Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-27
XMAS IN RICHMOND.
The Celebration Lasted Two Days
and Was Very General
FEAST|NG AND F|RECRACKERS
There Were Numerous Accidents, But
Little Drunkenness.
CHURCH DECORATION AND MUSIC.
Some Original Designs-Chofrs DID
splendid worIx-a Fortune spent In
Fireyorks-Mnny BonGres--st. Leo's
Climb and other Celebrations.
CHURCH DECORATION AND MUSIC

The celebration OF Christmas was mark
ed bv no unusual demonstration. IL was
essentially quiet-a day Of family re-
unions and merry making that had little
or no boisterousnsss about 1t.
Tde dual observance-for the festival IT.
self falling on Sunday extended the hoh-
dav over two days-wss first religious
and then convivial In the churches on
Sunday the note Of Joy was sounded IN
the elaborate music that gave evidence
of much careful preparation, and from
many a pulpit eloquent sermons were
preached on the familiar text. Unto you
IS born this day in the city Of David
Saviour. who is Christ the LORD"
The precautions taken by the Mayor
and Chief of Police against the disturb
ance Of the Sabbath by the explosion or
fireworks were well-timed. and, in the
main. eminently successful. A few spirits
there were, more daring than the rest
who disregarded the orders, but the po-
lice. who were very much on the alert.
prevented many repetition of the hdis-
| cretion.
A FORTUNE IN FIREWORKS.
Yesterday and last night a large for
tune went up in smoke and noise, and the
! Y-nders OF the ubiquitous cracker dld
a thriving trade. The day was not with
out its mishaps. though the harvest OF
accidents direAly traceable to the incau-
| tious handling OF gunpowder ana dyha-
mite was not much greater than usual
AT night there were bonfres all over
the city and the illuminations were as
picturesque as they were diversified. Inc
rocket and the Roman-candle played
| large part I'm creating these effects, Whhe
| tbe frequent roar Of the cannon-cidcker
was deafening and nerve-shattering.
If there were fewer accidents, there
was also less drinking and fewer misde-
meanors. one thing clearly demonstrated
| bv the close union of Christmas-Day anu
! SUNDAY was that not every one knows OF
| the existence Of the saloon sidedoor ana
the great bowls Of eggnog that yearly
make their appearance on the bar couh-
ters were left II not untouched, at least
unraided, until the festival itself was
overpast. There were comparatively Few
| arrests for drunkenness. and the session
| I'm Justice Crutchfeld's Court to-day Will
not be unduly long.
BUSY AT POST-O OFFICE.
| The nost-office did an enormous busi-
ness during the hours that 1t was open
! yesterday and on Sunday, for the mails
! are still very heavy and much DeIated
| Christmas matter has arriV ed. The eN-
| nress Offices. too. have not recovered from
| the effects of the season, and busy
wagons hurrying through the streets yes
| terdav brought pleasure and delight TO
| many a home circle.
| The street cars and trains carried
| crowds OF passengers, both yesterday ahu
| the day before, and last night Witnessed
| the breaking up Of many family parties
as members took their departure FOR other
| fields where their lot has been cast.
The Christmas spirit penetrated every
corner OF the city and there was JOY even
| i'm the State and city prisons. City-Ser-
| geant Epps. indeed, gave the inmates OF
| the fail a fine Christmas dinner on both
days and Superintendent Helm treated
! the prisoners in the penitentiary 10 a
! splendid feast OF good things. \ very
/ happy celebration was witnessed ut the
! Soldiers Home where the veterans or ise
| civil war sat down TO royal dinner 1T 1
| o'clock on Christmas The inmates
| of the hospitals celebrated the day with
| feasting. as far as they were able, and
! the orphans and ,.ged and the inmates
| OF the almshouse and other charitable in
| stitutions had everything to remind them
| OF the happy occasion.
THE HOLIDAY WAS GENERAL.
The holiday yesterday was generally OBJ
| served and the business portions OF the
] citv were practically deserted. The sa-
| looms were open Of course. and the gio-
| cery stores-delightfully reminiscent OF
| the Christmas dinner-vere ready 10 sup
| ply the demands that might be made upon
| them The drugstores fruit-stands, ana
restaurants were necessarily on the alert
| for trade. but with these exceptions the
| retail-houses. IS well as the Wholesale'
were all closed.
And so Christmas-Day was observed In
Richmond Much had been expected end
great preparations had been made; who
will say that the realization fell short of
the expectations. or that the preparations
were Inadequate?
DECORATIONS IN CHURCHES.
A very noticeable feature of the Christ
mas celebration I'm the churches on sum
day was the elaborate decorations. The
interiors. with few exceptions, were gar
landed and festooned with evergreens,
while the affairs and pulpits were bril-
liant with flowers and palms.
There were many unique features In
the decorations, and in every instance
The designs were striking and invariably
well executed. AT old ST. Johns church
there was q large star of electric lights
in the chancei Above the altar we"e
nineteen small bells. so arranged thdt
they spelt the word "Allelulia." and the
reflection of the electric lights on this de-
sign. made by Miss Pearl Bodeker ere
ated a very pretty effect The wreathing
OF pillars and dressing Of fronts was no.
ticeable in the Episcopal churches IN
the Catholic churches the altars were me
centre OF attraction. and they were most
beautifully decorated and illuminated. The
pulpits OF some OF the Baptist, METHODIST,
and Presbyterian churches We're adoraeu
with palms and evergreens.
IN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
The services at the Catholic churches
ON sunday were largely attended. Early
masses were sung al o'clock. ana were
followed by low masses until the ceieDra-
ton of the day at 1890 o'clock.
At the Cathedral Bishop Van de Vyver
nonti0cated at 1O:9 o'clock. and the musi-
cal features or the mass were elaborate