The times., 1900-12-26
4 GLAD DAY IN THE City
Christmas Observed With Prayer.
Feasting, and Good Deeds.
Thousands Attend Divine Services I'M
the Morning-Home Gatherings in
the Observation-Disclosures Nerdant
with IuIetide Grecn-t Unfortunate
Persons Provided Fer by Charity.

Christmas was celebrated in Washing
ton in the customary way. The traditions
of the day were observed. The early
part of the day was spring like, but the
eyenin,; was chill. The sun rose golden
and coursed through a clear sky uutil
afternoon when a haze set in and thick
encd until the sunshine was biotted out
and the breeze that had been warmed
by 1t grew damp and cold. But through
out the day there was little to suggest
midwinter The streets were filled with
people in the early hours of the day. but
as time wore on and evening came, men
gathered at their homes. The streets
and those places where men usually con-
gregated we're very dull last night.
Washington was verdant with yuletide
green. II shone through many thousand
windows and Frightened house fronts.
Holly dotted with flaming berries was
wrought H. wreaths and bunches. Old
familiar crowsfoot that has done decora-
tive duty on every Christmas celebrated
in America had been torn from its hidiGg
under fallen leaves and twincd in cir
clets and festoons. Armfuls of laurel
were in many places and significant mis-
tletoe was suspended from chandeliers
and door frames. Tough old pine trees
transported from their native fields we're
transplanted in the citys homes, and
their ragged boughs were made TO bear
strange burdens. Oranges and apples
seemed TO grow upon them and candles
burned among the spines and burrs. Can
III
from the branches in a single night This
by little Washington, was attributed, and
by older Washington accredited to the
magic, fertillzi1g touch of Santa Claus.
How their next stump neighbors in the
pines and woods would have envied could
they have seen their old green friends in
Christmas garb. The life of these sautiy
transplants will be brilliant but brief
Acres of cedars were cut from the coun-
try to add to the Christmas glee
These too, by the hand of nan took on
strange fruits which nature did not mean
that they should wear. Their little blue
berries gave way to yellow citrus globes
and the sweet fancies of the candy maker.
The robins, jays. and blackbirds. used to
feasting on those little blue berries,
would have been startled tc see their
dinner trees in festive dress.
In the morning the attendance at the
churches was large. Every minister re-
called the scenes at Bethlehem. Many
heads were bowed in prayer as the lesson
taught by him who came to save was stud
led. Many new and good resolves were
made-some TO be broken, some to be
kept. and for every one unbroken the
world makes permanent gain. Singers
and organists translated goodwill thoughts
into soft and pleasing music.
In the eieemosynary and penal institu-
tons the harsh fate of the inmates was
touched with the light, the warmth, and
good cheer of the season. Sunlight sof-
tened the shadows here and dispelled them
there Mem whom the world calls good
touched hands and hearts with those the
world calls had and benefit came 10 both.
In those districts in Washington inhab-
tied by the poor, il is the belief of the
police and their co-workers in practical
charity. and it is the hope OF everyone,
that there was not one hungry person.
There is no part of Washington, even
where the depth OF poverty is greatest,
that is not like unto Paradise when COM
pared with those parts Of the greater cities
where awful poverty prevails where men
and women and little children hang be-
tween life and starvation by the slenderest
thread. 1t is the belief of the authorities
that there is not a home-not a human
ehelter-in the DiStrict, where there was
not meat and bread, coal and wood.
No-one il is felt was overlooked in the
distribution of food. Indigents, criminals,
and other unfortunate people were kindly
treated. There was Christmas dinner in
the orphan asylums. the homes for old
people, the hospitals, the reform schools.
the Government Hospital for the Insane,
the wOrkhouse, and the jail.
Flowers were taken into the wards of the
hospitals and food was provided by the
the Salvation Army. the Amer
lean Volunteers for all the needy persons
coming under observation