The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-26
WHOLE DAY GIVEN
OVER TO FtSTlVITY
Observance of This Holiday Most
General - Business of Every
Character Suspended Where
Possible-The Poor
Are Not For
gotten.

A thousand bondres last night Ut tho
streets of Richmond Barrels piled man
hish were ablaze upon many "a corner.
and around them gathered merry troops
az girls and boss dancing ln tine fire.
Iglt. shooting hrecrackers ln AN the
Iomp aud glory of youth. having "a merry
Chrstma Qua Dee thc open. cold though
tie weather might be. Roar after roar
burst rpou the -leucos OF the night for
from doorway and window sfyrockcts
SCARED lp into tho sky. cannon crackers
were being thrown iuto tho empty streets
with reckless abandon. and spitfre balls
fcnrriei along the pavement like demon
iacd -p.,its.
Richmond gave itscif over 90 celebra-
zion. Sadness ana sorrow and gloom
took unto tleu-elgfs wings and nel
vlth tae shadows OF day. II was a time
Tor luriiation for nerrlmcnt and glad
ness $50 one thought of the morrow
Saying in their hearts. Let the morrow
take care " itself sufficient unto the
day are the evils thereof Let us eat.
drink and he merry. for tomorrow we
may dic.' And with "a determination 20
make the best ~ it while the day lasted
the good people of tAe city OF FatHer
Byrd burned the Yule los. bussed the
girls beneath tle dnugilng mlsuetoe. shot
nrccrackers lntl there were no more 20
shoot allied Themselves happily with
eggnogu plum pudding and mince pies.
and made merry from early morn until
there broke la the Eas1 tae light of
another dawn
Every One Happy.
Everybody was happy yesterday. so
one but remembered that Christmas
comes hut once a year. schooiboys
and girls were home tor tile holidays.
and around tna family lugie the young
scion 81 the house toiI of hla merry
college FRANKS while the father. remem-
boring the days - his own youth
vinklrd in 1otial eicei the girls told
ZOO of their utte pranks lu eyading the
vatchfui eyes of their teachers % pass
moment or two So some quiet Irritation,
grandmother told % other Christmas.
and some granlfath-rs told % how they
had once spent Christmas on the field
of battle with never a hit 90 Christmas
cheer And around the festive board
gathered au tne family az noutide. more
stories were toi1 and tile turkeys and
puddiugs We're enjoyed with a ze7t tnat
comes only with the tilc ~ Yuie.
Early in the morning. before old sol
had awakened 20 bless "a smiling world.
The small boy was up, stockings were eN-
amined and carefully shaken that not the
least thing mlght be tucked awaS and
lost ard tnen. with a merry whocp AID
son. the youngsters We're out on the
streets. blazing their fireworks. With such
thunderous noises rcvcrherating through
the hollow. empty streets. sleep was mo-
longer possible. and Richmond shook IFS
lazy body. and with roll and rumble.
arose and went forth to do honor 10 the
day OF an the year. Many quiet throngs
wended their way early 10 church. where
they offered up praise and thanks for
the Blessed Incarnation. and then has
tened home again 10 enjoy with their
families cine Christmas feast
Bitter Cold Day
IL was bitter cold day and few peo-
pie remained long on the streets It was
comfortable indoors, where the fires
blazed merrlly and then the Christmas
presents had TO be looked over again.
Toward nightfail. however the young
people took possession OF the city and
the kindly cops looked on and let them
have their way. soon boxes and barrels.
stored away for the past three months,
some OF them having been swiped fr' IN
the groceryman around the corner. were
piled on every corner and their flames.
soaring above the treetops. turned the
streets into one great panorama OF
Eeething. radiant light And Cnarles's
Vain. looking down from his place
among the stars. must have thought
Richmond "A seethlng cauicron. and the
people little lmps II devitry dancing
pround their victims n torfuro.
Every child In Richmond. with barely
an exception. had his fireworks. and
streaming rockets were seen on
every hand. while the deep boom
OF baby-wakers and cannOn-crackers
seemed 20 shake tire very heart of the
city Round the burning barrels. piled
one on top Of the other the little figures
danced and played. while their elders
gazed at them from fast closed windows.
wherein the chill could not enter. Occa-
sionally one saw upon a corner people old
asd gray-haired watching with quiet
amusement. the giee OF the youngsters
Cne venerable looking man. whose haii
rad borne IL SHOWS of many winters
was heard TO say. let them have their
fun. They have their youth but once
end the autumn chill Of age will only too
soon gather about the shoulders.
was a boy once. myself and my
brothers and I made many q night OF
st around just such fires" His eyes filed
with tears at the thought OF the days
now numbered among tho past. the
poet has truly said. Sorrows crown Of
sorrow is remembering happier things
Very Few Accidents.
There were surprisingly few accidents.
Here and there some unfortunate boy
grew too careless. and learned from bit
Ter experience that il is not wise to be-
come TOO intimate with fire brands. An
unusually unfortunate boy in tho East
End had his hand badly torn. and lace
rated by cannoncracker. which he
thought had become eXtinguished. It ex-
plOded in his hand with terrific force
tearing the hand badly.
A passcr-by on Broad Street had the
freball of rocket go up his sleeve. The
agony Of the scared flesh was too great
Tor human endurance and he tore Off
his coat, and the burning brand fell at his