Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-25
CHRISTMAS LONG AGO
How Washington Celebrated
Before the Civil War.
RlOTOUS DAY FOR YOUTH
Noise Continued From Dawn Until
Late at Night.
TOYS NOT THEN PLENTIFUL
Schools Made Holiday for Eight
Days-Christmas Trees Not So
Frequent as Now.
RiOTOUS DAY FOR YOUTH
TOYS NOT THEN PLENTIFUL

est Inhabitants Association can TecdIl
Christmas times OF sixty or more years
ago with a pang of regret that they have
rot the vim to participate in the festivi-
ties as they did then.
Washington was in youth. say sixty
years ago. her less than forty thousand
people a third of the colored race, living
in less than six thousand dwellings. and
these mostly of frame, on streets. If inn
proved al all, covered by a coat OF gravel
only.
The larger portion of the population was
from the south. Christmas customs OF
that section were by them observed. The
German element also made the customs of
the fatherland felt
A few families here. not partial to the
mode which then prevailed, soon assimi-
lated with the major part Of the COM
murity. And in the general merriment
and good humor, accompanied by the
noise OF pistols. flrecrackers, etc. they
heartily clumed in. The whole population
celebrated. ard none could sleep Christ
mas morning IL SO disposed.
The nistletoe, hcily and evergreens were
then III vogue. but not near to the extent
now. Churches were the greatest con-
sumers, some Of them stringing festoons
plentifully besides using devices and mot
toes on the walls. For homes the de-
mand for tees was not near SO general as
now. but few of them were devoid Of
some decoration and there were many
Wreaths in evidence.
Church Celebrations.
The celebration Of the birth Of the Mes
siah was observed, as now, by several
denominations as the principal festival of
the year In the three Catholic, the four
Episcopal and the three Lutheran
churches the early services were well
attended by old and young. Early morn
Ing prayer meetings in the seven Metho-
dist churches were of a simple character.
and the attendance was usually confined
TO the members
The pandemoniun which broke out at
daybreak was continuous throughout the
day. In fact, there was not a senblance
of quiet until night. There were but Il
few dozen officers to preserve the peace.
But much of the city being occupied by
detached houses in little clusters. those
inclined to overstep the bounds Of pro-
priety could easily keep lookout for
police.
All boys and some girls participated in
the Juror, in which were the reports or
firearms. the favorite being small brass
pistol: sounds of horns. drums, pans. etc.
Firecrackers there were in limited GUAM
tity, and they were more costly then, as
well as difficult to buy.
The corporation laws placed nenalty
On the sale of all kinds of fireworks. but
they were sold, all the same. Under the
general laws the oath Of a colored person
needed confederation to be admissible.
This being known. the colored boy had
The advantage OF being able to purchase
fireworks, and through them did the white
boys get their supplies of noise-mak1ng
material - crackers, torpedoes, etc. and
proceeded to set them off,
There was amity between the races. for
the day at least. any one capable OF max
Ing noise being welcome to the gang.
These were aided by any old kettle or pan
on which noise could be made; also by
1rums. whistles, horns. etc.
In the second ward country boy had
introduced an instrument which was a
torture when quiet was wanted. In snort
time the boys throughout the city had been
supplied. 1t was made OF tin, with thin
strip Of tough wood. Soon a boy learned
20 blow a harsh note upon it, and deftly
drop it out of sight. In little time the
boys with this instrument became a
nuisance. but it was cheerfuily tolerated
In Christmas times.
Those in the community who were tor
mented by the boys frequently In these
times were mostly forgotten. but occa-
sionally some one would. however, De sim
gled out as a target. An old shoemaker
having his shop on a street corner, un-
fortunately for him was in appearance a
yeritable kriss kringle. minus the bag OF
gifts, etc. Nature had given him rosund
figure, red face, surmounted by bushy
Wnlc tldlT dHO ItiuScu WIN "AAeS
beard and heavy eyebrows. and. being
great smoker, n pipe was constantly In his
mouth
IT was known far and wide by the boys
that when not at work he would go out
10 the corner and smoke for hours. When
pm Christmas morning the weather was
pleasant the old man on the corner was
too great an attraction for the boys
One day when the old man appeared
nearly a hundred boys were on the other
narfV dOREerAl IN
which the name was introduced and the
Ire of the old man was raised He
started for the offending crowd. But the
pthers in turn. taking up the song. the
Did man was soon perplexed as to which
pf the three gangs 10 pursue, unable TO
reach ali.
came, driving the now irate man to his
home.
Good Cheer Not Abbreviated.
Though the great temperance revival of
The Washingtoniars had taken place but a
few years before. and its effects were ap-
parent by the dozen temperance organiza-
lions In the city and the hundreds of re-
formed men, there were open houses In
every section. The hotels. taverns and
bome stores, as well as private resi-
fences. were on Christmas open houses.
Here were free drinks of eggnog, Tom
ana Jerry. apple toddy. hot whisky punch,
besides straight liquors. 1t is stated. how
EVER, that fewer drunken people were then
teen on the streets than on former occa-
sons when the sideboards In private
houses became public bars at Christmas.
Indeed, by some families ii was regard
I'd as the proper thing to get drunk. There
Is a legend that years ago Christmas was
puce celebrated about corpse or an Ola
man. Every time the watchers took
glass some one would say, Don't forget
the old man." when he would be raised
I'D In the coffin, his jaws opened and the
glass applied.
Though there was drinking and carous-
Ing and in street and houses merrlment
and good feeling, there was occasionally
a disturbance-seldom one calling for the
police to use harsh measures. Prisoners
were generally good patured and regard
ed an arrest as part of the program.
In one instance a small fight took place
at q corner grocery which bore the credit
bf a ..sDeak-easy." The proprietor had
for some weeks replenished his barrel
with as much water as the whisky drawn
and by Christmas morning, when the
crowd gathered the drinks were so In
sipid as 20 give offense.
The proprietor was charged with hav-
Ing doctored the barrel. The lie being
oassed. fists were brought into action. On
The approach of the police order was re-
stored
In the matter Of Christmas gifts, the
government clerks were interested. Every
employe received a GIFT, usually Con