The Washington times., 1901-12-25
THRONGS OF
MERRYMAKERS
City'S Streets Present Car
niVal Appearance.
CHRISTMAS EYES GAY CROWDS
Chatting and Jollity, Rough and
Gentle-Castea and Station Utter
ly Ignored, and Holiday Cheer
Makes All Men Glad, for Christ
mas Comes B at Once Year.

The streets were thronged with hurry
ing people, pushing. iostling. and crowd
ing: the stores were filled with weary. be-
lated shoppers; delivery wagons ran
here and there burdened with many gifts;
noise. dim and clamor clouded the air;
there was joy and mirth and fun making:
a little child with sad and solemn face
and tattered garments wended his way
unnoticed through the boisterous throng,
stopping occasionally to peer at the gor-
geous display OF good things in the bril-
lians5y lighted show windows
stood Fairy to Him. Indeed.
It was last night, the night before
Christmas. Then. as Jean Vatican did
when he first saw little Cosette carrying
her bucket of water and looking visit
fully in at the shop windows. a stranger
took the little waif by the hand and led
him into store and bade the astounded
lad to select whatever he wished.
II was something which shone aud daz-
zled the boys eye He ran into the street
and in an instant was swallowed up in the
1naddening crowd but one little heart was
glad. made to rejoice with exceeding Joy.
And il was possible because nineteen
hundred and one years ago another Child
was born n Bethlehem of Judea.
In commemoration of that event Wash
ington will rejoice today In keeping with
all the Christian world. The echo OF that
sweet refrain which the angels sang
Peace on Earth. Good VIII Towarl Men. ="
and which has resounded through the cen
turies. Is heard above the clstter Of
l. i hot -v.f,. Hafa has
impelled the good men and women Of this
great Capital to do great deeds OF charity
and OF love and kindness. in order that
even the lowliest may have reason to be
glad today.
Nothing But Joyous Enthusiasm.
If street scenes and incidents of yester-
even may be taken as an index there can
be no doubt of the fact that Christmas
is the most joyous day of all the year.
This Joy found expression in many ways.
and was manifested by men OF all ages
and all classes.
There was the family man with empty
pockets but arms full, veritablc Santa
Claus laying in a stock OF Christmas toys;
the domure matron. likewise making pur-
chsses TO fill the waiting hosiery; there
searched in many iewelry stores for a
suitable gift for my lady; The happy mer-
chant with depleted stock. but bursting
till, rejoicing in Yulotide prosperity. and
the overworked clerks. glad that the sea-
son Of their most arduOus labor was
passed
All this and more, while thousands
strolied UP AID down the streets blow
ing horns, ringing bells, and in hundred
different ways giving noisy demonstration
Of their happiness But the crowds were
good natured ana jovial, although at times
the crush was SO great that such busy
thoroughfares as Seventh Street. Pom
sylrania Avenue. and portions OF + Street
were well-nigh impossible.
santa Claus Up 10 Dntc.
At home the little folk retired early;
It needed not a second suggestion 10 has
ten them TO siumber; for was not old
Kris about TO begin his annual round to
bestow his rich gifts upon all good boys
and girls? Was ne not coming in his au-
tomobile and raglan? For the Santa Claus
of today must be up to date. and the a5-
sence OF snow in this climate precludes
the use OF his familiar old sleigh and
feet-footed reindeer. So the little stock
ings and the big stockings were hung by
the mantels and not by the frcside for
Santa In the modern home comes up
through the register.
II was long after midnight. however.
before the city settled down TO slumber:
TO awaken this morning prepared for the
customary observances OF the day. Through
the organized and individual Efforts Of
The charitable and beneficent nearly every
home in Washington and nearly every
person viii be supplied with good and
wholesome Christmas dinner.
The rich 10 their plenty have substan
TALLY remembered the poor. and few there
will be who are not made happy in some
way.
Some Good Work Done.
The Associated Charities. the Salvation
Army, the Central Union Mission, the
Homeward- Bound Mission, the Mobiles Of
the Mystic Shrine. and dozens
OF other organlz,l societies have
been at work for several days providing
good cheer fer everybody Almas Temple
has prepared and distributed among 1900
Needy families ar many baskets lader Eith
delicacies for Christmas dinners, and
other organizations have done likewise
on a more or less extensive scale.
IN All OF the Inherent pubic ana SEMI
public institutions the inmates will be
treated to a bountiful repast, at the
various homes for the aged. the inirm,
the helpless. al St Elizabeth's. the News
boys Home, the missions. the Soldiers
Home. and similar places, there viii be
turkey and cranberry sauce. plum pud-
ding and all Of the delioaeies which go
20 make up the usual Christmas din
ner
SO everybody viii be happy. OF at least
should be so.
Vr-r-r MOTT crrrrDr 1yr-r7