The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-26
NOTHING TO MAR
PERFECT HOLIDAY
CITY Celebrates Christmas OF 1911
Unspoiled by Serious Fire
or Accident.
MODEST CROWD ON STREET
Turns Out in OvercoatS and Furs
TO Speed Festival With
Parting Parade.

Like the prodigsl who wasted his
substance in riotous living. only II re-
turn to his fathers house and sit
meekly by the preside. Richmond. after
weeks OF planning and buying. put on
its best clothes yesterday and spent
the day in chaste observance OF
Christmas There was little to sus-
gest that il was not Sunday. The
shops were closed. the saloons were
barred. and the post-office was sealed
after II o'clock.
In striking contrast 10 the carnival
throngs which tramped the retail
streets all day Tuesday and late into
the night. Yesterdays street showing
was as mild as the sabbath
crowds which stream from the churches
on a midwinter sunday Predictions
# a white Christmas failed to mate
rialze. but there was enough frost
in the air 10 make overcoats comfort
able. and the fur show was well in
evidence.
Those that paraded paraded on Broad
Street The street was only partly
peopled during the morning hours. due
TO the fact that much Of the popuia-
ton was sleeping off the lost hours
of the night before or attending Christ
mas services at the churches In the
afternoon the parade grew 20 lively
proportions reaching its height
shortly before dark. when the matinee
crowds began pouring out OF the the
aires.
Richmond Is Getting Better
The most noteworthy fact about the
holiday was the admirable behavior
Of the city as a whole and the absence
of serious fires and accidents. Christ
mas Eve has long been the day most
dreaded by the police. II had never
hitherto failed 70 produce its liberal
share of fights accidents and even
bornicides An examination Of the
police blotters yesterday shows the
Christmas Eve of 1912 TO have been
the least disorderly in years.
Bonfres and explosives. always good
FOR 4 number of small fires and acci-
dents. failed this year to get IN their
deadly work The most serious blaze
directly due to firewOrks was the one
AT SO North Seventh street TuesdaY
night. which caused damage OF
$4,000. No one was hurt Only on
other alarm was registered christmas
Eve 1911. brought more than half
d zen calls for the Fire Department
Although the sound of popcrackers
and the boom of babywakers detonated
throughout the city all day yesterday,
the celebration was reported . the
,,o,ice or hospitals Barrel stealing
and similar forms of Christmas lar
ceny. due to stringent injunctions is
sued bv Chief OF Police Werner, were
less fragrant than in former years
In one West End ncighborhood the
bows took up a collection or w lol
bonfire purposes and bought their
wood legitimately.
Chri.tmas Cheer for All.
The absence of extreme weather
mitigate1 the problem Of the poor. ana
hardly family in the city was with
out Christmas cheer OF some kiI1o.
The Salvation Army and the Associated
Charities worked hand in hand with
the religious and fraternal organiza-
tons 10 take care of those for whom
the holiday would otherwise nave he'd
no lows. Charity workers said yester-
cav that the,. knew of no INDECENT fam
ilv in Ri~huond that was not remen
bered.
The yule,ide spirit invaded :he for
bidding walls Of the prisons and city
jails. At the State Penitentiary every
body rested and dined on holiday fare
The same was true at the Henrico
County Jail. where Deputy Sheriff Car
merit provided A feed out OF the ordi-
nary. and at the City Jail. whore tur-
KEY was king
For the rest it was just an orthodox
Christmas. The kids tried. ~ they
have tried FOX centuries past. 70 sur
prise Kris Kringle in his chimney de-
scent and from all accounts ieiied
Young Miss Richmond said How dear
Just the thing I have wanted. lying
with the same accomplished grace OF
the Miss Richmonds who have gone
before And hubby was as enthusi-
aStic as ever about the cigars which
his wife had charged to his account