Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-21
CHR|STMASLEh ALL
Ia rAs 40 EauAL.
HOW 0LD-TlMERS CELEBRATE
s,;,,, ce,,s It wa. Yulc; and with
R,maas saturnnlia The Druids
and tho E~crgreens English
Parliament Of 1Ga4 Denounced the
Holidar-Afton Gossip.

ALTON, VA, December 2a-tSpccial,)-
OF ali festivals that mankind ever knew,
rl,ere is none like Christmas. Others have
ihcir special significance. for this creed
or that, for one nation or another. but
Christmas throws It's gentle influence over
all and is essentially the feast Of peace
and good VIII
Among the heather Christmas was 8
FESTIVAL. TO the Gets it was yulc, for
The Romans. Saturnaiia, celebrating the
surriIG point Of the year. and The revival
Of nature from the increasing power OF
the sun. The prIids had superstition
.iat the houses should be decorated with
.svergreens in December, to prcpitiate the
sylvan spirits. and keep free from the
blasts OF the cold north winds and the
,rost until milder season renewed the
foliage for their outdoor haunts.
THE EVERGREEN a SYMBOL.
The evergreen tree is a symbol Hung
with lights and offerings. the tree has
5or centuries been one OF The principal
characteristics OF ClristInast!de. And so
f:th The mistletoe boush and the holly
The mistletoe hung IN the castle bail,
she holly branch sllone on the old oak
wall"
Among the ancient Britons, the 1nistle-
.oe that grew On an oak tree found the
mos favor.
In the light Of this nineteenth century
rivilization who would think that .rist-
mas was once denounced. Parliament, in
lszz. ordered Christmas to be kept as ..
solernr fast: TO be passed il humble re-
peutacce for the national sin 81 the
English forefatllers in eating plum pud
Sing ana drinking ale Favored with roast
ID apples.
The Ptritans regarded Christmas as g
aeathen feast, and did not observe it.
The restoration of Chrales, the merry
monarch was The GROWING cf King
Christmas IN the old world and the new
the New England States. The festival
belonged to the old Dominion, and the
cavaliers; for these were of the church of
England with ali the mother country's
adherence 10 ole customs and love Of
high living Right well was Christmas
fept n that day by the ienient, courtly
masters and their weil-fed slaves
The significance Of Christmas as a re-
ligious festival, though still keeping its
holy observance, is in many ways over
shadowed by its social characters. Tie
lights OF the Christmas tree burn more
brightly than even the lights on the al
Tar. and the joyous laughter Of the chill
dren makes louder and sweetsr music
Than organ tone and song Of choir.
HUMAN NATURES GENTLE MOOD
Sanctuartes put on gayer colors for this
say OF days, and worshippers crowd the
decorated churches. but the chief feature
Is the giving Of gifts, the LOVING rerne1n-
hrance OF dear ones. The feasting and
making marry
Human nature is in its .gel1tlest mood
ard glo-ies in doing deeds Of Kindness
The holiday, season will be properly OBJ
served IN and about Alton. The same
old blue-eyed frosty-bearded Santa Claus
VIII roll over the Blue Ridge in the first
starshine. The same cid reindeer will
spin down the sharp decline, with the
same old tinkling tinsel reins and silver
horns sounding nerrily. The same old tat
fingers that brought gifts 10 you and me-
VIII lightly open every swinging stock
Ing. and all the hum and hustle and the
hearth melodies of old-tirne Christmas
vii be heralGed far and near. There is
an aroma OF fruit cake and nlince nies,
old hams and ''bug-juice.' hot and cold.
from Alton to Nelly's Ford, with the
promise OF roast turkey and other edi-
blcs later on
Socially we shall be quite gay. The
various Sunday schools have made pre-
Iarations and the little folks will enjoy a
royal time.
WEDDINGS OF INTEREST.
among the marriages OF interest to
wide circles Of friends, were those of Miss
Berte Goodwin, OF Washington, D. c.,
niece of Mrs John s Hayes, of Chestnut
Ridge, TO Mr.. Joseph II Meyer, OF Wash
3ngton city, and Miss Fannie Dowell. Of
Gloston Manor 10 MIR. Willie F,aris.
If Greenwood. Aibemarle county. Va, also
that OF Miss Emma Dooms, of Greenfield.
ana Mr.. ]. T. Martin, Of the same place.
Miss Jane Shipman has returned to her
hone in Salem. Va
ENGINEER NIRB8'S DEATH.
The sad news OF the death of Engineer
y NJ Kirby, at Whitcomb. Va. was re-
ceired here on Sunday. Mr. Nirl9ys form
er home WAS at Alton. lie leaves a
wife, 1--WE children, three sisters, and an
aged mother TO mourn their loss of a
anuful son. and a good husband and
brother. This death is peculiarly sad. as
''e is the third CT his family killed on the