Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-26
HAVE A QUIET XMAS.
FAMILY REUNIONS THE FEATURE
OF THE pays OBSERVANCE.
FINE MUSIC IN THE CHURCHES.
The Services OF an Interesting Char
acter, and Attended by Lnrge Con-
ererstfons-Bonnr I'm Abundance
Last Nisht-Other Features.

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An ancient legend tells OF an Arabian
king, possessed of a certain sorcerous
salve. which, being applied to the eyes,
would enable any one TO see through ali
obstacles. Had such an ointment oeeh
obtainable yesterday. the fortunate one
might have witnessed many dehgnuui
and Joyous family gathering.
The observance of the Christmas festi-
val was far less boisterous than usual
To be sure, there was the almost con-
slant booming of the cannon cracker
and less obtrusive firework, the blarins
OF Tin horns, and the occasional bursts
of hilarity of groups Of pedestrians out
apart from these Specifications the ceie-
bration Of the day was quite undemoh-
stratiye. 1t was essentially nome
Christmas-a day of family reunions, OF
religious observance, and much quiet en-
iovment. Into memory's storehouse there
has been garnered a rich harvest Vi
tender and happy associations, WHICH
will serve in after years as retrospective
landmarks along the life's pathway OF
many an one.
The noisy celebration OF the vlgh hau
been hushed but a short while when the
people again made their appearance oh
the streets, hurrying to the early MASSES
at the Catholic churches, and niue
later TO the sunrise prayer-meetings. me
day broke clear and bright, and no one
surely. objected to the touch OF wih'ei'
which only made it seem more ike an
oId-time Christmas.
MANY AT CHURCH SERVICES.
The services at all the churches, where
the feast was observed, were well at
tended. and the musical features weie
unusually brilliant and elevatlng' Inc
keynote of them all was joy, peace ana
goodwill. and many fine sermons "ero
preached. - g, the city
biob masses were sung at O'CLOCK, anu
arerv church was crowded. At the Cathe.
All civ masses were said, and Pontlhca'
hiqh mass was sung at lO;oV o0ioon
Rishon Van de Vyver pontihcatihg' as.
sisted by Very Rev. Father Ilerhey anC
Rev. Fathers Smith, John' Wa'eis @ns
Tiernan. After the service the pianoi
delivered the Papal benedicton. me niu
steal features We're very attr"cu'v, ">
.,,,aino nv the choir was really ex
IT.. Pay FATHER Faber Smith, o.
Oroba Neb.. preached an eloquent ser
mon. ,o,,,, ora The
| cacred Heart churches solemn high mas
1vas sung at 1885, and the speclal musl
80, sung with much taste and dlscrelloIi
In oil the Episcopal churches comhu
| rion was celebrated early in the morIlns
and morning prayer was said AT ~ ''ou ,o
| rrha congregations were very large, ano
Tho choirs acquitted themselves WIN gre"
1 credit. I'll, ho 70
! ,rhese musical programmes VIII De re
neated to-day. and In the Baptlst, OnIis
,,an lutheran. and Methodist churche'
snec,al christmas services will take place
AT VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS.
A. tho Soldiers Home the celebratioi
| 81, ,ha form of an excellent dinner
sor,,ed IN the veterans in the mess ha'
81 tha afternoon. The occasion, which
aIwavs looked forward to Win keeneI
daI,obt and anticipation by the olo So'
aus was unhappily marred TO soihe 90
tant nv a disturbance of the peace VI vi
s.s,i,,,tion which was fraught Win se
-io,,s consequences, the circumstances
which are given in another column
A. thu Richmond Male orphan Asylum
King Turkey reigned supreme A. We"
General holiday, and the boys sp1n
Selightful time. There was p'iea So -,
Service held in the chapel, which was 80 o.
tended Inv a large number OF persons ~ a.,
Tho city. at which the boys renue'e O. ~
carols which they are 10 repeu' ,,'nera
First English EVanSehN"'
church to-day: ooorations wer
- Co. the Christmas dinner, anu VI
a,,aroi menus were extremely tenlp.in'
Tro n,,mber of guests was much lal
- ,roor than for several years past
'ii the climbs there was the usuai oish
"a ,,errymaking, and in all pubic plac'
the eggnog bowl was consp'0uo'
! feature.
BUSINESS GENERALLY susfESDHi
remarkable fact in connection wiz
Yesterdays celebration Is that tpele ".
a more general cessation OK a..
than has been the case heretofore no =,
Iv a store could be found open ~
city. and the public ofhces We,s o., osI -
oiosed There was a great rush ior e
-. az tho most -office between the hou
suoo,6ed and the mail was very heaV
nipht the streets all over the CT
- Illuminated with bontlres, Dut u
eraworks display was by no means
large as formerly, and the ne MOI noise We So
sided quite early. Barrels by me ~ wage Is,
load were burned in all parts OF the CT,
sergeant at one of the police-stalio =,
said last night that YESTERDAY was :.
most quiet Christmas-Day ne mac ., nnov
during the twenty-seven years tnat
"a served on the force, and the recor
, hooks bore out the statement. the
: ~ere numerous fires during the day, D
t the damage was not great.