The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-25
AFTER ALL We
Can BE MERRY
ILL FoREBoDINas HAPPILY
NOT REALIZED.
Fears That the Last Christmas Of
the Nineteenth Century Would Be
Marked by Disorder and Serious
Injury to the Business Of the Com
munity Were Fortunately Not
Well arounded-Day Had an I'm
usual Aspect on Account of the
Strike and the Mild Weather.

No one wants to engender an acri-
monlous discussion on this day above
all days, SO when 1t Is referred to here
as the last Christmas of the nine
teenth century any one who doubts 1t
can substitute twentieth and the
amendment will be accepted.
But, be that as 1t may, Scranton
approached this last Christmas of the
nineteenth century with Ill forebodings.
Peace on earth" was already In the
air when there was precipitated a con-
fict which in other cities, only recently,
had been attended with the widest
tumult. Then, in an industrial way,
the business men had stocked their
stores heavily in anticipation of an
unusually large holiday trade, expect
ed as natural result of the good
times following the strike. The fears
of disorder and the dread of losses that,
on top of those of the strike period,
would cause serious setback to the
business community, made the past
week, and particularly the past two
days, a time of much distrust
FEARS NOT REALIZED.
Fortunately. however. these fears
were not realized thus far and promise
not to be realized. The strike is on
and has been on for two days and two
nights and the first instance of vio-
lence or anything approaching it is yet
to be recorded, and what is extremely
cheering, the prospects are that there
will be no such regretable occurrence
to record. There was some i'll effect
on trade. but so much less was it
than was expected the business men
are scarcely heard to complain.
1t was an unusual day-before-
Christmas in several respects, but in
one it was peculiar. Never before in
the history of the city were there
seen so many and such variety, Of
vehicles on the business streets. one
of the Consequences Of the strike.
Everything in the way of 4 bani
wagon, bus or wagon that could we'll
be pressed into public service was
substituting for the trolley cars in
caring for the suburbanites who
"came to town. while every sort of
private conveyance. from the hay-rig-
ging on which Isl" and the family
and a load of poultry came down from
WINNERS. to the automobile in which
the wealthier Scrantoniar is now Qllit,
numerously delighting. crowded the
avenues and streets in central city
and kept pedestrians on the jump
vixen crossing from one side of the
street to the other.
WEATHER DELIGHTFUL.
In the natter of weather it was also
q remarkable day-before- Christmas.
for the temperature was more like
that of a spring day than the third
day after the shortest day in the year.
OvercoatS were more of luxury than
necessity.
The absence of colo; weather and tn,
general prosperity with which tha
community Is blessed made the annual
work of the organized charities in
taking care of the poor extremely
light. AS has been the custom for
years. these charitable societies saw
to it. as far as they were able that
no poor family lacked the whcrewitn
of Il merry Christmas. Even toys for
the children We're not wanting.
All in all. Scrantoninns can the moro
merrily enjoy the day in that they
We're pleasantly disappointed. in thoir
i'll forcEodingS.