Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
CHRISTMAS IN 1849
Day Celebrated in Washing
ton With Much Noise.
DRINKABLES. IN PLENTY
Police Station Filled With 1ntoxi-
Gated Celebrants.
CHILDREN GIVEN GOOD TIME
Services in Churches-Department
Clerks Unable to Get Home
Over Holiday.
CHILDREN GIVEN GOOD TIME

All Washington is observing the Christ
mas festival today.
with the church services in the morning
and home celebrations scattered throush
the rest of daylight and evening hours
the holiday is passing quietly.
The general trend in the observance OF
christmas for years past has seemed 70
he more and more significant OF the
spirit of "Peace on earth. good Will 10
men,
\ marked contrast to present-oay
practice is afforded by a glance through
the years backward for haf century
or more. In those not distant times the
Christmas holiday closely resempied
Fourth of July, and not a safe and sane
Fourth at that.
On the day before Christmas. 1S49, the
four district and ten lower grade puo1c
schools were let out after half day ses-
sions. These short sessions continued
for the week after New Year. WIN ie"
exceptions the private or pay schoois
were closed on December %
lively were the stores on Christmas
eve At the toy and book auctions there
were crowds. also in the markets.
Young America was laying In tneir
material to be had in nearly every
grocery, variety store or shop, ana mos.
of them were open until midnight ana
several hours the following day.
Long before daylight began the Iuslilaus
nv gun. pistol and cracker, the blowing OF
whistles and small horns, the oeatln8 Oh
small drums and tin pans Every con-
ceiyable instrument by which noise couid
be made was brought into action.
At the same time there was bonnres
blazing In different parts OF the city.
The hubbrh of the boys who We're hunt
ing for material added to the cOnmouoI-
Primitive were the instruments used
The old-fashioned horse pistol, some WIN
fint lock. the haIf-dollar brass pistol and
Colts revolver, then known as the pep
per box weref for shooting purposes ihe
firecracker was of small size; the cannon
cracker was not then IN use ana tiie
tin horns were mere trifieS-
The services in the churches were NOT
neglected. Those in the Catholic cnurches
IN the early hours of the morning were
over by breakfast time. There were SL
northwest, st. Peter I'd and c. streets
southeast. st Matthews, 18th and n
streets, and st. Mary's Germany, otn
near H street northwest:
The CONGREGATIONS spread over much
territory and owing TO but few streets
having foot -payements many people useo
lanterns to guide them. In East WASH
ington, near 18th and d streets southeast,
Foundry. l31n ana VI StICCSS hoA ~ 49,
Wesley. 5th and F streets northwest: NC
Kendree, Massachusetts avenue, near 9th
street northwest; Ryland, 10Th ana
streets southwest, and Union MethOdst
churches, the CHRISTMAS morning prayer
meetings were held.
Later services were held in the Epis-
copal churches. Christ, G. near 9th south
east. ST. Johns, 10th and H street north
west: Trinity, 9Th near. d northwest, As
cension. III between 9th and 10Th streets
northwest, and Epiphany, G street near
18th northwest. Also In Concordia Luth-
cram, at 10th and G streets northwest. St.
Paul's Lutheran, III and 18th streets
northwest, and in some others
Day of Hilarity
The day was, however. given over to
hilarious enjoyment, and sidetracked was
everything else The papers that morn
ing. containing the Presidents message.
delivered the day before and sent to Bal
timore in one. hour and to New York in
six hours, engaged no attention outside Of
official circles.
Liquid refreshments were found in pub
lie and private houses In abundance, the
custom OF the decanter being kept on the
sideboards being then in vogue. On
Christmas day there were added bowls
OF eggnog. apple toddy, etc, with various
kinds of straight liquors wines and cor
dials.
Hotels. saloons and many stores as well
as private residences kept open house
for the day. There is little wonder that
IL required nerve to resist the allure
ment OF the bowl that the old central
guardhouse was filled by men and youths
gathered in by about thirty peace officers
TO sober up.
But it is credit to the people of the
day that nothing more than plain.
drunk" was written on the police blotter
then. Fortunately, too. there were but
three accidents from firearms fire
crackers, and but one of them serious
the loss Of hand
In the neighborhood of 9th and G
streets southeast there was a fatal fire,
four colored people being burned to
death. The house of Philip Wells, a col
ored hackman. took fire about O'Clock
in the morning from a foul chimney and
four lives were lost This dampened the
festivities in that section and some
Christmas money went to the relief OF
the survivors. =.
But three railroad trains left from the
old depot. Cd street and the Avenue. Five
trips only were made by the Alexandria
boats, and by the southern mail steamers.
Some tri-weekly stage lines went to points
in Maryland and Virginia.
There were few in attendance on
Congress- Departmental people did not
leave the city to spend the holidays at
home, as the usual recess was not taken
unit. December n.
So on Christmas. at the hotels and
boarding houses and homes IL was not
rare 70 see many prominent characters
Joining in the festivities. helping to
spread good feeling.
Gen. Sam Houston Of Texas and W. r.
King OF Alabama were with the crowd