The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-08
Stray Topics From, NeU York

New York. Dec. 5-The majority of the fashionable set Is back in town for the holidays. Those who remained in the country for Thanksgiving have re- turned to the city and opened up their town houses and will be kept busy till long after Christmas, for the social calendar is full of weddings. receptions and dances. not to- mention the two operas that attract a brilliant gather ing every evening. The re-opening or the big mansions on Fifth Avenue, gives the necessary touch to the fash ionable quarter to make it seem alive and gay. After many months of quiet, the big shutters have been removed from the windows. lights once more shine within while carriages and au- tos again draw up before the doors' But the holiday spirit Is by no means confined to the wealthy class alone, It is everywhere apparent And al- though 1t seems customary in every circle to talk hard times. still the shops seem as crowded as ever witn early Christmas shoppers. AS usual all the stores are urging customers to buy early in order to avoid the rush that always exists Christmas week. but the majority of New forkers .s nns .s,, the hustle and hustle of waiting tltl inc last minute before making their purchases so that 1t Is probable that this year will be no exception.
 Before the clergy had really finished criticizing President Roosevelts act ion in removing the religious motto from the $1O gold pieces. the Board 0, Education gave the ministers, ana "a fholiC and PrOt0SI~ ant in the city, a new cause for reiiS. ious agitation. At the urgent request of the Jewish rabbis. who sent a com mittee ito wait for the purpose or ellh- mating all sectarianism from the schools, an order was issued to the principals and teachers forbiddins them to hold any Christmas exercises In which 1t was necessary to mention the name of Christ or Christmas rms. of course. at once eliminated any or the Christmas carols. It was further prohibited to mention any or tne Christian Saints, so that Santa Claus was simply obliged to change all his plans, and thousansd of school children who had been looking forward to ms coming were bitterly disappointed. Naturally, a storm of protest was raised against the Boards action. ana a considerable number of Jewish teach. CTS themselves felt their brethren hao been narrow and unjust Tn tneli claims. During the Jewish holidays the schools in the Ghetto are deserteu and lost time Is not required 70 pe made up. Why, therefore. the Cnrlst' fans are asking the Board. should the one holiday of the year that the call dren most hold dear be denied. for Il
 would he an easy matter for the Jew ish children to remain at home tha' day. While this particular Christmas incident caused the greatest agitation throughout the city. it was regardeo by many of the more serious mlnoeo ai only fore-runner of other widf raachtnr differences that will have tc he settled in the near future with th' tremendous foreign population that ha' settled down in New York in the pas' few years.
 One of the interest side lights on the | present financial troubles Is the very marked increase in the number o' looks dealing with financial subjects
 tbat have been called for at the pub' iic I,hraries The circulation or the hooks dealing with modern nanklnE
 ,,ethods." said a clerk at one ot the
 bie branches the other day ua' t
 trsbled in the past month. Hooks which have remained untoucneN io' years have been called for.
 The neople seem to want to study : Cor. Themselves the why's and where fores of the present troubles ana tS learn the causes and remedies or pan ies es' ii in the past. But besides the de mand for books dealing with the his tory and economic theory ot banking, | there has been an unusual call Tor books containing stories about money ,,,atters. For example, John Laws
 .niissIssinpi Bubble" has had great
 run.
 Tine barber who advertised that while ihis customers were having their hair l cut. they could have their nails man