The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-12-27
A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY
YESTERDAY ENJOYED BY RICH
 AND P0OR ALIKE

All Places of Amusement Greeted With
 Large Audiences Estimated 15 ,OOO at
 Lake Whitney In the Afternoon-CeIe
 Institutions.
 There were doubtless very few people in this city yesterday who did not have Christmas. Every one seemed to real ize that Christmas, a day of joy and feasting, comes but once year, and they made the most of their opportuni- ties. The poorer citizens were aided by their more fortunate friends in keeping the day as it should be kept.
 The day so far as the weather was concerned was an ideal one. There was an abundance of beautiful sunshine, and the atmosphere was most inviting This in consequence caused the streets to be thronged with pedestrians and many who possess pleasure carriages were out to enjoy the refreshing air All places of amusement were crowded. All the theaters had splendid audiences at both the afternoon and evening per- formances.
 At Bowling hall, where the New Ha- ven team locked horns with the league leaders from Providence, it was neces- sary to turn several hundred people away. The place was filled to it's ca pacity. It Is estimated that there were at least 15,000 persons, old and young, of both sexes, out to Lake Whitney in the afternoon. The skating was fairly good and this, the best of outdoor sport, was highly enjoyed. There were nu- merous hockey games, but the players need to be cautioned A number of per- sons had very narrow escapes from be- ing severely injured by the puck, which had been driven in careless manner by the players. Those not indulging in the game should exercise some judg- ment in the matter and not get too close to the players. The crowd apparently did not grow any less as the hour of six approached, and when the electric lights were turned on the scene was one of great beauty. A large number of extra cars were placed in operation by the Fair Haven and Westville company to furnish the necessary transportation to the lake.
 There were also large number of in- door events. Besides good cheer in the private residences there were feasts of good things and r1uch joy in conse- quence at the many public homes and charitable institutions in the city. On Sunday a special Christmas dinner was served at Springside. No work was done at the institution yesterday, and the day was observed as a holiday. At St. Francis orphan asylum 316 children spent the whole of yesterday afternoon in enjoying Christmas tree. There was an abundance of candy, fruit and good things distributed.
 | There was a Christmas tree for the children at Grace hospital last night. At the general hospital the patients had an unusually fine time last night, Be- sides the usual Christmas tree and dis 1 tribution of presents there was a musi- cal and literary programme rendered | The participants were Miss Elizabeth Gaffney Miss Margaret Roberts. Riley Phillips, Mrs. c. W. Vishno and Miss | Welch.
 1 At the New Haven orphan asylum the 131 children had a splendid turkey din. ner yesterday. Sheriff Spiegels 35t | boarders fared rather sumptuous y / They were given an excellent chicker
 dinner, which was served at o'clock { Cigars and apples were also given the | men.
 Business was generally suspended
 Many of the large houses of the city
 were closed. It was a legal holiday al
 all of the banks. The many hundreds of clerks who have been kept unusually
 busy during the whole of the Christina;
 season enjoyed the days respite to thu l fullest extent.