Ham,
Wheat Bread. Corn Bread
Sweet Potatoes. irish Potatoes,
Mixed Pickle, Celery.
Oranges, Apples, Bananas.
Nuts Raisins'
Mixed Candy,
Nince Pie. Fruit Cake. Pound Cake.
Currant Cake. Chocolate Cake.
Sponge Cake,
Tea, Coffee. cigars.
The oysters were donated to the Home
BY Pickett-Buchanan Camp, Of Norfolk,
Va.
The following verse is printed upon
the back Of each menu card
When the Summer sun shone bright
All the world was rObed In light
Now the world is dark and chill,
But we have the sunshines tiil
In the kindly hearts that say
JOY be yours. this Christmas-Day
POST-O OFFICE HOURS.
The post-office, in order 10 give
its carriers and clerks an oppor-
tunity to spend the day under
their own vine and ng-trees. will observe
Sunday hours There win be one deiiv-
cry from the carriers windows from
to F. NJ. There Will be one collection
at y O'Clock. No delivery will be made
by carriers. The same hours Will be OBJ
served by stations.
The banks. also will all close. as well
as many places Of business, while all OF
the schools, both public and private, will
allow their pupils from one to two weeks
TO enjoy TO the full the pleasures of
the season. Already the boys Of every
size and age are making day hideous
and night luminous with baby-wakers,
spit-devs. torpedoes. and pop-crackers.
OF entertainments during the week
there will be an unlimited number. and
the requiem of the dying year Will be