Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-27
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
Unusual Quiet in City and Holiday
Spirit Prevails.
MERCY TAKES PLACE OF JUSTICE
Police Judge Releases All the UnfOF
Inmates I'm City JaII-FraternaI
Societies Hold Number of
Pleasant Functions.

Little occurred yesterday to disturb the
serenity of the Christmas season in South
Omaha. Some of the grocery stores were
open during the morning hours and added
a few to the list of Christmas dinners in
South Omaha homes. All were closed up
by 1880 a. m. and the holiday quiet set
tied on the city.
In the forenoon several churches held
Christmas services. At the Presbyterian
church DIR. r. L. Wheeler preached a short
sermon on the Significance of the day.
After this an ordination service was con-
Quoted. comforting the dignity of elder
ship on John C~aughey and Perry Med.
Wheeler, the reverend doctors son. For
this reason the ceremony was especially
affecting. Not since the wedding of his
only son to Miss Florence Campbell six
months ago, which ceremony he per-
formed also, has the doctor been so Wis
IDLY affected in public. On this occasion
! the motive of his emotion was much the
same. The elderssip is for life in the
Presbyterian church. The active service,
however, is for three years, unless fur
ther authorized by the congregation.
The South Omaha mail carriers were
swamped with packages and mail yester-
day. Postal cards with Christmas greet
ings by the thousands were distributed.
Packages were heaped up on the carriers
until they could hardly be seen. They had
the appearance of overloaded vans. Every
thing suggested Of the happiness and pros
perity Of the season.
Judge Callahan awoke with much OF the
mildness of the season in his heart and
hurried down to the city jail to make nine
young men happy again by forgiving their
efforts to soak up all the fluid refreshment
In Nh. .FN1v Co., - 81 .L.va1 FaVTlur9 hna
seen better days, judging from their fea-
lures, which bore evidence of the fist I'M
gloved. This made no difference to the
Judge, who treated them all alike and con-
sidered that II they had been in for a round
or two they had by that also received
punishment enough. So the men. having
regained their sober minds, hurried away
home.
Pete johnson, who has an alias or two
was released early in the forenoon also
He was in on suspicion of having held uI
an Austrian several days since.
During the evening hours of Christmas
the jail again began to fill up with the un.
fortunates whose desire outstripped theil
capacity. Judge Callahan will again b,
called upon to be merciful this morning il
ten or more cases.
The Fraternal order of Eagles held thei
annual ball last evening at Rushing's hall
II was one Of the best patronized balls o
the year. conducted strictly within the or
der and for the friends of the order. Goo
music. refreshments and a general goo
time characterized the function.
At the Ancient Order Of United Work
mems Temple amateur night was cele
brated and relished by an enormous crowd
The youngsters OF South Omaha eracke
foxes and sang songs, more or less on tn
key. interspersing the ditties with some at
tempt at vaudeville. Three cash prize
were awarded and no one had to be dragge
off the stage.
Every ore of the moving picture show