Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-25
DAWN OF CHRISTMAS
HOW THE ANNIVERSARY WAS
UsHERED IN WITH Us.
BROAD. STREET SCENES LAST NIGHT,
An Immense Crowd on the Tho
roughfare, and All Engage In
Making "a Noise-Chilling blasts
Drive Them I'm Early.

SiZZ bang. boom, toot, toot, toot; snow
ers of sparks everywhere; tin horns.
cow-bells. tin pans, rattles, every old
thing and any old thing calculated 10
make a noise-such was Broad street last
night.
Richmond turned itself loose on the
great retail thoroughfare. and social
barriers were cast aside; everybody ana
anybody. those who are somebody and
those who are nobody, rubbed shoulders
in the most good-natured manner, ana
even the dusky bellies of Jackson Ward
footed their horns in the ears Of MISS
Franklin Street without fear. II was a
crowd the like of which IS seen oniy
on Christmas-eve--a jolly, merry, Hgh'-
hearted throng of people, within whom
the spirit of the season was strong
enough to force back for the time all
regard to form. and let out the natural
exuberance within one.
For once the small boy was not able 10
hold his own, try as he might, and MS
big brother usurped his place, took from
him his rights, and drowned the smarter
voice with the roar of his own.
But the urchin will get in his Work
today. as he does 1865 days in the year
while the big brother will have 10 wait
until next Christmas-eve before he can
again lop over fourth of his age, ana
romp and yell as he did of yore
THE GREAT CROWD.
The street began to get crowded at 73C
o'clock. and from then until o'clock the
mass OF humanity steadily assumed
greater proportions, until the paVemeh'
was hacked from the curbstOne TO the
shop windows After 9, however, Inc
crowd thinned a little; there were feWei
ladies noticed and their number steadily
decreased. until at IL o'clock the tho
roughfare was almost I'm charge OF mei
and boys. The firing of the big cannon
crackers was less frequent, the ulh o.
| horns almost ceased. ana the NOISE VI 'n'
street nearly died away.
As the midnight hour approached only
an occasional boom of some big cracker
or the solitary blast of horn dlsturpe'
the stiffness of the night Some few De
lated shoppers. with bundles under arm
were seen hurrying hOmeward, or
! couple of boon companions whose pota
| tions had been frequent staggered VI
| the street.
THE CITY ASLEEP.
When the city bells tolled the hour o
midnight. however. for a few minutes
there was a lively cannonading, SKY
| rockets shot upward, and the city seeme'
| IN shake itself as Christmas was ushere'
! in. -,
| II was only turning over in its sleep
! however. and soon settled down INTO
repose even more quiet than beiore
when the bells sounded the hour OF one
the city was in a sound sleep. The lights
had disappeared from windows, and near
lv every house was in darkness. Latch
| levs were turned i'm many residences
] by unsteady hands, and two men parted
company. the one TO stumble upstairs
as best he could TO sleep off the e1ects
of what was but the beginning OF ms
| celebration, 'the other prooaply h',i'
better off. to make his way to his owl
roof. The delightful task OF seeing MN
home" had just been accomplished
WAKING INTO LIFE.
AZ the hours slowly took their flight
the scenes described became less IRE
ouent. and at o'clock the last man 'witf
a load on" was probably safely ianue'
at his doorstep. An hour later ana
solitary window on block showed
CLEAN Of light. Some boy had JUS
| awakened, ana tne hnOWleuSe 'H"e
was Christmas-Day had not been lohi
I'm penetrating his sleepy head. He wa'
then Immediately wide-awake, In 1--WE
minutes he was i'm his clothes, had Sc
cured his fireworks, and was down I'M
stems I'm three bounds. out i'm the stree
the next second, and in fifteen minutes
had aroused every boy on the square
| Sleen ON that block was then out o
tbe question. 1t was still pltch-dark, bu
that made no difference TO the boy. MIX
wagons soon began 10 rumble up am
down the streets. and servants put II
an appearance half an hour late withou
fear Of reprimand.
The Younger children now oecam
aroused and the first thing they aske'
for was the stocking hanging by the man
telpiece.
The darkness without soon gave plac
10 a faint. gray glimmer, and the elec
tric-lights gave a sputter or two and wen
ont A streak of red became visible Il
the cast objects at a distance becam
distinct. and the edge of the sun peepe
over the horizon, took in the scene. an
then climbed a little higher, until
shone. I'm full view. a great red .Dall o
fire and Christmas morn was talri
ushered in.
MEAN TRICK PLAYED.