Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1913-12-26
RAIN STORM MADE A
GLOOMY CHRISTMAS
All Annapolis Enjoyed The Holiday,
However.
MIDDIES HAVE PARADE.
Under Classmen Engage in Their
Aunual Celebration Had A Big
Tree Too.

Although the conditions of the
weather put complete damper on
the social side of the Christmas holi-
DAYS, one of the chief forms of its
Observance, nevertheless the residents
of Annapolis were filed with the
spirit of the Yuletide occasion, and
observed the day quietly, most Of
them remaining indoors. The ele-
me nts of weather could hardly have
combined to make a more disagree
able day. A steady downpour of
rain, with chilly east winds was the
offering.
From a business standpoint the OBJ
servance of the holiday was general
throughout the city, even some of the
drug stores closing for whole, or
mart OF the day. Federal, State,
County ano Municipal offices were
closed, and the clerical forces had the
full days holiday. None of the larger
busine IS houses opened their doors
at all.
Special Christmas services were, as
usual, held in all of the churches in
the city, and also in the Chapel at
the Naval Academy, and large congre-
cations turned out TO worship. The
attendance at the early mass in st.
Mary's Catholic Church, and the z
O'Clock services in St. Anne's Pro-
testant Episcopsl Church was unusu-
ally large.
But the real fun of the day was
that enjoyed by the little ones. Old
Santa Claus was bountiful in his
distribution of gifts AMI good things
in every household and his helping
hand, through the aid of the several
charitable organizations of the city,
also brought much JOY to the poorer
families. Early 20 rise and late to
bed was the rule with most of the kid
dies. Beginning with The admiration
for the Christmas tree which old st.
Nick had gsyly trimmed with big
glistening balls, aud other ornaments,
the little ones trotted about all day
long, playing with the dolls and toys
until it was a tired lot of tots to be
tucked way in their cribs after night
fall
Governor GoIdsborough spent the
day at the Government House with
the members OF his family. A num-
her of residents called A party of
relatives and friends enjoyed Christ
mas dinner as guests OF the Governor
snd Mrs. Goldsborough, including
Mrs. Edmund o. Bowman, Of Spring
field, Ohio, sister of Mrs Godsbor-
ough, and Mr.. Bowman; Wilson
Heaton and Miss Martha Heaton, OF
Philadelphia, all of whom are house
guests at the Government House, and
Midshipman Harrison Avery, of
Philadelphia.
Many society folks of the city
and Naval Academy were, as usual,
at home informally, but the heavy
rains put a damper on visiting.
At the Naval Academy the mid
shipmen celebrated the day with a
Christmas parade early in the morn
ng. The Christmas celebration was
formerly a custom traditional with
| the members of the first class, but
the seniors were given liberty to
visit out of the city and but few
of them were present
All of the under classmeu took
part in the function, which was in
the nature Of character show,
each of the midshipmen being differ
emily costu med, representing people
of various nations, and there were
some fine female approximations
After psradi ng through the corri-
doIs of Bancroft Hall, the dormitJry
building, the middies repaired to
the armory, where they gathered
about huge Christmas tree elabo-
rately decorated and sang Christmas
carols. Presents were distributed,
each MILDLY receiving gift of some
sort.