The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-27
CHRISTMAS IN BERLIN
Bad Weather and The Scarcity Of Money
Make The TradeSmen GrumbIe.
SPLENDID CHARITY OF THE WEALTHY
IL Reached n POint Hardly Ever
Known Brtore-uow the impcrin,
Family spent Chrixtmns-The Gov.
crnm"nt wants lncrcnsed Army
Appropriations.


Appropriations
Berlin, Dec. 2G-The Christmas hol-
DAYS ihis year have been very much
dniler ghan for many years past. The
taGesmen have been greatly dissatls-
lied at the lack of holiday business In
comparison with other years, and the
woTkinsmen have been dscontented at
the slackness of work and the conse.
queni scarcity of money with which TO
provide their families with she bare ne
cesSit!es of life. to say nothing OF the
purchase OF Christmas goods.
Added TO this state of affairs. the
damp raw weather which has prevailed
for the last few days ana stili cndures.
mas had d!spirlting effect upon every
BODY, the absence of the od-iimc crisp
irusls AT Christmastide having deprived
me period of It's usual glow OF Tcstiyitv
Ia 4 Christina: the Iradesmen com
pIia.ned OF bad business, but they ali
agree in declaring this year that IL Is
i"' worse II Is not the lack of at
'iactiVe Inducements that reilrd shop
pefs from buying. There never was
better display in shop windows, nor
'N4s there ever so tasteful an arrange.
hent OF holiday goods under the bril-
nancy OF elec.rlc l!gh.s, or a more clab-
o"aie drapery OF the sto.es Ncvcrthc-
Tess the jewelers. and all other trades
men VINO were relying upon reapinE
harvest through Christmas sales are
complaining bite ly of their Inability
10 do a satisfactory or even a moIerai @
ueSree OF business, and II Is only the
cheaper toy shops and stores deIling In
fancy articles that are doing any busi-
ness at all.
MUCH GIVEN TO THE POOR.
Al houEh less money has been spent
IN the purchase of Christmas presents
however, great deal mo than usua
ma been bestowed upon the absolutely
destitute classes
Ia addition to thoEc already existing
Two night refugees were opened on
IhIis'mas eve where yesterday food
ana clothing were distributed to hun
be; of blzaars in behalf OF various
dreiS of d!stre. sed persons The num-
CHARITIES nave also been incrca ed and
hou e'.o- house collections TO aid poor
chlidfeE nave been made. In conse-
quencc Of this Increase in charitable
work there were general Christmas
'icAts 'i dinners at the asy'ums y is
ons. casualty wards. soup Kitchens. do
nations 10 hospitals. etc. to a degree of
benchcence beyond precedent The do
nations exceeded all previous years in
20 which they were devoted were much
wider in scope
The Empero,'s iWo eldest sons.
Crown prince William and Prince
Eltel reder.ck-arr,ved a. the new pal
ace at POlsdam Tuesday from Ploen
college where they are pursuing their
studies. 70: the purpose Of enjoying the
holidays with their parcuts. ON Christ
ma; eve the Imperial family and the
servants OF their household assembled
In the antc-roam of the apartments Of
he u nrcss, where the Empress and
her children presented the domestics
belonging to the household with gifts
The Emperor and Empress with The
whole Court ana Prince and Princess
OF Hrhtul1IuiG- Ihrpc, then dined In the
marble hall OF the palace. At ) o'clock
III me afternoon the Christmas lgc.
wee l!ghted and the presents dis PLAYED
in tn. salon.
INCREASED ARMY ESTIMATES
The Empress Frederick Is spending
me chr.s-nls holidays with her son.
Prince Henry of Pru sia. and his wife
Princess Irene. at k!cl.
There iS nigh authority for s;atjnn
mat me war Office i; undecided whether
or no; 10 present 10 the Ec.chstag a bill
ASKING Tor very largely increased
credit for tho auginen i.un of the ar
tiIery branch Of the army at the pres
ent css!on Of the legislative body. The
Cove nrIent Is lnXi-us To secure an
enormous cfcdi: for the purpose OF car
rynG out lis plans for the ada! ION o:
new artillery. nut there is 80 certainty
t"a' the present kaicnst taE VIII grant it,
Gen. Won Go Sic, Minister of War
IN the course of a recent address % the
Budget Committee In regard 10 new
gun, which he described as being yu-
pa!ior To the new F.luch "canc." quick
firing gun asked Ire members Of the
Fsrt s1sfs' q ,a.. -.