Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-01-08
AN INTERESTING LETTER.
Fred Alters Writes Abou! Christmas in the
South.


SAN ANTONIO, TEX, Dec, 26, 1902.
DEAR GRANDMA:--Having now
spent two Christmas days in Texas
and finding that the occasion is
observed quite differently here from
what it is in the north. l thought,
perhaps Il short description of d
southern Christmas might prove
interesting.
OF course the greatest difference,
between northern and southern
Christmas, is on account of the CHM
ate. As typical Of the north, one
must picture, snow, ice, sleigning,
skating, clear, cold and frosty aImo-
sphere. a roaring fire in the heater
etc.
But how different from the above
was Christmas in San Antonio. The
day was clear, bright and sunny-an
ideal day-the temperature was just
warm enough to make one indepen-
dent of overcOatS or mittenS and it
was very comfortable sitting out on
the yeranda smoking my after-dinner
cigar. The beautiful "plazas" about
the city still present green appear
ance and the roses are blooming
profusely
Instead of the flying cutters with
the jingle Of merry bells, | saw hun
dreds of fine rubber tired carriages
rolling over the smooth asphalt streets
and out along the broad avenues
which lead to suburban resorts.
There are many fine ''turn-outs" here
and on holidays and Sunday after
moons they are all out on parade.
Another difference [ must mention is
the celebration on Christmas eve
which consists principally of "noise, "
and to produce the necessary noise"
the people press into service all the
tin pans, horns, trumpets, drums and
fire works. obtainable. Wednesday
evening the fun began about seven
O'Clock and from then until after
midnight the streets were crowded
with thousands of people and every
one OF them armed with some noise
producing cOntrivance. Most of them
had tin trumpetS but a great many
had tin pals with a "String and
resin" attachment which proved quite
effectual. OF course the cannon
cracker and dynamite cap' were
quite in evidence, also the sky rocket
and roman candle.
L picked my way through the crowd
for about fifteen blocks with the
unceaSing blasts from trumpetS, and
the startling explosions of dynamite
caps serving to make "penSive medi-
tation" rather difficult. About 11:3O
| went home leaving the crowd.
Seemingly as large as ever) still
manufacturing "nOiSe" which seemed
to be their highest ambition. Part of
Christmas day | spent at the Y. NJ.
Z. A. watching a basket ball game
and later in the afternoon 1 happened
around to The opera house where
L witnessed very interesting spec
tacle. namely the ''NewSboy's Dinner. -
There had been crowded house to
see the matinee performance. And
after the show, most of the audience
had remained in their seats to see
the neWSbOyS of San Antonio enjoy
the Christmas dinner which was
given them by the manager of the
opera house. The curtain went up
and there on the stage was a beauti-
full Christmas tree laden with presents
Tor every one of the hundred or more
little fellows who wake me up every
morning yelling Evening Light"
Morning Express" "All about the
-" All, how their faces beamed
when they turned to the long table
with It's snowy covering and loaded
with eatableS SO dear to a boys heart,
or rather stomach. Roast turkey.
cranberry sauce, puddingS, salads and
fruits disappeared with astonishing
rapdity and much to the satisfaction
of the hungry horde. Perhaps many
had never tasted anything quite so
delicious before, while others L pre-
sumo, had faint recollection of hav-
ing eaten something similar wear
ago.
At other places great many of the
city'S poor were fed The Salvation
army fed a Thousand and another
organization six hundred more, while
various dinners of minor Importance
are announced in this mornings
paper.
one OF The strange customs in San
Antonio, and some other Texas cities,
IS to give the prisoners in the city
Jail, their liberty. This Christmas
the doors were thrown open to the
sixteen prisoners then in Jail and they
stepped out in to the bright sunshine
OF mild December day, having
received a very desirable Christmas
gltt-their liberty. But the jail was
untenanted for short while only as
uulihS UllC udy dUUuU ulUy arrests
were made in that section of the CITY
known as ''the west end" where
drinking and fighting was quite the
order of the day. Many there were,
who, realizing that ''ChrStmas comes
but once a year" endeavored to make
the most of it and ''tanked" up accord
ingly. But it is nearly all over with
now, though even as | write this line
there comes to my ears the boom of
the cannon cracker. This morning
business was taken up where it was
dropped Christmas eve. and the
people. though still looking haggard
and red-eyed over their high living
and liquid dissipation, are rapidly
assuming their normal condition.
AS regards myself, | Jared very we'll as
my boss gave me half holiday and
a ten dollar gold piece to defray
incidental expenses. | expect to
spend next Christmas in Michigan
and if | enjoy it as we'll as this one l
shall be quite satisfied
Well, [ must close now as NV
Literary TALENT is exhausted and it
IS getting along toward midnight.
Give my best regards to my Grand
Rapids friends and tell them that
wish them. as | do you and grandpa,
prosperous and happy New Year.