Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-03
Az UNIQUE FESTIVAL"
Sensational Arrival Of Santa Claus
at Holy Trinity Church.

at Holy Trinity Church.
The Christmas celebration by the sun
day school Of the Church OF the Holy
Trinity took place last Monday Woly
| Innocents' Day, at hah-past o'clock IN
the afternoon and WAS participated in
/ by about ono hundred and eighty chill
dren. and quite a number OF grown peo-
! pie.
! The Sunday-school room had been beau
| tifully dressed I'm evergreens for Christ-
mas. A procession was formed i'm the
! Sunday-school roOm ana headed by a
vested choir. composed Of the school
choir. part OF the church choir and some
! friends from 9th. r churches, who kindly
volunteered marched into the church
singing the hymn, "Oh, Come, All Ie
! Faithful
! In the church was held beautiful and
appropriate service, consisting Of prayers
land the singing Of carols. conducted by
the rector Rev. j. ]. Gravatt, and an ex-
ceedingly interesting address by the Rev
Mr.. Nash. At the conclusion Of the
service the procession was reformed. and
singing the carol, ION the Birthday OF
/ the Lord" marched back TO the school
room, IN one end Of which, appeared. as
/ II by magic, a large. Opcn-hrepiace and
/ chimney Of imitation red bricks. and
q mantel. Illuminated by candles From
IL were suspended sundry long and we'll
/ filled stockings. it was a scene well cal-
cuated 10 Delight any believer In Santa
Claus. The children. being seated. a let
ter was read from old Santa Claus dated
Alaska, telling them that no mad been
specially requested 10 make them IL visit,
and. Notwithstanding that It was after
| Christmas, and he had almost exhausted
his stock Of good things. he had decided
to come and would telegraph them from
different points en- route. After Il lapse
of a few minutes q Western Union tele-
graph messonger-boy. i'm uniform. rushed
into the room and delivered a telegram,
announcing Santa Claus's arrival I'm Mon
treal where the weather was SO cold
ne was feeding his deer on ginger 20
keep them warm Then a telegram came
from New York. where Santa Claus said
his deer were using skates. At intervals
of q few minutes came kilograms from
Philadelphia ana Baltimore, announcing
Santa Ciaus's arrival, and detailing the
hardships he endured getting through
the snow. Then one from Washington.
In which he said his deer. I'm trying to
jump over the Capitol. upset his sleigh.
and lost all his good things. lie pceped
IN at the Clevelands. Baby Ruth was
sick from eating too much candy. He
announced that in a few minutes his
sleigh would DO juggling I'm Richmond.
SANTA'S ARRIVAL.
True 10 his word. the bells were soon
heard juggling outside the school-room
and a few minutes later. after putting
and blowing. in his Efforts 20 get down
the chimney-fue. a real live. jolly Old
Santa Claus, with snOw-dottcd gown, and
long. gray beard in the person Of Mr..
George BidgOOd. emerged from the fire
place. thrilling the hearts Of the little
ones with genuine delight. After telling
the children a fairy-tale, which explained
how the fairies had come 10 his aid 10
supply the presents lost IN Washington,
by filling each one Of the bricks i'm the
chimney with gifts, he proceeded to pull
down the chimney, and distribute the
bricks lmopg the happy throng. There
was ne present however, which be-
SAID. he had managed TO hold 10 in Wash
ington, ana which ne had brought for
little stout fellow like himself who de-
servoi a Gaming" With this remark.
ne drew from beneath his capacious
gown beautifu' gold-headed. ebony
cane. with monogram. which he handed
TO Major CaDers. who. on behalf of the
teachers Of the Sunday school. and as a
token OF their esteem and affection for
their superintendent presented BE-. iu
language. chaste and beautiful rs well
as complimentary, TO Colonel Gordon.
This part Of the programme had been
kept profound secret from Superintend-
emit Gordon who was 50 completely sur
prised that IL was with difficulty he could
sufficiently master his emotions 10 give
expression 20 his deep gratitude FOR this
beautiful tribute.