The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-26
DARK CHRISTMAS NIGHT.
THE FIRST ONE WITHOUT BON
FIRES IN MANY YEARS.

The Day on the Streets Generally a
Quiet One In Striking Contrast TO
That of Christmas Eve-HOw the
Day Was Spent at the Clubs and
ResOrts-The Bethesda Boys and
City Orphan Houses All Fared
WeII-Tbe Poor of the City Taken
Care of.
Savannah has never seen darker
Christmas night, perhaps. than was that
of 1885 just passed. There was an alb
sence of the customary bonfires that have
brought JOY to the boys hearts year after
year, and a few unsuccessful attempts
at starting blazes were all that preserved
the memory of the days that used to be.
The streets of the city presented a
marked contrast to that Of the night be-
fore. Christmas eve was all business;
Christmas day was more like Sunday.
Some Of the stores were opened for a
short time in the morning, but by noon
everything but the saloons was closed
tight, and as compared with the day be-
fore the streets looked practically de-
serted. The people as a rule spent a
good part Of the day at home, but almost
everybody took look out at one time or
another to see what was going on.
The clubs did a stirring business all
day. They were well patrOnized by the
members, who took it easy and enjoyed
the day as only Savannah clubmen know
how to do. The military men spent their
day in part at their armories. The Hus-
sars Club served an elegant lunch pre-
pared by the bar committee, and there
was an unusually large crowd in attend
ance. The Commercial Club over the
Citizens Bank was made general head
quarters during the morning, and an ex-
cellent lunch was served for the benefit
Of the members and their guests. At
the Guards Club and the regimental arm
Org there We're crowds all day.
Inc courts, the city exchange, custom
house, board Of trade, cotton exchange
and all buildings of a public or semi-pub-
nc character We're closed during the en-
tire day. The courts were opened for
mally, but there was no business what
ever, and an adjournment was had prac-
tically at the same moment
Around the hotels, restaurants and bars
crowds gathered all day for a social chat,
and many an excellent lunch was made
to disappear rapidly. 1t was feast day
for the tramp as well. Not one had to go
Five cents for a beer, and he could go
ahead and eat a square meal from the
lunch table without any one to say him
nay.
The orphan asylums were bountifully
supplied with good things and every child
in them made a feast day of it. Chairman
J. Il. Fernandez of the board of stewards
Of Bethesda saw 10 it that the boys were
provided with all the turkey they could
make way with and the other usual good
things necessary to make up a Christmas
dinner. The Bethesda boys are always
taken care OF on the feast days, and they
appreciate 1.-THE attention shown them.
Those registered at the jail will likely
get their Christmas feast on Friday, when
the members of the w. G. T. u. send down
the usual annual repast Yesterday was
visitors day at the jail and friends out
side carried a good deal to those in con-
finement.
Thunderbolt lad fair day of it, the
races being the chief attraction. Good
crowds went out and the cars ran every
ten minutes. Mayor Myers and a large
party went out to the races on Feeley' s
tally-ho. There was very little scrapping
or excitement in that suburb, and about
the only arrests were those of two ne
groes who got on the fence to watch the
races, and broke il down, instead of pay
ing their fare and going through the
gate.
The usual good fellowship prevailed ev-
erywhere. Few of the jags were disor-
Derby or inclined to rowdyism, and they
were very promptly gotten out of the
way when they exhibited any such in
clinations. The poor were well taken care
of everywhere the different bands of
Kings Daughters and other charitable or
CARNATIONS looking after their welfare
and seeing that their tables were well
supplied.