The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-12-25
CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS
COMPLETE And DAY WILL BE
THOROUGHLY ENJOYED.

|
Organizations.
The last busy days before Christmas
are over and Christmas morning comes
as a relief to thousands of working peo-
pie in this city, The crowds Of shop
lpers that surged through the seetrs of
afternoons and elbowed their way into
the big department stores looking for
gifts to match their purses and their
desires had begun to show fatigue from
their prolonged eXertions. Yesterday,
and last night especially, there was
plenty of excitement in the shopping
districts the fair weather bringing out
throngs which passed before the bril-
liantly lighted and decorated windows
up to a late hour in the evening.
But if the shoppers themselves were
tired, what of those who have had to
Istand behind the counters under a con-
slant strain through the long hours of
swollen traffic? A shop-girl was heard
to say yesterday that the best present
which Christmas would bring to her,
and the most appreciated, would be a
rest from having to work longer ION
her nerve"
But notwithstanding all the worry of
it, the people would find it exceedingly
difficult to give up the pleasures Of
Christmas preparation, with its gay col
ors and tinsel and green leaves scarlet
with holly-berries. The children espe-
cially have had an unmitigated good
time, and their delighted anticipations
| of the wonders to come on the occasion
of Santa's visit and the sacred myster
les of the Christmas stocking, have been
restrained only by the solemn thought
that the genial saint requires them to
'be good" if he is to remember them.
In the markets carloads of turkeys
and other fowl have been daily arriving
to grace the Christmas board. The tur-
keys this season are sounder and Of bet
ter quality than those provided for the
Thanksgiving market, while prices have
undergone no material change.
The city will furnish Christmas dim
ners to all it's charges to-day. 1t has
always been customary to make the day
a memorable one at the almshouse, the
Jail, the orphan asylum and Organized
Charities and the custom will be kept
up this year. A first-class dinner will
be given to the inmates of all these in
stitutions, and in many instances other
gifts will be added.
At the Organized Charities there will
not be as much relief work done as
there was at Thanksgiving, as the
school children made their donations in
cash at that time, whereas the Christ
mas donations are entirely Of dry gro
ceries and vegetables. These will be
distributed to as many needy families
as possible, and as there have been a
few returns from the request issued for
contributions toward coal fund it is
probable that there will be distribu-
ton of fuel at the same time. The in
mates of Springside home will have to-
day dinner of which chicken in Vari-
Gus shapes will form the principal fea-
ture. Several kinds of vegetables, pies,
cakes and tea and coffee will complete
the list In addition to this there will
be cigars for the men and candy for
the women. The wards and Railways
have been decorated with holly Wreaths
and greens in an effort to make the
place look as cheerful and bright as
possible. There are but few gifts of any |
kind made at the almshouse. Occasion
ally a relative of one of the inmates Will
send in some little present.
The children at the New Haven or
phan asylum are full of joyous antici-
patton these days, and they will not be |
disappointed Last night each child |
hung UP it's stocking in a prominent |
position so that Santa Claus could not |
fail to see it while making his rounds. |
candy |
poncorn balls, apples and a toy or two.
A mammoth turkey dinner, with all the
accompanying vegetables, pies, cakes
and other good things, will be served,
and the minds of the little folk are
about equally divided as to whether
thew will eat more turkey than pie or
more pie than turkey. There will be no
public exercises at the asylum, but to-
morrow there will be a tree for the chill
dren in the schoolhouse and distribu-
ton of presents.
At st. Francis orphan asylum the
Christmas celebration vii be opened
with high mass in the chapel at which
the chants and music will be sung by
the children. A chicken dinner will be
served at noon, and in the evening pres
ents of toys, candy and useful articles
Of clothing will be distributed from the
tree which has been erected in the
Christmas at the jail will be made as
cheerful as possible. The dinner served
Is the same as that at the almshouse,
and there are usually few brief ad-
dresses and several songs before the OLD
rounds of duty are again taken up.
At the New Haven hospital a CHRIST
mas festival will be held tonight at
Z. 20 o'clock in the chapel for the benefit
If the patients, nurses and friends. Inc
chapel is splendidly decorated. 1t mas
always been the custom of the hospital
% celebrate Christmas night with ele-
yant music and singing.
The week is gala one for the chill
Iren of the County home in D1XWell
venue. In the first place the regular
Christmas day celebration will occur
II the home This is an annual event
which includes a genuine old fashioned
Jew England turkey dinner, with all
he ''fxings' Small gifts, such as
oys, candy, fruit nuts and other
hings of a like nature will also be dis
ributed by the authorities of the home.
But this home celebration, generally
f paramount Importance in the minds
f the children is but an item in the
.,.;or- oalGIpa which thew will =