Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-24
CHRISTMAS DINNERS.
EVERYBODY PREPARING ron a
RIG FEAST TOMORROW.
THE MARKETS WE'LL PATRONIIED.
Extra Menus VIII he Served nj the
Hotels and In the Eieemosynary
and Penal fpstituuons-Turkey
and vegetables In Abundance.

and the other concomitants Of a flTst-class
Christmas dinner are hoating through the
average mind and everybody is making
preparations for enjoying themselves 70
the full extent tomorrow. Christmas
without a good dinner is no Christmas al
all. according to the more improved no
tons OF that holiday. and as the good
hous wives OF Richmond thoroughly APP
preciate this fact they have been for
weeks preparing for the dinner which they
will serve to their families tomorrow.
Plum puddlngs have been boiled long
ago and hung up to dry; fruit cakes ana
every other kind of cake known 10 the
human mind have been baked and put
away for tomorrow. and the markets
have been invaded for tho past two OF
three days until the butchers and huck
siers aud stall-keepers generally have
been put 10 their wits end to get enough
meat an vegetables with which to sup
ply the demand.
PRICES REMAIN REASONABLE
Notwithstanding this. prices have not
advanced. and a good Christmas dinner
such as poets have sung Of. may be pur-
chased at a very reasonable price, Tur-
keys. the one fowl which IS annually
sacrificed for the Christmas dinner, are
selling for shilling a pound. and some
choice ones were displayed in the markets
yesterday Chickens bring 10 cents per
pound, spiced beef Is selling for nine
pence, as Is also tongue corned ham, ana
.r.l
also selling for ninepence
Ducks are bringing Is cents per pound
end old hares are being sold in abundance
for Is cents each In the vegetable mar
kets cabbages are selling for from 10
cents "a head; celery from . 10 30 cents
per bunch: Irish potatoes. 60 cents "a
bushe; sweet potatoes. % cents a bushel;
apples. IS cents to 81 per barrel; cram
berries, 10 cents a quart: peas, cents
quart, and beans. s. cents bushel.
These prices were Willingly paid yester-
day by the throngs Of purchasers who
pushed and wedged their ways through
the markets and eagerly bought where the
best goods could be found for the least
money. The markets closed at the usual
hour yesterday. but. as is customary on
Christmas-EVe they viii remain open
throughout to-day and until late tonight
IN order TO accommodate those who have
not yet laid in their holiday supplies.
PROVISION MADE FOR ALL
Private residences are not the only
places where good Christmas dinners will
he served tomorrow. The hotels and
boarding-houses throughout the city have
prepared elaborate menus for the one
meal of the year which all look forward
TO enjoying. and in all the eleemosynary
and penal institutions Of the city extra
menus will be served TO the inmates.
The old soldiers at the Lee-Camp Home
viii be given frst-olass dinner, con-
sisting Of stewed oysters roast turkey
with cranberry sauce. roast shoat and
apple sauce. Brunswick stew, baked ham
sweet potatoes, cold slaw, Irish potatoes.
mixed pickles. celery. cheese and crack
ers. oranges. apples, bananas nuts. con-
fectioneries. raisins, mince pie. fruit cake
pound cake currant cake. chocolate cake.
sponge cake. tea. coffee, and cigars. The
oysters 10 be served at this meal were
donated by Pickett-Bucbanan Camp, OF
Norfolk.
Superintendent Davis viii serve a sDe
cial dinner to the inmates of the aims
house. and viii on Monday night give
them an entertainment, at which refresh
ments will be served them. The dinner to-
morrow will consist Of roast turkey
corned beef and turnips, baked sweet POI
tatoes, slaw. prunes. apples. oranges
mince pie. jelly. pound and wine cake.
CONVICTS FARE WELL.
The penitentiary is a cherries place, at
best; but 70 those convlcts who behave
themselves the officials try to make it
as pleasant as circumstances viii admit.
1t is. customary for a special Christmas
dinner TO be served there each year,
and tomorrow will be no exception.
The men and women VIII be given a
days rest. and dinner Of pOrk-pie.
apples. and cakes will be served them.
In addition TO this, those who have work
ed overtime and have money 10 their credit
in the Office. can have made for them
selves in the prison kitchen anything they
want. As great many OF the in
mates have overtime. the cooks have
been busy for weeks, making special
orders of cake. etc. and there win hard
~ ne one cell in the prison tomorrow
in which a cake is not cut. An enter
tainment will be given in The
chapel in the afternoon. and those con-
victs who care for 1t will be RECALLED with
sacred music and an interesting pro-
gramme OF exercises.
The usual dinner for holiday occasions
will be served at the city jail. and De-
putty Sergeant Claiborne Epps was en-
gagged yesterday in purchasing the vari-
served tomorrow TO the guests Of the
Hotel de Epps.
FOR THE ORPHAN BOYS.
Mrs. Gill. who is ever thoughtful of the
boys entrusted to her care at the Male
Orphan Asylum, has made all prepare
lions for giving them a glorious time du-
ring Christmas week. and the little fell
lows are already whetting their appe-
tites, and looking forward with great
relish TO the good things that are 70 come
when Santa Claus strikes the city. To-
night every one of them will hang up h 5
stocking. and Mrs. Gill. who has been
IN communication with Santa Claus, has
assurance from that good. old gentleman
that every stocking will be hiled before
morning.
The boys will Ire given ample time on
Christmas morning to go through their
stockings and examine the things that
came from the ether fellows stocking
end they will then be assembled I'm the
chapel. where a praise service VIII be
conducted Those Of the children who
have relatives in Che city Will be allowed
10 visit them for awhile after breakfast
and when all hare reassembled i'm the
asylum a Chris mas dinner viii be
served. Fireworks viii be discharged
on the lawn on Christmas evening and
on the 2sth next Tuesday, the frolic will
be brought 10 a close by a Christmas
tree celebration. and Santa Claus will
play a return enlargement. bring ns the
boys such presents as he thinks best for
them. The board will meet on this oc-
casion. and. aftef the entertainment. a
big dinner Will la served. as only Mrs.
Gill knows how.
BASKETS, FOR THE POOR.
The poor Of ths city. whose name is
legion. and who are scattered from one