Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-26
CITY CELEBRATES
White CHRISTMAS
Deep Snow Falls on Big Holiday
for First Time in Five
Years.
GOOD CHEER Is EVERYWHERE
Clubs and Private Homes, Keep
Open House in True Yule-
tide Spirit.
GOOD CHEER is EVERYWHERE

Richmond gazed slecpily out Of frost
ed windows yesterday morning to look
upon the first white Christmas In five
years. To he sure there had been
foretaste Saturday afternoon. 1t had
showed In a desultory way. but the
flakes had melted as fast as they fell.
The night hours OF Christmas Eve were
cold and cIammy. with a chilling wind
from the sea.
with the ushering In OF Christmas
Day came the snow. IT began falling
shortly after 4 o'clock yesterday morn
ins-a heavy faky snow that small
boys love because 1t packs" By 8
o'clock In the morning II lay two
inches thick Two hours later, when
sleepy Christmas Eve revelcrs yawncd
and wondered II Il was too late for
church. the white carpet had attained
thickness OF four inches Snow fell
without stop all day covering the city
with blanket eight or ten inches In
depth.
Ten WHITE: HOLIDAYS IN
TIIIRTY-EIGHT YEARS
Not since 1909 has Richmond had
snow on Christmas Day. Last year 1t
rancd. In the last thirty eight years
there have been only ten In which snow
and Christmas came together. The
white Christmas Days OF this long
period came in 1876. 1879. 1857. 1891.
1902. 1903. 1904, 1905 909 and 1914.
To speak unromantically. the snow.
was brought by the storm which was
central Yesterday over Alabama and
Georgia. The storm induced vapor-
laden winds from the sea which. com
Ing In contact with cold winds from
the northwest. caused general pre-
cipitation over the North Atlantic and
Ohio Valley states. In the far South
there were rains. This condition. IL
was said at the local United states
Weather Bureau yesterday, would oh
tain as long az the storm area re-
manned localized to the south nd west.
But every small boy with Il nav sled
knew that the Christmas snow was due
10 no such concat.n nation OF neteoro-
logical factors. II came with kriss
kringle and his reindeer sled becnusc
IL wns natural that there should he
snow on Christmas upon which TO run
the sled. Every Christmas card shiny
with the mica that is- barred by the
Post-Onlce Department bore witness
TO the fact that there can be no real,
ate their Christmas dinners at home
NO CHEER FOR HOMES
WITH EMPTY COAL BINS
There were thousands VINO looked
gloomily from chilled rooms and won
dered how long the snow would stay
These were the homes in the citys
submerged sections, where coal bins are
empty and whore a falling thermometer
carries in its train misery and suffering
The city is a composite thing Within
ten minutes walk from palaces on the
West End avenues stand the novels OF
the needy. To the former the snow
brought Joy unbounded, TO the latter a
natura! Joy a: beautiful manifesto
ton Of nature dulled by a'fear for the
Tomorrow.
~ al "a ri ~
giving there we're few homes that were
not warm and plcatifully supplied with
Christmas solids and dainties. Tho
snow was welcome. The tcw that
the ilaky sw!rls. blood a-tingle. The
small boy WAS up early with his sled
and overshoes, and revcled in it,
CITY KEEPS OPEN HOUSE
ON PEERLESS HOLIDAY
Far and wide the city threw open
it's doors In homo: oi the peerless holi-
day. Countless family parties gathered
about the board TO worship al the
shrine of departed turkcys From afar
came relatives and friends to spend
the big day in happy reunion. The col
leges and universities sent back bor-
rowed sons and daughters. The
hearthstone was again the centre of
communal life, like the lares and
penatas OF ancient Rome
At the Jefferson Hotel the manage
mcnt, following time -honored custom,
sent TO each guest yesterday morning
cheering glass OF cEgnog. 1t was
"A touch OF Richmond hospitality that
warmed the heart OF many n visitor
from far State, compelled by bust
ness to spend the holiday away from
loved ones. The drink was carried to
each room by grinninE bcll-boy, who
presented it on n silver waiter with
an elaborate bow and "Chrismus
Ytf
that the reward was IN many cases
substantial
CLUBS SERVE EGGNOG
TO CALLING MEMBERS
AT the Westmoreland. Common
wealth. Jefferson and other clubs. open
house was kept all day. Bowls OF
eggnog were filed and rehlled as the
members and their friends came by
for handshake and a loOk-in.
Hotel dining-rooms, except for the
presence of translents. were practi-
cally deserted. Richmonders Invariably
ate their Christmas dinners at home
or at the homes Of friends. 1t was q
stayat-home day. The avenues and
downtown shopping streets remained
nil but deserted. The hooded police
men pacing their beats, the street cars
picking their way slowly over tracks
chokcd with snow, and sweepers In
dustriously cleaning the snow from
5'"'."' 80" ~ So' wei y lHc iohe cN-
ceptionS to the general rule OF rest,
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
PENETRATES PRISON WALLS
The Christmas spirit penetrated the
walls that inclose tho disabled and
those who have sinned against the
laws OF society. at the State Peni-
tentiary, at the City and County Jalls,
in the almshouses. asylums and in
frmaries the authorities departed from
the usual fare. and served plentiful
and even sumptuous dinners.
Dozens Of churches hold special
Christmas Day services. frightened by
holiday music. The programs In the
Episcopal churches were particularly
elaborate. While the snow was at It's
heaviest at the morning church hour,
and kept many indoors, all the services
were wcll-attendcd