The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-27
MERRY MAKING
MARKED HOLIDAY
STORES CLOSED AT NOON
AND CROWDS THRONGED PRINCE
PAL STREETS OF CITY.

Din Continued Until Late Mt Night,
and Then This Form of Amuse-
ment Ceased-During Afternoon
Football Game and the Matinee ut
the Theater Were the Attractions.
when These Had Ended, Crowds
Again SurEed the Streets.
The Christmas holiday was observed
generally in Savannah yesterday, with
the same features that marked Satur-
day night and Sunday.
The din of exploding dynamite caps,
the explosion of giant cannon-cracl-
ers, the rapid-firing of the smaller fire
crackers. and now and then the sound
of torpedo caps exploding along the
rails of the trolley tracks, all combin-
ed to keep every one in remembrance
of the fact that it was Christmas and
that the entire city was celebrating the
event.
A new noise-maker came into general
use yesterday. A small, tin, horn-like,
arrangement so fitted that one needs
only to turn a small handle and there
bursts forth a sound somewhat like a
compromise between a cut-cross saw
saving lumber lengthwise, and the wall
of lost souls. The merchant offering
these inventions for sale characterized
them THE Official Football Rooter,"
and at once there was heavy demand
for them.
Crowds on the Street.
The streets were crowded during the
morning with gay crowds, moving aim
lessly up and down and exchanging
greetings with passing friends. The
blue and white of Savannah was to be
seen everywhere, though there was no
dearth of the yellow and black of
Jacksonville. Every one was in high
spirits, and the bright sunshine kept
spirits from tagging.
At l o'clock the stores closed and
the force of clerks were added to the
numbers already on the streets. The
merrment and promenading continued
until the time for the football game
was approaching, and then the crowds
began hurrying for the cars that lead
by Bolton Street Park Others took
their way to the theater to witness
the matinee performance.
After the game was over and the
theater attraction ended, the crowds
surged on to the streets again, and
the din and racket went on unchecked.
A tendency to quiet down is becoming
apparent, however, every one seeming
to be tired of the three days of con-
tinuouS, uninterrupted racket.
At the POstOmce.
At the postoffice the day was strict
ly observed as a holiday. The instruc-
tions of Postmaster Blum were carried
out to the letter. When the hour an
nounced for closing came every one
closed down work, save only those who
had to be on duty to attend to the
outgoing mails and to receiving those
coming in.
Mails were delivered by carriers from
until II a. m and then the carrier
force was excused for the day. At II
O'Clock the general delivery and car
riers' delivery windows closed and no
more mail was distributed. There were
the usual number of attempts to get
mail from the rear door of the office
and several of the clerks were mpor-
tuned to Just get my mail" All re-
quests were met with the firm moth
ing doing" and this rule was followed
to the letter.
City Offices Were Closed.
Mail clerks were on duty during the
entire day, preparing the outgoing
mails and receiving those coming in
from distant points. To-day the regu-
lar hours for delivery will be followed
and the different windows be open as
heretofore. Normal conditions, in fact,
will prevail everywhere and save for
heavier mails. there will be nothing to
indicate that the busiest season of the
year has just ended.
Almost without exception the city
offices were closed. The health office
was open most OF the day and Clerk
OF Council Creamer kept his office open
during the morning, Assistant Clerk
Hernandez being on duty there while
Mr.. Creamer attended Police Court
The city officials all spent a quiet day
most of them attending the football
game in the afternoon. With the ex-
ception of the ball game, the day pass
ed off with the city officials almost like
Sunday.