The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-25
STORY OF 3
1:.CHRISTMAS
There Are Many Happy Hearts
All Over the Broad Land
q This Morning.
The SPIRIT Of HAPPINESS Al NESS:
1t Is Nov All-Pcrvadin g-Ccle-
brations 81 the Anniversary
#9'' That Have Been Planned.

dlEh i nat I1upC DCCIl L ldllllCua}
!, IN whatever ratnicnt clad, sunshine Tor
4, shadow, tho Christmas that dnwncd With
j the morning will be to the people Of Rich
mond the JOY and the blessing that 1t
4 has ever proven In the past and will ever
continue in tho future. III
overhanglng and sometimes dripping
olbuds served somewhat TO dampcn the
Festivities OF tho holiday eve, but wind
I nor rain could have entirely subjected the
conyivial spirit that was lost manifestly
abroad In the land Through a dull and
drizzly day that came discouragingly at
the ond OF n period of almost springtims
picasantry the people OF the city waited
i ana waded until nghtfall. About z
O'clock In the evening the showers ceased.
at Least temporarily, and half-dimmed
moon cast few feeble rays OF light
f across the sky. solitary star appeared
and for n tlmc shone like beacon that
,3Saugurcd we'll for the porrow's weather.
.Ty this time already tho streets were be-
ginning to fillaup, and for the next few
hours tho ante Christmas celebration ran
ftriot Not until midnight did It cease.
\ and hardly then. The weather was then
Z.
4 to the weather. a
x BUSINESS IS SUSPENDED
/ This morning all Is peace and quiet.
& where SO short d while ago ruled the
4, mad holiday fete. The Christmas Itself
i Is here and the entire city responds to
Its presence in the good and ancient
fashion that is the vogue.
The business streets arc silent and
tenaatlcss. Scarce an office is open; all
State, city and Federal departments are
cosel Cary Street, the scene OF a daily
bustls, is like grave yard; for SQUARE
after square In all the down town thor
oughtarcs staring panes of glass gaze
blanldy from the usually busy houses
4 So with Broad Street 50 la tely the haven
OF tho holiday shopper. 4 Quiet now arc
tho stores, whore but q few hours before
thu crowds thronged, the dollars passed
and rcpassed. All is quiet and peace
and order. There Is no work, no worry
(. this day for the weary man. At homo, In
tho bosom Of his family, he celebrates
wilhSi them the greatest festival OF all
4 the year, even the Yuletfde.
SANTA CLAUS PRESENTS.
With the sun rose also the children OF
Z the city, CALLED from tho com Portable pill
loWs by the irresistible 4 curiosity, the
mysterious and elusive personof Santa
4 Claus always arouses. During the silent
and stadowy hours OF the early Christ
mas morn the old father Of the festival
4 speeds through the land, dispensing with
4 asIlbaral hand from the stnexhausflhie
N bag. slung across his shoulder Hardly
has the Jingle Of his RENDERS bells died
"a way before shining eyes, eloquent with
3 curOslty and expectation peep from be-
! meath the cautiously raised coverld and
soon the little man or maid Is tiptoelng
across an icy floor to the hood that
glitters from the nearby table or tree.
y. This morning many such scenes as this
are being enacted. In every household.
large or small there Is some evidence OF
a visit from Santa, and Christmas trees
and full stockings are for every one.
This is the work of the day-the In
spectlon by the children OF their yearly
storehouse Of good things. Soon thereaf-
ter the distribution OF presents In tho
household and in the immediate neigh7
borhood will begin-lf It has not already
been accomplished on the evening be-
fore It Is blessed custom that drains
the purse OF grumblng few, but warns
the heart OF happy all. Christmas with
out this gft-giving would be no Christmas
at all. It Is a feature that can never
die out, and who Is the man who hopes
1t may?
For the remainder Of the day there is
the usual programme. Nearly every
Mouse Is decorated with the red-berrlcd
4 holly, the chaste and beautiful mlstletoc,
tina green cedar. From q full larder the
Christmas dinner will be served-the itch
and toothsome turkey, thanked by; dishes
OF every describable3 shape. size and com,
position. Many morning calls Will be paid
s. and many afternoon calls, and every man
VIII wish his friend and neighbor merry
Christmas and happey New Year. Al
ternoon and evening parties VIII oe held
Jolly little affairs where Jelly and cgg-
nogg and good cheer abound. Many ~
Ito flying trips to the country VIII be
taken mostly, hunting parties or house
4 parties that will continue through the
Z holidays,
CHRISTMAS SERVICES.
Tho morning chimes will call the people
of the city to the churches. where the
customary Christmas services VIII po
held Many of the churches have been
decorated In beautiful flowers and ever
green's Eloquent sermons will tell OF the Z,
story OF tho newborn Christ and tho
choirs with one accord VIII sing x the
Joyous carol of the Christmas time
In all the Catholic and Episcopal
churches services will be held. The musl-
cal programmes will be very elaborate.
AT st. Peters Cathedral there Will 20
six masses, 8. g, Z o, $3.50 and II o'clock,
IrhG last will be q pontifical solemn high
mass, with Bishop Van do Vyver as cele-
:brant. Tho Christmas sermon Will be
preached by che Rev, Cyril De Muyncl.
The officers Of the mass will be rs fol-
lows: Assistant to the Bishop, the Very
Trey, T., II, Bowler, deacon Of honor to
f the bishop; the Raw John McVerry, OF
st. Patrick's, and the Rev. Charles f.
fHannigan, of st, Joseph's Church; deacon
of the mass. the Rev. Cyril De Muynck;
subdeacon, the Rev John ]. Massey, of
Sacred Heart Church,
AT thu end of the mass the Right Rev,
= Bishop Van de Yyver will tmPart the
i apostolic benedlction to all those pres
ent.
The Christmas music, directed by Miss
~ Nina Randolph, the organist, will DO re-
peated next Sunday at thu II o'clock high
mass,
The Methodist churches have arranged
for two union services at il A, NJ. One
at st.. James, the sermon to be delivered
by the Rev, Dr. ". J. Young, Of Gem
tenary, < and the other, at the same hour,
in Clay Street Church, the Rev. r. NJ,
Maxcy, OF Union Station, to preach
Religious services Will be held II
Laurel Street Methodist and Pine Street
4 or Churches In al ,aurelSs Street