The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-24

Collier thus explains the cause of his ac=
ton in the premises: :
In view of the approaching Christmas
holidays and of the unseemly and disor-
derby manner in which these festivities
have been celebrated in the past. am con-
strained to notify the public that the ordi-
nances against the discharge of firearms
of any description within the city limits
will be rigidly enforced, and this prohibit
ton includes the explosion of blank car
tridges.
The rigid and unyielding position assumed
by Atlanta's mayor will meet the hearty
and unqualified approval of the vast ma
jority of southerners who have begun to
dread the holy Christmas season as an
awful pandemonium, given over to the UNI
ruly small boy, the ruffian and the de-
bauchee. 1t is an outrage upon respectable
communities that this beautiful Christmas
festival should become an occasion for
drunken rloting and the explosion of pis-
tolls, crackers and bombs, suggestive of the
great battlefields of history with their I'M
seemly noise and confusion. Unhappily
the smile does not end here, for days sub
sequent to Christmas the columns of the
newspapers are filled with the appalling
lists of christmas casualties" resulting
from the recklessness of fireworks and fire
arms.
Cannot Birmingham follow the example
set by Atlanta in this matter? 1t is GER
tainly worthy of emulation. This civiliza-
nf fha do oh
another and a higher type of Christmas OBJ
servance. 1t should be a time of happi-
ness, good cheer and friendly inter-
change of gifts and appropriate sentiment,
not a day of terror and of ear-destroying,
demoniniacal noises. The following editor
ial from the Atlanta Journal is timely and
appropriate:
The Episcopal clergymen of Atlanta have
made an appeal to the people and authorl-
ties of this city which should have effect.
In vigorous language they protest against
the abuses of Christmas which nave grown
up in recent years and which often make
what should be the sweetest day of all the
year the occasion of torment to peaceIul
citizens. The ministers do not go too lar
when they declare that in these latter Gays
christmas seems to be, beyond all other
debauching; of beastly drunkenness; OF
open violation of law and order; of rioting
and bloodshed. Scenes are often enacted
upon our streets which would be dis
grace in any heather land at any time.
Those who have observed how Christmas
is now usually celebrated in this country
cannot deny the justice of this indictment.
The day which should be commemorated
as the anniversary of the beginning of
peace and good will is made hideous by
rowdyism and often ends with record OF
crimes which no other day of the year
can match. This prostitution of Christmas
is revolving to common decency, to say
nothing of it's defiance and insult to the
Christian sentiment of the country, which
should be respected and protected.
1t is time to institute a reform in the pop
ular observance of Christmas Right pub
lie opinion should assert itself against the
excuses which have been tolerated on this
day, and those who are charged with the
enforcement of the law should assert their
authority to prevent the abuses which have
made Christmas so deplorably unlike what
it should be.
We are glad that the Episcopal ministers
have spoken out on this subject and the
effort they are making to have a decent
Christmas in Atlanta should receive the
cordial support of all good citizens.
something is uue tne Women Vi lhe coH-
munity. The present form of Christmas
celebration in the majority of southern
cities is offensive and dangerous in the ex-
IRENE, and the municipal authorities owe 1t
to this large percentage of the population
to forbid every kind of rioting and excite
ment which make the streets of a city un-
safe to the women and children.