The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-25
rs HERE
With Its Glad Ildlags and Messages Of
Peace to9All Mankind.
KRIS KRIHGLt's MYSTERIOUS COMING
a Little MT Ola Hut san sn Tho n,nr-
"!A1es s~w-R 'psr so,or,e,s-,,ow
theD"Ss'saaAsssio a,bso-ved-Appro-
pri"'' Services an Many city
Churches.
To-daN is Christmas

-----E TEtnr';E:
To-day is Christmas.
zone Knows 1t, md the announce
inent l9 entirely unnecessary. 1t l.,
ih'ue merely n, matter of form. and
personal courtesy to Santa Claus.
VINO would feel offended. and rightly so.
II every newspaper In the land did not
simultaneously proclaim the day Of his
ai'iELi. santa Claus is very human.
tie likes to get his name in the papers.
wonder what he did for free advcr-
.t!HE peiore the days OF the. printing
press. Tor you know, Santa Claus Is n
very ancient old gentleman. There are
those who claim to have seen him, who
say his long gray beard Is getting pa-
the'ichliy thin! and the back of his head
Is becoming bald but this Is mos; prob
apiE 4 slandcr. though. indeed, 1t Is not
Improbable that the old fellow has at
various. times in his unique career lost
nor little hair In coming down uncom-
.ortao'e chimneys and making exits
from inconvcnient Windows 1,
BE that as X may. in spite Of his years
nc is as spry as, ever, and although a
million or two bright eyes watched for
MN last night, he Guided them all by
cunning known to himself alone II is
reported that he had several very mar
row escapes, ana in one case, that of 4
ilttle. boy on Church street. who per-
sisted on staying awake to catch him.
santa Claus. whose time Is very valu-
able, was compelled to 20 away without
putting anything In The young mans
Stocking. Mt all; and there Is a little girl
in Bra mbeton whose feminine curiosity
got the better of her She pccpcd
through n keyholc. Santa was Just
reaching Into his pack to bring out big
doll Conc That aang, tool for her. when
he heard her. He thrust 1t back In the
bundle and disappeared up the chimney
NJ the very instant when the young
lady glued her eye to the hole.
Iherc were some Others also, tina.
santa Claus did not reach because Of
lack of time. but he will probably make
up for ii next year
The day will probably be variousIy
observed. Each Individual has his own
peculiar way OF spending Christmas
Ihe small boy, In general. will make as
much noise as possible, eat more candy
than the law allows. sit up later than
the rules of health permit. and finally
retire to his uneasy slumbers tired, ey-
cited, half-sick. happy. The average
young man will manage IN some way
TO see his girl. IF he has sent he. a pres
emit. If lie hasn't he will sec her any
way, without managing 1t. He always
does. Everybody will have something
extra to eat. Even at the Jail. City Ser
geant Lawler has arranged to give the
prisoners really appc.lzing and de-
lightful dinner. up at the Armory. n
hummer or kind-hearted ladies have pre-
pared sumptuous spread for the little
ioik who don't happen to have anything
OF the sort at home. All of the char
liable institutions have arranged to Gel
CITRATE the day in n manner satisfying
alike to the mental. moral and material
man. These worthy institutions, by the
way, Will all be glad TO get donations
OF any Kind The Lord lovcth cheerful
giver, and especially at Chrtstmastide.
While sou are enjoying the good things
He has permitted you 10 have. do not
forget the poor, who are cold ana hungry
and ill-clad. and who are always with
you. the Gi!ls' Home, the Boys Home
florence Crittenton Home Union Mis-
sion, Chapel Street Mission, Kings
daughters, United Charities, and kin
dred organizations will receive anything
leit 1or the poor and see that 1t IL wisely
distributed.
There will be special services, music
and sermons. ut several Of the churches.
ana the attendance upon these is invar-
lahly good. On Sunday following
christmas there will be appropriate SER
vices in all of the churches.
Ihere Will he 4 special service, which
WIFE includc II special musical PRO-
gramme. al st. Mary's Catholic church
this morning nj IL O'Clock
The ladies OF ST. Paul's =. T.. church.
who had intended serving dinner to the
poor in that edilicc to-day, have dccid-
ed to give the food 40 those who amply
and allow them to cook II themselves.
THIS will make their Christmas din
Ger more cheerful and enjoyable. At
least twenty families will be provided
for In this manner.
The Columbia football team (colored)
OF this city. and the Shaw University
team, of Raleigh, n. c., will play for
the championship of The South at
League Park this afternoon.
The Y. NJ. c. y. will keep open house
all day.
An The public offices ana banks in the
city viii be closed.
CHRISTMAS SERVICES.
Bishop Randolph, will preach at Christ
Church to-day, and on Sunday, Deccm.
Der 2Gth t#a '
Services in. Central Avenue Baptist
Church at O'Clock, and in Collcy
Memorial Presbyterian Church n. s
o'clock this morning.
There Will be a sunrise prayer meet
ing at the Cumberland Street Methodist
ch"'ch his morning At 30 O'Clock. con
Quoted by the pastor Rev. II. T. John
son. u. D.
Queen street NJ. L. Church Special
CHRISTMAS services to-day at 10 a. m.
sunrise prayer meeting will be held
At Christian Memorial Temple today.
Al Centenary Church. Tuesday. Dec.
y, at y. m. the beautiful service,
Our Exalted King will he rendered
by the children under the direction of
NJ. j. T. Grandy and Mrs. p. ]. Malbon.
The service has been carefully re.
hearT5d af111w4l doubtless surpass any
sS; Vire hffsto31rc rendered by the