The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-26
Bonhrcs and Pyrotechnics
Made Thousands Of
Little Folk Glad.
30 III B.lRIDME BY
GIANT CRACKERS
With Ideal Weather. the Crowds
Made, Merry, but Day Passed
Without Disorder-Nisit-
ing Angels Find and
Comfort the
Poor.

Beginnlng with a fusillad, in the
gray dawn OF the morning ara winding
un with q dazzling bonfire .usp,ay lat
right the celebrat ton OF Christmas
!esterday eclipsed all others in the
memory OF the youthful muiti.u,les.
thrilling them with JOY unccn.ined.
Like the bombardnncnt OF great city
ln time OF war. the shots rang out
and as darkness came the
SKI was lighted from every point.
The roar was deafenlng.
Little knots OF boys swung Close to
the fires by day. and when the evening
shadows fell they brought out thou.
sands Of barrels. piled them man n-hIgh.
and danced AZ the crowds gathered to
watch the blaze. In the fire , I'D fire.
works line the day was fine.
But in all other respects the cele-
brntion was carried out in regulation
style. There was not cloud in the
heavens. The sun cheered and bright
ened all, a whirlwind Of dust was
kicked up now and then, and ther. was
enough frost and chill to make the
da5 ideal. Growing it ali. mag
nificent sunset cast streaks OF red and
sold beyond the hills of the west.
Day Quiet and Orderly.
Coming out after full days feast.
dropped in here and there, filled the
theatres and the park and then settled
down around the egGnog bowl at night
to watch the merry antics of the
young. Formalit? was thrown to the
winds. There was only sprinkling OF
good people In the churches. And yet
with the whole city ~lrncd lcos>. there
was no disorder. no iires. and no record
in red to mar the festivities. Most of
the hiSh-class saloons closed of their
own accord. aud thus put the fighting
product beyond the reach Of those who
do not know how to use 1t In modera-
ton. Just here. however. is we'll TO
say that the police had an eye on those
places which sought money at any
expense. the facts of which may have
some bearing later on In the settle-
ment of local problem which Is now
yexatious. With all of the scare about
bontires. the fire departments waited
without being called upon to stop the
damage OF the kids.
Bombardment Began EARLY.
Crawling out of bed In the early
hours to find their reward, the younE-
sters drifted quickly to the streets to
begin medley of sound that drove all
sleep away from those within. There
was no particular shooting place.
It spread to every quarter of the
town, the volley and volume of sount
being lifted, now like the cracking
Of rifles and then like the explosion
from a fort. In the midst OF minor
volley the noise was drowned by the
crash of bigger guns, and so IL KEPT
up until the stock was deplcte. Thoug!
bars closed, the fireworks shops stayed
open until late. rhe sight of which
was tempting to the army that longet
to join in the merry making.
Great Bonfire Display.
And the bontires. They We're here
there and verywhere, in the mair
streets and the side streets, in avenues
and lanes, and from doorsteps thu
older folk looked on and smiled. Tht
story from South Third Street was
merely typical. Late Tuesday after.
noon two cords OF rich pine wood Were
dumped near the Hotel Guerrant
bought with the money begged ant
borrowed from the friends of tht
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