The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-30
Special to the Scranton Tribune,

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Washington, d. c., Dec. 29.-It is the
unexpected that happens To Washing
ton in weather as well as in other
things For months we have enjoyed
the most perfect weather within the
memory of the oldest inhabitant.'
The fall months have been marvel OF
phenomenal weather, despite the Omin-
Gus predictions of the weather forecas-
ter. With few exceptions we have had
blue skies and sunshine for weeks. But,
said the croker. wait until Christmas
and then see what will happen. The
croker was disappointed. Christmas
day was perfect. The gray clouds
gathered, but the blue skies and golden
sunshine won the day and madc'a long
ride on the suburban ears an invigor-
ating diversion. But how many people
wished for the snow storm that now
sweeps the beautiful city and carries
with il so much distress to the poor
people here who always suffer more
from cold than food, a cold. hard win
ter i'm Washington means more suffer-
ing than is ever known. The price of
fuel puts it only within the reach OF
the Wel-tO-dO people and those who
cannot buy and are too proud to ask
for il in Charity'S name must endure
the rigOrS of winter without it. Think
of coal at IS and 81 per ton, and Scran-
ton people can appreciate the blessing
of cheap fuel. 1t is nOt altogether the
thing to speak of the business aspect
of Christmas, but the year has been a
record breaker and is entitled tO some
mention on that account. There has
been a : prOdigious Christmas trade
here, and Washington is generally ac-
cepted as "A good trade barometer
The leading merchants speak of thcLr
Christmas business as the largest and
most satisfactory within their eXpe-
rience While individual purchases
! may not exceed the Christmas trad ,
| of last year it is remarked the num-
Der of purchases largely exceeded it
! and that means, of course, very
/ much larger distribution Of gifts. and
! indicates the presence of money for
! gifts where hitherto it was used to
meet necessary current demands. Evil
! IDENTIFY more people had money to spend
on Christmas this year than they hal
or could afford to spend in that way
| last year. In other words, the whole
country is blessed with a degree Of
prosperity unparalleled in its history.
Yes, the natural reflection is that it .s
due to a wise, honest and patriotic ad-
ministration of our governmental af-
| fairs. Providence, it is said, is good
to children, drunken men and the
Democratic party" but if the bias
| phemy may be pardOned, it is an his
torical triusm that prosperity and the
Democratic party are mortal and inn
! placable foes. Prosperity and Repub-
lican domination have happened toe
! often together to bless the country AMI
save the people from humiliation and
distress to be a mere coincidence. But
enough of this. 1t was about Christ
mas l was writing. Nothing ne"
about it, in one sense, certainly. The
Christmas cheer is a matter of course
but it's dispensation was more prOfuse
this year than ever before.
! The Shriners We're prominently in the
initiative among the charitable organ
iZations. 1t was a gladstone thing anC
q real JOY to see scores of Shriners di-
vested of their Sunday coats, with
shirt sleeves rolled back, work with
a steady vim filling boxes and basket;
and big bags with turkeys. cuts o
roast beef, mutton. veal, fresh pork
sausages. ham, flour, butter, meal
hominy, beans, coffee, sugar rice, po'
| tatoes turnips pumpkins and othel
vegetables, while apples, bananas an.
other fruits were included. The entir,
floor Of the National armory which /,
almost 79X5O feet i'm Dimensions, was
covered with the baskets anC other re
ccptacles containing each an aNpetl2
ing variety of food, sufficient to pro
vide two or three dinners CHl MANY
lesser meals for good-siHc3 families
Then commenced the work Of sending
them out to their destination
NO DISCRIMINATION.
No creed or color, no rrl'9ion or rec
ord was asked by the Shiners wEer
! the necessity nf a person was Al