The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-27
Busy and Carevorn People Wen.
Home and Rested.
DEATH DUE TO CARELEssNEss
Colored Youth Accidentally Shot ou church
lilll-The Day Was Pleasant aud Spent
Out of Doors-Boys Around Boa-
fires-church Services-Thea.
tres and Family Reunion,
We're the Features.
All Richmond took "a day off, Christ,

All Richmond took "a day of, Christ,
mas Day.
Never before, not even Christmas,
was a holiday more generally observed
than was Wednesday. business was en-.
.,reiy suspended after the morning hours,
except where confectioneries and hre-
crackers were solo. The business secs
ton of Main Street was entirely deserted
almost the liveIonS day. Lads ana
sion of Broad Street al! day Ii, a word.
the city, including every class ard condi-
ton of its inhabitants. gave itself up 70
rest and the enjoyment OF the day
The periot; from L midnight Tuesday
| till midnight Wednesday was not marked
by a single event which stands out more
conspicuous than rne rest. In the main,
the observance was oIuieter than usual,
Thousands of dollars went up in noise
and smoke. But this is usually the case.
1t would not look like Christmas unless
there was the continual sound OF tho
/ pop-cracker from early Christmas Eve
until midnight of Christmas Day.
Fewer casualties are reported this year
than formerly. ~ smaller and less dali
gerouS cannon-cracker was uSeG. It is
true that many of the lads were nursing
one child was reported as very seriously
hurt and Iie is not thought now to be
in danger of losing his sight, as WAS at
first feared. One person. q colored boy.
was killed by a companion. y pistol was
the weapon. The shooting appears TO
have been due to carelessness, auc noe
| with criminal intent.
There was a good deal of drunkenness,
| but not near rly so much as Richmond has
| been accustomed to at this season, DRINK
| ing was Just as general as formerly. bit
| it was more genteel. The disgusting
| street scenes We're few. and none in tina
| residential sections of the city.
BON-FIRES DOTTED THE CITY.
/ The boys had a fine time all day. me-
! weather favored them, as. in its mildHess.
| it favored every one. The day was 5penE
| out of doors by almost all Inside only
| slow fires were burning. The streets were
! filed with boys until far into the night
! The city was dotted with bon-tires Christ
| mas night. They We're beautiful Ihey
/ were surrounded by ladies and gentlemen,
| and girls. as we'll as by the boys ne
| remarkable thing was: Where tlit. the ooEs
I get all these barrels? One group OF lads
| said that they had burned seventy-fiye
barrels Christmas morning and then had
/ one hundred and s;eventy-tive for night.
! This was Just one instance of the ahill-
| dance of bonfire material on hand 6uG
the boys have been collecting barrels
| since October.
So much for the noisy celebration Or
| the day The Episcopal and Cathoun
| Churches. following q beautiful custom
| of theirs. had services in all their places
| of worship Christmas Day. These exer-
| cises were all well-attended- Delightful
was the quiet hour passed by thousands
of people Wednesday from II to L CLOCK
| Nearly all the choirs sang special and ap-
! propriate music
one genuinely delightful but also quies
! feature of the days observance was tina
reunion of families. Almost every house,
hold had it's guest. This was some mems
Der of the loved home circle who lives
out Of the city but who had come at this
happy season OF the year to spend Christ
| mas Day, and, in some instances. tnd
closing days of the year 'sat home.
| Ihe theatres were crowded. matinee ana
night Both houses were running good
shows. and We're amply repaid by tbs
! natternS patronage.
Christmas Day has gone into the past.
So many of its memories are so happy
that they will linger far into the new
| year.