Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-20
0LD-TIME CHRISTMAS.
HOW ONE WAS HAPPILY SPENT IN
TIDEwATER VIRGINIA.
1 WEEK OF SOCIAL PESTIVITY.
A Large Party from tho City Goes
Down to Help Turn Out o Brother
and Sfstcr--A LOttery-TfcLet That
Drew the Grand Prize.

Pihy, BoOu
cheer
For Christmas comes but once year"
Something for Christmas7 Well, the
subject is excellent and opportune. 1t
has engaged the pens of the best writer's
in prose and poetry. Some have learned
ly inquired into its origin: some have
set forth eloquently its deep significance.
and others have descanted jovially upon
its social observances and Influences.
Tho poems Of Herricl contain descrip-
tions Of old English celebrations OF
Christmas. The glowing pen OF Milton
has celebrated The Nativity" and its
great sequence; Paradise Regained,"
and THE Cricket on the Hearth" Is not
the only memorial of Xmas which the
genius of Dickens has left us. 1t has
always been at once a religious, do
nestle, and merrymaking festival in Eng
land and in somo of her Colonies.
1t was necessarily religious, because /,
stood for the advent OF the divine Re-
deemer OF self-runed world. The
Avatar of Avatars. Whether this
took place on our 18th of December or
not. all the best part OF that world for
whose sake He condescended to visit IL.
have adopted that date and around it
have clustered and concentrated all the
hallowed associations which belong to
the greatest event in human history.
Pulpits and pews innumerable through
out Christendom will duly commence
rate the gladstone anniversary in its re-
ligious aspects. All that shall be left
to the churches. their pastors, and peo-
pie.
HAPPY TIME WITH THE SLAVES.
The present paper will be devoted 10 n
social and festive Old Dominion Christ
mas. In no other part OF this country.
or OF any other has this joyous season
been more enjoyed; and by no part OF
her population has II been more highly
relished than by the happy and we'll
treated slaves on her plantations. The
holidays and numerous indulgences and
relaxations OF white and colored were
not confined 10 Xmas day. but com
menced before II and extended several
days after. Where pop-crackers could
not be obtained powder could. and an
Wis with rings beneath them were made
to reverberate like well-hedged cannon;
barrel-keys had touch-holes filed into
them, and towing pieces were fired so
often that they had to be cooled. for
fear that they would go off whilst being
loaded. Indoors. ample supplies had
been laid in, and were used and dis
tributed without stint, and along with
Southside Madeira and excellent sherry
flowed the memorable mint-julep, the
Jolly eggnog. and the inviting apple
toddy. No wonder that the merry chorus
sprang up:
christmas comes but once a year,
Let everybody have his share"
Families came together for these fes-
tivities. and often went from house 10
house 10 spread them and keep them up.
and any excuses which the liberality
and hilarity Of the protracted season oc-
casioned were almost too readily con-
doned.
BOUGHT a HABANA LOTTERY
TICKET.
There was some years ago a Virginia
gentleman Of good social position. hand
some. agreeable and of a high and libe-
raj spirit, who became connected, by MS
marriage to a refined and admirable
lady. with some of the leading families
of the State. He was, however. some
what self-indulgent and not sufficiently
worldly-wise in business affairs. Still he
was popular and highly esteemed. He and
his family, which continued to grow
up as "olive plants around his table"
lived on a still large plantation, which his
wife inherited. IL was a historical place
and had been more extensive. 1t was
situated on one of those fine Virginia
rivers along both of whose banks the
most generous hospitality had been ex
ercised for several generations. Perhaps
he did not husband the family resources
and may not have lived within his income.
But it is not intended here to go into
these private affairs. for many men have,
u-ffborf cftch causa n apfuata than
done as he did. One day in Richmond
he ventured to purchase ticket In the
great Habana lottery which offered very
large prizes. Three dealers in lottery
tickets I'm Richmond are well remem-
bered-Chastain Clarke, Caddis b. Luck.
and ID. Marvin Hoyt One morning all
Richmond was thrown into CONSERVATION
by the intelligence that Hoyt had been
killed by William r. Myers for criminal
correspondence with his wife. Myers was
tried and acquitted; his wifes amorous
letters TO Hoyt were published, and he
obtained a divorce. but she married again.
DREW THE CAPITAL PRIZE.
Probably it was Clarke who sold the
ticket TO the heightened Virginian. when
the drawing took place that No. which he
held entitled its owner TO the one hun
dred thousand dollar prize, which was. In
due time, with the usual deductions paid
TO him. II he had been laboring under
any financial difficulty it was now re-
moved and with his good fortune there
came TO him the wise determination 10
exercise more prudence and self-control
in his future life. His family were placed
in a condition OF ease and plenty and
bright and joyous prospects opened
around and before them. Though now
so comfortable and happy, he did not,
h.. .f,k Of In II1lx
Scripture, say: Soul thou hast much
goods laid up for many years; take thine
ease, eat drink and be merry" and
no such quick response came to him as:
Thou fool this night shall thy soul
be required of thee" Still. he was by
no means niggardly in the supplies or
good things which he provided, not only
for the present. but for the reasonable
future, and these he generously shared
with his friends and neighbors. He dis
pensed a wide and elegant hospitality.
But, in the orderings of an Advise Proyi-
dence, II was not many years before
he was called from all his earthly pur
suits and blessings and sorrowing friends
and loved ones laid him to rest in his
tomb. His most estimable widow was
terribly east down. but not destroyed"
for she possessed sincere piety and exer-
cised Christian resignation and fortitude.
MADE THEIR DEBUT AT CHRISTMAS.
She now had upon her hands and her
heart the management OF the estate. and
the rearing and education OF four at
tractive and promising children--two sons
and two daughters. All this she. with
proper assistances. we'll achieved. and
was noted for her dignity, refinement,
and pensive sweetness OF disposition.
There was not more exemplary matron
in all this wide Commonwealth. AT
length the time arrived when the eldest
son and daughter were ready to come
out" but they had already seen a good
deal OF the best society of the Old Do
minion. and that which the Old Dominion
attracts within her borders. for the family