Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-23

ALI lu6 pldCSS VI DuSlueSS dUOub town including the banks, the Bron- son library, and the offices in the city hall building, will be closed on Christ mas day, which falls upon next Mon day. The public and private schools will have holiday and the factories will observe the occasion by giving the hands a day off, so that notwith- standing the inference so frequently heard here and there that we are. drifting back to the custom in vogue when there was no observance of the nativity of the Savior in New Eng land, there does not appear to be any signs of such return to that condition of things in Waterbury. On the con trary 1t is becoming more generally observed as time rolls onward and there IS reason to believe that the day is not far distant when no believer in the Christian creed will toll on Christ mas until in case of great necessity.
 In the city hall, while all the clerks will have day off, Town Clerk Blair will be in his office from 10 o'clock Ill the morning until 12:30 for the ac- commodation of people who may have business to transact that demands at tention. Comptroller Goodrich will also be on deck for a couple of hours in the forenoon. The lady clerks in the different offices are wreathed in smiles to-day and while they are reti- cent to talk of their Christmas gifts still anybody could tell that they have not been forgotten. Town Clerk Blair refused to state what he had given his clerks and put the reporter off with a remark that it was early in the day, which the newsman interpreted to mean that he intended to surprise them at quitting time.
 In the city clerks office, the Misses Bergen, Fitzpatrick and Calvin were wreathed in smiles and spent a share of their time exchanging opinions on their good fortune. The presents re- ceiyed by the trio of stenographers in- cluded two handsome rings, which it is hinted are engagement rings, al- though they do not admit it. They also received gold necklaces and few other things, all of which appear ed to make them even more happy than usual.
 At the assessors office the Misses Walden and Kilduff had some very neat specimens of needle work before them, two neat gold watches. and couple of the handsomest fountain pens In the market. They pretended that they didn't know where they came from but judging by the way they winked their off eyes it was plain that they 'blameT' the three gentlemen who make up the tax bills, Messrs Beecher, McEvoy and Jenks.
 In the other offices there was evi- dence of good cheer and an all around good feeling, thereby showing that if Santa Claus hadn't already shown up they had hint that he was moving in their direction. Even Superinten- dent Beach of the police department, looked radiant and happy and while he didn't say so he gave broad hint that the gray bearded old fellow with the reindeers had already stopped at his house and dropped something sub stantial into his stocking.
 On the streets and In the stores one can see at every turn indications of mirth, lots of money and disposition to exchange it for something else. This is due, in part at least, to the fact that the past year has been a prosperous one in Waterbury. There was plenty of work for everybody who was willing to do it, both in the fac tories and out of doors, so that mo- body who knows how to save dollar Is short of funds for the Christmas shopping.
 Many new faces are noticeable on the streets and as consequence hand ho1 N, rrt tors are people who have homes here but who are employed out of town and have come back to spend the hol. idays with the old folks. No doubt they are welcome guests under the pa- rental roof and their presence will bring more joy to the family than any thing Santa Claus could think of leay- ing there, for Christmas puts peopIe in reminiscent mood and nothing mars the joys it brings more than the absent face and the vacant chair. In many respects Waterbury has req son to be thankful for the blessings Of the past year and probably this has something to do with the disposi- ton manifested on all sides to make 10 day of rest so that all may have an opportunity to spend a few hours fin prayer and also a little time to en- tertain friends and enjoy the Christ mas dinner free from the exaeting duties of smart race to keep up with the procession in the mad scramble for existence in this busy world.
 Special music will be rendered i'm the churches. the program in some of them being as follows:
 Immaculate Conception Church.
 The following program has been prepared by 0rganIst Hughes of the Immaculate Conception church:
 Solemn high mass. , a. m.
 Organ prelude, "Adeste Fidelis'' Buck "Kyrie Eleison" ......... Le Jael ~Gloria in Excelsis' ........ Le Jael -NTeu0 ..-............... .NiegaQd "Adeste Fidelis" ........... Noveflo "Sanctus .............. MercadanTe "Agnus Del" ........ Mercadante
 Mass 9 a. m.
 SAdeste Fidelis- ....... Buck -Rastorale -......---........ Grleg ~hedftat0n' ...a..-.... Morrison