The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-25
THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
THE STREETS LVELIER THAN
THEY HAVE BEEN IN YEARS.

All Sorts ana Kinds Out to See What
Was Going On-The Merchants Did
Good Business All Day-VVith
Larger Crowds, the Day Was Even
More Orderly Than 1t Has Been for
TO-day-EIabOrate Services in the
Churches.
The Christmas jewellers owned the town
last night, and a merry, noisy time they
made Of it, It is remarkable. yet true.
that while more people We're about than
Christmas eve has seen on the streets in
many year. there was far less of the
extreme rowdyism, which is often charac-
teristic of the occasion
During a part of the evening something
like 5000 people or more were crowded to-
gether on Broughton street alone, in
places where there was only room for
about $500, but they doubled up and fitted
IN so nicely that no toes were treaded on
and scraps were few and far between.
The afternoon and evening brought in evil
dence the usual concomitants and charac-
ters Of Christmas eve.
First there was the Christmas shopper
looking here, there and everywhere for
something, anything to complete the usual
list of gifts. The merchants did not have
bad day Of 1t by any means, and in
small sums a good deal of money changed
hands. Christmas presents have been more
freely purchased than has been the case
with the last two or three holiday seasons.
Then there was the man or the woman
who just wanted to see what was going
on. This class was numerous, especially
in the evening, when they Joined in to
see the sights and swell the crowd so that
there might be more to see. They just
wanted to see the fun and observe what
new methods were conjured up for fun
creation. 1t was apparently very tame,
however. THE bays don't have half the
fun they used to have" one said, when
every square had its clan and the city was
alive with bonfires."
The boys and girls who Joined in the
sport and frolic were numerous. Some
4,S3 tin horns of all shapes and sizes
were purchased, and it appeared that by
common consent they were all blown at
the same time, without intermission.
The small boy and the fire cracker was
especially in evidence, and will be no
doubt for some time to come. It was
amusing to hear the boyish arguments
and threats with which the policemen on
every beat was met but the policeman
usually convinced the boys that despite
their numbers he was the majority which,
of course, carried the question. The city
ordinance put somewhat of a quietus on
but it was more than made up for in the
numerous torpedoes and cannon crackers
that were exploded everywhere. The or
dinance seemed to be Intellectual when 1t
came to these.
The Christmas eve jag was there, but it
was quiet and in keeping with the rest or
the situation. AS a rule, 1t was one or
those easy-going, exhilerating, not so top
heavy but IL can stand an addition or
Christmas eggnog, and perhaps large
one. Some few of the holders Of them
found their way to the barracks, how
ever, but they will no doubt get the usual
Christmas present from the mayor.
The police did not have such bad time
if it, except for the fact of being on
extra duty. There were only few cam
non crackers exploded north of Jones
street. that is, only few thousand. The
police did not see these, however. They
only heard them. There We're no bon
fires. So far as known, there were no at
temptS made to have any. This portion
of the new ordinance was very success
fully enforced. 1t had been made so plain
that bontires were not to be allowed that
the boys gave up the idea entirely. To
find out who threw cannon cracker is
only a little easier than finding out who
struck Billy Patterson and the police could
hardly be expected to make many ar
rests on this score. Chief McDermott
had a good force of police on BrOughtOn
and Bull streets, and all disorder was
promptly suppressed. The number of ar
rests up to II O'Clock last night for all
causes was only twenty, which was not
many under the circumstances. After
The liquor which a large part of the
crowd had been absorbing freely had be-
gun to get in it's work by midnight and
the prospect is that there will be a large
docket for the recorder to pass upon this
morning.
The market was scene of activity up
to the time it closed. 1t was pIentifuIly
supplied with a good quality of every
thing. Many stands were deliberately dec
GRATED.
The poor people of the city will no doubt
be amply provided for to-day. Arrange
ments have been made in many quarters
to supply them with Christmas eatables
and joy and happiness will be carried into
many a humble household. The Kings
Daughters are doing a, good work in this
direction. Circle No distributed provis-
ions from its headquarters at New Houston
and Drayton streets yesterday morning
to thirty-fve families, or about $50 people
Each family was given enough for at least
two good days of eating, there being in
each basket a good supply of provisions
not come often. The other bands are max
ing similar arrangements to extend aid
to others, and for a short while at least
it looks as though want would be thing
unknow. The orphanages will all be amply
provided for to-day, and every child in
them will no doubt enjoy a good Christ
mas dinner.
There will be services in nearly all of
the churches this morning and at most
of them elaborate programmes of music
will be sung
The day being a legal holiday all the
government offices except the postoffce
will be closed and business generally will
be suspended after noon, and the day
civ n ia1 mi