Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-24
CURISTMASEVE HERE
ppOpls Become More BnthuSed as the
Great Holiday Approaches.
.,rprsTl>G STREET SCENES.
-. Of the Incidents worthy OF
>ctc-Crovds Upon tho Mai" Th"-
~hfarcs-tNcnts Of To-Mcrrow.
rtc ua, nj the Temple.


..sristmas-p Day draws nearer and
..-,r the crowds on our main thorough
,s Grow larger add larger. Huge,
..--,f,~.. jos;lng. good-naturod crowds
srr whose one desire seems TO be
rs~isn care and 20 rcvcl in the pure
....ni OF selecting from among the beau
.. and useful thirgs displayed in the
,.- tokens OF love and tributes OF os-
..- f-r those who arc near ana dear
..,~, Their eayety is infectious, and
10. 0.eil-nigh impossible 10 stroll through
r.t or Main streets without be
-r intoxicated with the general en-
..asm and entering into the gayety
... sr.ri az the gladdost and happicst
...,al ~ an the year around which
..s..- 50 many fond and tender memo
... and which is 50 much IN evi-
..-.. 4 walk up Broad street yestor-
... MAS as cnlghtcning and as interest
-g AS a study in anthropology. All
....s and conditions Of men. women. and
.r~sn thronged the pathway from
e.. fir-e the shops were opened in the
.-,-rIr- until they closed after 10
.-,-k az night Their foibles, :hsir
,4skresses. their whims. and fancies,
-- all worn on the surface, as taeN
...-.fs1 and strove TO reach the goal
-f.rsr several ambitions. and encounter
- ana ovcrcame numborloss obstacles in
So l'.ng
OPENED BACK DOORS
-., stores were crowded in every
..-.-.meni. and many of the merchants
g,'-f % advisable 10 open the pack
t,. in order that the crowd might
end rcadicr means Of ogress. The dis
r.,rs $40 the leading emporiums have al
.afr been described in these columns;
nav include everything. from The rarest
.-f os,Nest bric-a-hrac and art trea-
.ss to the cheapest and homeliest ar
-r.s The stocks seem almost mex
l.,stihie. and. As fast as the shelves
.-r counters become depetsl they are
.---rtlv renewed great advance IS
-...ne in the window decorations.
rr.-r are more elaborate than ever. and
f some instances are quite unique III
t-.- way. santa Claus Is much IN evil
fs-r % course. and IS the cynosiue
% t.a eyes Of every tiny mite, whose
.-srr has not yet been destroyed
-..-e are all sorts OF mechanical dolls
s-i other toys. going through all man
-r or wonderful feats: mountains OF
.-rs which draw forth ccstatic eNclama-
--r- from children o. al ages.
THE LOVELY WINDOWS.
The window -drsss,rs' art has Teen
taxed 90 all directions, but right well
'as 30 withstood Tie test. IN the com
frs-on Of col1.s. ia the erection Of
90 sorts % designs. ard IN he gene
gel disposition " every kind Ct article.
Ia.aI. w. u
1a desired They are "A feat TO the
.r-- and as tempting as they are beau
The markets were crowded GU
-.- the hours that hey were open. and
- ras stated that ths sale- had fully
.-.Wsred the expectations of che venlois.
Every basket, small or large that Was
carried thither came out hllci 10 over
f1wng. The prices were much as usual.
.-l the quality Of the goods was QDte
rp 10 the average.
There was the inevitable rush yester-
Cav in the exprsss-ofico. the post-ofhce
and in the freight departments Of the rail-
rsvs. where immense numbers Of parcels
70 an sorts. sizes and descriptions were
hurried of IN all directions.
THIS THE GREAT DAY.
To-day viii be a day Of keen aniicipa-
-.rn Tor many. and tomorrow Will come
lie realization. There will be elaborate
and beautiful services In most OF our
.rrrches. in the morning. particularly In
edo. Catholic and Episcopalian. and the
..ralnder Of the day VIII be given over
.- merry-msking and festivities Of all
.,--e Many social functions are an
r-rnced % take place. and in the hote-s
end public restaurants the dinners which
rave been arranged 20 mark the occasion
--a ciruse and seasonable.
LARGE numbers OF Christmas gifts were
..r ~ an the hospitals and charitable
as-fltions yesterday, and at the Lee
CAMP soldiers Home several barrels Of
,.s-ers were received from the Pickett
ranan Camp Confederate veterans
Norfolk
.-. menu for the annual dinner at the
era Home tomorrow Will be as fol-
-t.rsl OYSTERS. Roast Turkey. Gram
rn sauce. Brunswick stew: Roast
S.st apple Sauce, Baked Ham. Wheat
7re corn Bra al; Sweet Potatoes Irish
nonIr.e. Mixed pickle. Celery; Cheese;
Crackers. Oranges. Apples; Bananas;
-l. SINS Mixed Candy; Mincc-Pie;
rrIt-c. be-. P0und-Cakc; Currant-Cake
Cro.os-a-Cakc; sponge-Cake; Tea; COZ
tes Cigars.
cHBI STAAs At THE TEMPLE.
members Of the Commandery Of
f andrew NO r. Knights Templsr. arr
offered 90 assemble al noon on Christ
r-Usr Tor the usual festivities or that
r holiday on this occasion this year
Glowing toast viii be drunk:
lrr Most Eminent Grand Master
". LaHle Thomas
lr duty 10 command; our duty to
chy
taI Christ. OUT Heavenly Master, bless
and point the way
I'M which the Grand Master is expected
Z. .rf the following response:
tto Noble Fratsrs Of Noble
.. ommsnd with love. 10 obey with
Irsf
h meet the approval Of Christ above.
Tho annual meeting and traditional BAN
r..t of Acca Temple. Mystic Shrlne. viii
l hold Goa Thursday evening, December
-tr 40 tho Masonic Temple. Potentate
George H. Street will preside. and an
'.rrg OF rare pleasure Is assured all
VINO attend. The annual election Of ON
r. vn occur. and the banquet. which
te in tho Grand Lodge banquet hall,
F embrace one Of the most delightful
.ls ever served by Crand-Steward
.ralse The invitations sent out to the
ins are very appropriately gotten up
s-. embrace a poem by Eugene Field
-------e-