Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-25
TITS CHRISTMAS-DAY.
PREPARATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE
FOR A MERRY CELEBRATION.
SIGNIFICANCE OF The FESYIV L,
Brilliant Music and Attractive
Church scrvtces--Fcasts for Poor
and Prisonerx-Factory Employees
Receive Gifts--0Id-WorId Customs.

Christmas is here in all his blum and
hearty honesty 1t is the season OF hos
oitai!ty. merrlment. and en-heartedness.
The old year is prepared. like an ancient
philosopher. to call his friends around
him. and. amidst the sounds OF feasting
and revelry to pass gently and calmly
away.
Numerous indeed are the hearts 70
which Christmas brings brief season OF
happiness and enjoyment. How many
families whose members have been DIS
persed. and scattered far and wide in
tie restless struggles Of life. are now
reunited. and meet once again In the
happy state of companionship and mutual
goodwill. which is the source OF such
peace and unalloyed delight.
Though winter Is the season Of the
king" yet 1t comes sweet and refresh
ing as the summer breeze in LIES heated
battle. and as genial sunshine. radiatng
the moral universe with Its bengnani
beams OF love and mercy. 1t Is time
when the ties OF brotherhood making the
whole world akin. seem TO be more real,
and when the efforts Of the more favored
children of4ortune are directed to cheer
ing the faint. succoring the weak. raising
the fallen. and supplanting gloom with
JOY and gladness.
DOWN THROUGH TINES CORRIDORS
The sweet music of the angelic choir,
that entranced the shepherds on Juded
plains on the first Christmas morning
long. long ago still rings down through
the corridors of time None OF its In
-. Al -tsftp ytt m
has been lost, and IL still joyously pro-
claims peace on earth; goodwill towards
men," and bids us TO emulate the example
of the Christ-chid. TO send CLEAN OF
sunshine into some dark. despondent
soul to raise up same dropping spirit, or
tighten some burdenb bearers load, ana
b. kindly acts. born OF that charity which
seeketh not Der own, contribute TO the
amelioratlon and elevation of our com
mon humanity.
Christmas-Day is the only time in the
long calendar Of the year when men and
women SEEM by one consent, 10 open
them shut-up hearts freely. and 10 think
OF people around them as II they really
were fellow-pa ssengers TO the grave, ana
not another race of creatures bound on
some other journey.
How many old recOllectioLs. and how
many dormant sympathies does Christ
mas time awakenl Happy. happy Christ
mas that can win US back TO the decisions
of our childish days; that can recall 10
the old man the pleasures of his youth:
that can transport the wanderer and the
traveller thousands Of miles away. back
TO his own freside and his quiet home.
Many of the hearts that throbbed so
gayly then have ceased to beat: many
of the looks that shone so brightly then
have ceased 10 glow; the hands we
grasped have grown cold, the eyes we
sought have hid their lustre in the grave,
and yet the old home. the merry voices,
and smiling faces: the jest the laugh, the
most minute and trivial circumstance
connected with these happy meetings,
crowd upon our minds at each recurrence
of the season, as if the last assembage
had been but yesterday.
IN THIS LAND AND OTHERS.
Ii is a significant fact that the two
great Christian NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and
Easter-occur at the same time as
heather festivals which are closely con-
nected with the worship of the sun
that glorious orb which gives light to the
world In all civilized countries the an
nual recurrence of Christmas has been
celebrated with festivals OF various kinds.
In none. however, was ii more joyfully
welcomed than in England. where. even
fled In that country 1t was the custom
on Christmas Eve. after the usual devo-
lions were over. TO light large candles.
and throw on the hearth a huge log.
called the 'Yule log" or Christmas block.
At court and I'm the houses of the wealthy
an officer was appointed, and called the
Lord of Misruie" whose duty it was
to lead and superintend the revels. In
Scotland. also. an officer was appointed
to perform similar functions, and was
called the Abbot Of Unreason. The reign
of the master of ceremonies began on All
Hallow-Eve and lasted until Candlemas.
The minor deviltry incident to the occa-
sion consisted Of gaming conjuring, dip
ping for nuts and apples. dancing. fool
plough. hot cookies, blind mans bun, and
a number of other games. The houses
and churches were decorated with ever
green's and with mistletoe, to which a
traditional sacredness has been attached
since the days of the Druids.
The offices Of Lord OF Misrule" and
abbot of Unreason" were abolished by
special act of Parliament in the year
1866. but the celebration has followed
pretty much along these same lines, even
up 10 the present time. and the character
istics of the old-time Christmas have
been preserved by those who have left
the Mother Country for the hospitable
shores of the New World.
IN THE FATHERLAND
The celebration in the German colony,
which forms such a large and important
part in the community. began last night.
Houses were garlanded and great feast
was prepared Christmas-trees. loaded
down with presents for all. were bril-
liantly illuminated. and for two or three
hours the cares of life were forgotten
Thus the German Christmas was pretty
well over before the day itself dawned
though this evening there will be dancing
and much music and merriment.
Among the French and the Italians
Christmas is generally regarded as
children's festival yet all give themselves
up to the pleasures Of the day. There are
no presents, and the houses are not deco
rated
Every one will observe the festival in
some way or other. even the heather
Chinese pay some sort of observance TO IT,
regarding II as an annual big Sunday"
and the Celestials will feast and play
fan-tan and enjoy themselves generally.
CHURCH SERVICES TO-DAY.
The day In Richmond Will be given up
to mirth and good cheer 1t will open
with the usual religious services i'm honor
Of the Babe Of Bethlehem. In the Catho-
&c churches solemn high mass will be
celebrated at o'clock and 1920 O'clock
and there will DE low masses at intervals
between those hours. Special services
will be held in all the Episcopal churches,
and will be very elaborate as To music.
At Centenary Methodist Episcopal church
The congregations Of the several Methodist
churches Will unite In a Christmas ser
vice, TO be held az oclo Is morning.
ffeys. DIR. Paul Whitehc4- and Il. M
RpCkhafa will conduct the cQrVfcp