New-York tribune., 1907-12-24

unusually late this year. Francis Boone, superin-
tendent of mails. said the first big increase hao
been felt on Friday. but that the really voluminous
mail began to come in last evening
AT the express offices all over town things had
perked up noticeably and all the employees were
earning their salaries. Up TO yesterday, however
there had been unusual duness. In former sea-
sons it was the custom of big companies ike
the American TO put extra force of num-
dred men several weeks before Christmas. but this
year the volume of business did not warrant the
addition to the staff until this week.
At the railroad terminals things were quiet yes
terday. The slowness in passenger traffic was ac-
counted for in some quarters by the fact that
Christmas Day falls in the middle Of the week.
when the stretch from Sunday is too great to be
hridged by those who by putting Friday or Tues
DAY together with Sunday and preying on the SYM
pathies of the boss for a Saturday afternoon or a
Monday might make full three days out OF IL
AT the offices of the New York Central. however,
it was said that sixty extra sleepers more than in
any previous season had been put into reQuisftion
to accommodate home going holiday makers. A
great number of these had been used in trans
porting large parties of students from various col
leees and schools Travel to the West and South
is said to be of normal proportions times. while
those bound to New England are yet consd-
erably fewer than they were year ago
WEATHER MAN OBSTINATE.
Only inhuman persons. doctors. makers and Ven
ders of umbrellas and other rain gear want an
other day like yesterday in the Christmas season.
A cautious and entirely reassuring note came
from the weather bureau yesterday in regard to
to-day's weather. Partly cloudy and colder to-
morrow" said the legend. which added something
about shifty winds. There was discreet silence
as TO rain. but something said about a coming
storm that might break in these parts about
Wednesday.
Whatever the weather, though. there will be
hustling Christmas business everywhere to-day. and
yesterdays records. say the wise ones, will be
records at all by midnight. 1t is pretty safe bet
that il will not be necessary for Commissioner
Crowel 10 make a removing contract before
Christmas. and that grass may be in the
suburbs Thh weather forecaster said last night
that Christmas Day would he fair. but wouldn't
let of his first promise shifty airs freezing
temperature is predicted.
More than four thousand letters from children
addressed TO Santa Claus have been received I'D to
date at the General Postoffice. and they are still
pouring in with every mail Mrs Clarence r. Burns
has taken away more than two thousand of them
and the committee appointed by the Federation of
Women's Clubs busy all day yesterday irving
to satisfy the requests of the writer's nearly
possible
The Christmas festivities have already begun in
the Italian quarters of the city and will grow in
pretentiousness until St Stephens Day is passed
The first OF the many entertainments and Christ
mas dinners given for the poor and friendless
held yesterday. At the Free Industrial School for
Crippled Children at No Al West 57th street
exercises We're held in the Italian School of
New York Childrens Aid Society No Leon
ard street Many of the kindergartens in the
public schools had Christmas programmes and
to-day the older children will have their chance
The army anch of the Young Mems Christian
Association provided entertainments for the sol
diers Fort Jay and Fort Schuyler last evening
and at Fort Socum yesterday afternoon This
afternoon there will be a like entertainment under
the auspices Fort Wood and another at
Fort Wadsworth in the evening. The full choir
of St Pauls Chapel and the chapel's day school
OF girls will sing at carol service at to-
day in the chapel. at Broadway and Nesey street.
To this Office boys especially invited. The
of the New York Flower Mission, at No
1oi East Goth street will be open all day con-
tributions for hospitals ard the tenement house
sick
The two hundred employees in Central Park got
a surprise yesterday when each OF them was pre-
sented with a shining s. gold piece. There those
who say that Mrs Russell Sage may be the woman
behind the foreman and the Park Commissioner, as
il said some weeks ago that she liked the way
they kept the park well that she intended to give
substantial token of her appreciation.
OF course, the holiday itself will be distinguished
by the usual array OF charitable entertainments.
which tell emphatcally what sort OF a heart New
York has, after all.