Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-12-26
The FESTIVAL
OF CHRISTMAS.
Worship In The Churches of The
City Business Suspended
Fitting Observance of
The Dav.

and gone. and the Christmas Of 1899 has
past into history. lis joys and sorrows.
is happiness and the pleasure Of giving
ana receiving gifts will not recur for 364
days.
The Christmas Of yesterday. as to the
weather, was all that one could wish. An
almost cloudless sky. genial sun. with a
crisp health-giving atmosphere, surely
one could not ask greater blessing than
was bestowed at the hands of nature. 1t
was just such day and morn as one
could well imagine greeted the Babe OF
eighteen hundred years ago.
when, through the clear air rang the
angels song. GLORY TO God in the High
est. Peace on Earth. Good Will to Men.
Recognition OF divine mercy and bless
ing coming first. the Catholic, Protestant
Episcopal and other churches were filed
during the moIning hours with crowds OF
who listened to the words OF
the preachers and to the service of sacred
song with hearts overfiowing with pratt
iude, because they had reason for rejoic-
ing. for hope of redemption. The ser.
mons. generally. told OF the life and
character of Christ. while the song serv-
ice in all the churches was made a spec
ial feature. and, as rule. was very elab-
crate and excellently well rendered. In
character it was reminiscent and tFium-
phant.
Their devotions being rendered, the
rest of the day was given over, more or
less, to testivity. Being essentially q
children's day. wheR Saint Nicholas re-
members his deyotees with much in the
way OF presents. large portion of time
y as necessarily occupied with the little
ones. and their surroundings-ot dolls.
drums, trumpets and things, the older
"children" not having been forgotten.
either. There was much done, too, in
the way OF family and friendly visiting.
There was a matinee oi "Uncle Josh
who paraded in the morning
with his "hayseed band and an enter
tainment at night at the Opera House.
Business was. OF course. at stand
still. All the state and municipal depart
menis were closed. the banks and nearly
all Of the stores. giving to the streets q
Sunday appearance, marred only by the
shriil blast OF the Christmas horn or the
roll of a drum in the hands of some
happy youngster whose fingers on this
occasion defied Jack Frost to handle a
drumstick. There were probably some
who did not receive what, or as much as
they anticipated, some, more than was
expected by them. The latter were
truly happy, the former deservedly dis
appointed. It is hard lesson for the
average mortal to learn, 'fIt is more
blessed to give than to receive" and
one's conscience is taxed, inthis regard.
more at Christmas time than throughout
the year.
At the Almnshouse the inmates were
given a good dinner of turkey, mince pie.
nuts, raisins and candy in abundance.
At the Jail there are fifteen negro prison.
ers, and two white prisoners, viz: Wyatt,
the accused murderer of Captain Caulk.
and Joseph Burke. the Jew peddler. who
not able TO pay his fine of $50 for ped.
ding without license. in jail for sixty
days. Burke is an old man, not able to
speak word Of English, and being a
Jew, will not eat the Jail food. He is
sick and feeble. Warden Perry gave
the prisoners q good Christmas dinner oi
turkey and vegetables. and all were treat
ed kindly.
The Independent Fire Company No.
q, had a Christmas tree and gladened
the hearts OF zo7 children, who visited
their home on Gloucester stree, with bags
OF candy and an orange. The tarleton
bags were made by Mrs. John Sullivan
and Miss Brewer. Maggie Fink won
the doll dressed in yellow. She guessed
its name. Mildred Porter tied with w.
Williams for the doll dressed in blue, and
Ruth Hart won the set Of dolls. The
winners are requested to call at the En-
CINE House for their prizes. Frank
Green won the football By guessing 6os
beans in the jar, when by actual counl
there were Coz. The boy and girl dol
were named after Admiral Schley and
his wife--Win6eld and Annie.
Never was there buster Chhrislmas.
More money 10 said TO have been in cir
culalion this year than ever before. The
express was so busy its wagons were or
the street delivering packages all day or
Sunday as well as on Christmas day.
something unusual Tor Annapolis. Ths
agents who have been 90 busy for the
past week feel thankful the busy season
IS over, and glad Il comes but once q
year. The officials at the postoffice have
been overworked with the heavy mai
matter and numerous packages that have