Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-27

HARD TIMES, hut MUCH PRAOrI-
CAL CHARITY IN BERLIN.
GERMAN IMPERIAL EEIoYEEEr.
auIet Home Dinncr-Trse for the
Chiidren-Army secret DiyuIgetI-.
Tois'oi to lie Excommunicsted-
New Telegraph CabIea

BERLIN. December %-The Christ.
mas holidays this year have been very
much duller than for many years past.
The tr5desmen have been greatly dis
satisfied at the lack OF holiday business
in comparison with other years. and the
workinEmen have been dlscobtenfed at
the slackness OF work and the conse-
quent scarcity OF money with which to
provide their families with the bare me-
cessities OF life. to say nothing of the
purchase OF Christmas goods Added to
this state OF affairs. the damp. raw
weathe., which has prevailed for tho last
few days, and still endures. has had q
dispiritng effect upon everybody, the
absence OF the old-sime. crisp frosts at
Christmastide having deprived rhe period
of It's usual glow OF festivity. Last
Christmas the tradesmen complained OF
bad business. but the social agree In de.
claring that this year It Is far worse. It
is net n lack of attractive Inducements.
that rstards shoppers from buying.
There Vas never better dSnplay IN tho
| shop windows; nor was there ever so
| tasteful an arrangement Of holiday goods?
| under TIE brilliancy OF electric-lghts. or
a more elaborate drapcry OF the stores.
| Nevertheless. the jewellers and all other
tradesmen who were relying upon reap
| ing a harvest through their Christmas
| sales, are complaining bitterly OF their
inability 20 do a satisfactory or even a
moderate degree OF business: and II is
| only ths cheaper toy-shops and stores
| dealing IN fancy articles that are doing
any business at all
Though less money has been spent in
the purchase OF Christmas presents. how
ever. great deal moro than usual has
been beotowed upon the absolutely dest,-
tute classes In addition to those all
| ready eSisting. two night refugees were
opened on christmas-Eve. where yester-
| day food and clothing were distributed
| 10 hundreds or distressed persons. Tho
number OF bazaars in behalf Of various
! charities have also been increased, and
houso-to-house collections 10 aid poor
children have been made. In conse-
quence IF this increase in charitable WORK.
| there were general Christmas treats Of
dinners at the asyums. PRISONS casual
whrde. soup-kitchens. donations 10 hos
pitals. etc, 10 a deCree OF benefcence
| beyond precedent. The donations ex-
ceeded all pre- vious years In respect OF
abundance, too. and tie charities 20
! which they were devoted were much
wider " scope.
IMPERIAL HOUSEHOLD.
The ELlperor's two eldest sons-Crown-
Prince William end Prince Eitel Frede-
| rick-arI.yed at the new palace. at Pots
| dam, Tuesday. from Ploen College, where
they are pursuing their stulies for the
purpose OF enjoying the holidays with
their parents. on Christmas-Evs the
Imperial family and tho servants OF their
household assembled In the ante-room OF
a.. ~.
the Empress aad her children presented
the doinestios belonging 10 the household
with gifts. The Emperor and Empress.
| with the whole court. and the Prince and
| Princess, OF Schaumburg-I.ippe then
dined in the Marble Hall Of the palace.
At p. NJ. the Chrlstmas-trees were
lighted, and the presents displayed In
the grotto OF the salon. Conspicuous
upon the Emperors table was an i'm
mense silver goblet and n carved clock
five feet high, from the Grand Duchess
OF Baden. the Emperor's aunt. The I'M
perial children ran about the salon in
high glee, showing the members OF tho
court the presents they had received.
The Empress Frederick is spending the
Christmas holidays with her son. Prince
Henry. os Prussia. and his wife. tho
Princess Irene. at Kiel.
ARMY AFFAIRS.
There is high authority for stating that
the War pffice is undecided whether or
not to present TO the Rechstag a bill.
| asking for a very large increased credit
for the augmentation oS the artillery
branch OF the army at the present sas-
sion OF tie legislative body. The goy-
ernment l, anxious 10 secure an enor-
nous credit for the purpose OF carry
ing out its plans for the addition OF
new artillery, but there is no certainty
-. IL. -.
General Won Gossler, Minister OF War.
I'm the course OF recent address 10 tho
Budget Committee of the Reichstag in
regard 10 a new gun which he described
as being superior TO the new French
"Cane" quick-fring gun. asked the MEM
bers OF the commission TO observe the
strictest secrecy concerning the gun.
Some indiscreet member. however. dis
closed the whole plan OF the gun. and the
Budget Committee has begun a search-
ing inquiry with the view OF ascertaining
which OF its members has shown him.
self unfit 70 be trusted with the secrets
of the body.
TOLsTOI.
Adyiees from ST. Petersburg say that
a sensation has been created there by
the decision OF the Holy Synod TO ex-
communicate Count Lyof Tolstoi. tho
| Russian author, from the orthodox
church upon the ground that his works
are calculated to and DO undermine the
Church. The synod was melted 70 this
action by NJ. Pobedonostzon, the Pro-
| cureur-Generai OF the Synod, who pro-
poses to summon Count Tolstoi before the
synod for trial, which will involve his
being deprived OF his civil rights.
NEW CABLES.
The marine cable has been completed
from Emden. PRUSSIA. TO Nigo, spain.
| ,,,hfch links the German tciegraDhlc Sys-
TEN with the South American and other
systems Capital has been furnished by
an Angio-German syndicate for the con-
| struction OF the first section or sub
marine cable between Germany and the
| United States. via. the Azores.