The morning times., 1896-12-26
WAS A J2lY CHRISTMAS
Everybody in Washington Ap'
peared to Have a Good Time.
FESTIVITIES NOT YET ENDED
Superb weather Induced Many to
Go Riding and Walking-Others
Attended the Theaters-Matine ees
Treat for the Little Ones-AIl
Were Happy.

WaShington's Christmas was jolly one.
1t began as all Christmas days do, sometime
the day before and has not ended yet
Certainly there will be the everyday citi-
zen who will 20 back to his desk, or his
bench, or his tool chest this morning and
look back on the day as mere bright
spot of presents and dinner. And then
there are others.
There are those who celebrated the day.
In fact, they were feature as they are
on all Christmas days. They began when
the days was fresh. They were int the same
condition. But then there were Merry
Christmases'' to follow and eggnog, and
Tom and Jerry and flips and negus,
Then came cabs and cracked ice, and soda
water, and strong coffee, and heads that
would gladly have changed places with
a bale Of cotton, and this morning the
celebrants will send down word that they
are under the weather.
The employers, those who are at their
places of business, will frown a bit, then
smile, and remember something about
Christmas showing up one day in 365 and
the sins will be scratched out.
The weather.
On the question of the quality of yes
terday's weather, there was a division.
Those who thought it snpurb, and they
were legion, put on their ulsters and furs
and tramped out to enjoy it, There is no
doubt that the sun was n fine one
Those who thought the puckcring strings
of the North Pole bad been broken and the
whole consignment of concealed atmos-
rbp Iva linn
within doors. They, too, were legion.
Both legions found pleasure These who
went out rode about for awhile in their
smart traps with robes and jinglinG chains
that were next best to sleigh bells. Others
walked on the sunny side of the street
and watched the hundreds Of others who
did the same thing.
OF course many went to church. The
bells rang for early mass long before the
sun was up, and from then until the IL
O'Clock services the streets were thronged
with church people, going To and from the
places Of worship.
Besides the walksand drives in the after
noon along camelhe football game and the
bicycle race. A still greater attraction was
the matinees. Every theater in the city
was open TO the Christmas throng and the
stage people were well repaid. for their
efforts.
At the Theaters.
In the boxes and dow in the front rows
were children galore. Many times they
We're better than the shows, and that is
saying nothing wrong Of the performances
or the performers either The Youngsters
would sit with eyes as wide open as fold
ing beds and hold their toys III their arms
as they watched every move and heard
every sound.
Then the legion that did not go out.
It sat a long time about the Christmas
board. Those who'went out ate dinner
too. but they did not dine-at least many
OF them did not. The .sta t-homes ate
and ate and ate, and when they finally
pushed back from the table they vowed, il
can be imagined, that they would not want
another thing to eat for the he xt fortnight.
But il is q wager that before two hours
had rolled away the selfSame individuals
were eating oranges and candy and telling
the children jokes and playing with toys
| as though they never had grown up.
Evening Scenes.
In the evening the scenes of the day We're
largely repeated. a great deal of the
| crowd stirred about to see the other part
of the crowd. The tin horns that had been
| playing in solos and duets during the day
now made n chorus. Jolly college boys
| with hair that seldom felt the cruel touch
| OF the scissors, and with voices gone astra,
| in a whole days misuse, pranced up and
| down the Avenue and eyed pretty girls
The Jagged" ones, those who had borne
up nanfully through the day, began tC
| realize the terrible odds they had to en-
| counter, and one by one fell by the way
| side and were hustled off home by sympa-
| thetic friends.
Again the thcaters claimed the crowds
| and they took possession with that free
| dom characteristic OF American holiday
| audiences. Everybody seemed happy, an(
| until far into the night everybody observed
the day in one way or another.