New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-26
PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE.
III Pass in Array to the Christmas
Dreamer.

Dreamer.
The sleek. well CARRIED and well groomed
Christmas pessinist. possessing a fat bank
count but disgruntled withal, might well have
torn a leaf from the notebook Of the New-York
poor yesterday. The cheering prophecy that
mo one need go hungry Christmas was to
all appearances fulfilled well nigh to the letter
Thanks to the good Offices Of the Salvation
Army who distributed Christmas cheer at the
Grand Central Palace 10 less than twenty
five thousand OF the New-York poor. and to
various other city institutions and charitaby
disposed persons. the hungry poor of the me-
tropOns last night found temporary content, at
least from physical hunger.
So. despite the stringency of the money mar
ket ana the recent Wall Street slump on the
hand, and on the other the labor troubles,
which are largely responsible for the estimated
hundred thousand people out OF work both
rich and poor alike had reasons for thanks
giving. The content was mostly OF two charac-
tiers. that Of the SNUG bovine order, which
leads nowhither, and the alert, sanguine variety,
which. while ignorant to the where
abOuts of the next meal, is hopeful and heart
ened by the most uneagre mercies whose graft
tUde IS a lively OF favors in store In
his stout reliance and obstinate cheerfulness
the sight OF the little orphan "newsie' yester-
Gay. sharp a weasel and saucy as a reedbird
as with sublime indifference to life and limb he
lit upon the tailboard OF q fast moving car, Or
craftily GLIDING the vigiant doorman. nerrily
beset the patrons Of the most exclusive restau-
rants 10 dispose Of his Christmas wares must
have rebuked many a wealthy malcontent, with
everything in the world to live for, but permit
ting the whole day to be marred by the memory
OF q fancied slight or the loss of a few well
spared thousands
VIZ nv al in
numerous churches. and special performances
were given in many OF the theatres The rain
beginning soon after $50 a m and changing at
2 p. m. to mingled rain and snow stopped com
pletey at o'clock. and seemed little TO mar the
harmony OF the day. which. for transit TO
and fro. is essentially Of indoor nature.
But old adage which says that all things
exist IN the man tinged with the manners OF his
soul, was never more true than when applied to
the individual appreciation or depreciation Of
Christmas. To the average ear indeed yule-
tide chants q pean Of peace. good cheer and
good viii and mutual understanding To the
man IN the Etreetcar its outward and visible
signs Rugur q respite from business; its actual
presence is reunion. Teasing and joIlity, to
which Christmas bills. buried opportunities and
vacant chairs act as gentle counter irritant
To him falls the aftermath of pleasant mem
cries an impaired digestion and an equally I'M
accountable headache. To the passengers chill
oren Christmas stin is. should be- an occa-
sion Tor the delectable visit OF Santa Claus
Kriss Kringle and the coming Of the Christ chill
dren.
To the philosopher. however, who perceives In
the white OF the spectrum a blending Of many
rays Christmas IS a wondrous. battling and com
pick efulgence. stone with every one OF its
myriad facets more or less distinct. On the ma
3ority. however the teasting. funning. reuniting.
fa.or 4nS~ra
he feels that he may safely generalize. The
minority in the character type. however. is an
other proposition. and In a polyglot country ike
America. and in city which is the most cosmo-
politan perhaps on the atlas. not even excepting
Port Said, he turns naturally to that problem
factor. the newly immigrant exile
Somehow. l. the chasm grows among III.
clicking Goals. the freight stu playing httullv
on his lonely parlOr walls. stray bar of music
ascending from some hurdy-gurdy On the street
the chance sight OF old photograph. IN
earthed from the bureau. or maybe mere sprig
of white heather. which marks a passage in his
eclogues. betrays his fancy 10 a senseless bark
ing back. Dim dreams" he murmurs wistfuuv
DIM dreams Of dead Decembers and old rekinolsd
OF Ares long since extnEuishsd and hearths Ionr
For Is The restless rangers. whose homes are made
Tho wand OF sweet remembrance. the wrath Of
Sick q our restless roaming eyes across the
RlOaming 49,
Are strained 10 the sunlight that frightened
other years.
And to all alien newcomers. whether they are
still, 30 TO speak, e1crescences or are about 10
become assimilated in the life of the land Of
their adoption, the undertow is much the same
But 10 define or dissect the newcomer is per-
haps. precarious task. for in the American
rapid transit age the immigrant Of to-day is the
respected citizen OF tomorrow and the man
with long line OF American ancestors the dav
after
To many other American types, too, Christ
mas-but especially Christmas Eve-is a time OF
oreanlng' but more OF speculation than OF
retrospect
The obscure boy musician, as he sits in his
little ballroom. handling his cherished violin