Smyrna times., 1930-12-31
SMYRNA FIFTY YEARS AGO AS
REVAMPEO FROM OUR FILES
ITEMS ABOUT SMYRNA FROM
SMYRNA TIMES, DEC. 20, 1880
Notes of Marriages, Deaths, Real
Estate Deals and Matters of In
terest of Half Century Ago

terest of Half Century Ago
(The Smyrna Times has started
TO look back over its files and tell
what happened around the correspond
ing date of this issue. half century
ago. We hope to make this regular
weekly feature. If it does nothing else
it will call to mind people and events
of that day that should be interesting
to the present generation. We hope
our readers will find it interesting and
that it will make the Times more eag-
erly sought and read-Editor.)
Christmas.-The Christmas sea-
SON just passed was at once one OF
the liveliest and one of the dullest
The sleighing of the three days
just prior, with unusually active
mercantile trade and a large num-
ber of purchasers of all conceiv-
able objects for presents and home
comforts, made the season in its
preparatory stages one of great
life and activity. Christmas Ewes
are like old fashioned show days in
their influx of people and the won
der is where do they all come from.
The streets and stores were alive
with people. Our advertisers tell
us that sales were large, which
shows that the larger part were
on business. There were others,
however, who came to meet an oc-
casion-an event of the year which
they had not the mind, or moral
perceptions, to appreciate, but felt
something out of the order or to
larger degree must be done. Then
it is that the brute instinct takes
possession of the man and his fin
er instincts that would otherwise
tell him that he is becoming a
beast, are crowded into the back
ground and silenced. The whisky
holes and dens were the resort for
such, and the alcoholic beverages
sloshed over to an unusual degree.
The negroes found an open win
dow which flowed out to them
freely, and large number of
whites, we are told mostly from
the country, went in and out of
open doors where there was moth
ing to sell but that which damages
the buyer and sooner or later the
seller. The behavior was good,
however, until near midnight when
a company of dozen or more of
young men from the adjacent
country, bent on having a big
time" divided among themselves
for a fight. Their profanity was
the most offensive feature of their
gibberish spree. The police were
notified but before they got to
where they were, knock down or
two had occurred and the inter
ference of one Of the latter caused
him to get a few blows. He could
have had help in making arrests
in the interest of good order by
several standing by if he had call
ed for it, but they were let 60
without even taking down their !
names. The Alderman however,
intends making their assault on
the officer in the discharge of his
duty state offence. Christmas
morning opened with a dismal
chilly fog that later in the day
thickened into mist and rain. At
six o'clock the M. E. Church bell
called the faithful to prayer but
the late hours in merchandising,
liking the Christmas trees, etc.,the
night before prevented the most
from hearing or responding. The
company of about forty who met
with their pastor did not regret
the sacrifice. if such it was, for
they sang of the same gift to man
that the shepherds heard proclaim
ed on the plains of Bethlehem. At
ten and a half o'clock large
number met in st Peters Church !
to participate in the beautiful ex-
ercise Appropriate to this day, clos
ing with an excellent discourse
from the rector on His Name {
Shall be Called Emanuel" The {
Church was most tastefuIly dress
ed with evergreens and a number
of beautifully designed notices
and inscriptions. In the evening
the Christmas tree was unloaded .
of its rich fruits, every branch {
bearing a present for a scholar. a
The exercises otherwise consisted
of singing some choice selections I
and a short address by Rev. Mr.. !
Gordon. Saturday and Sunday a
seemed to be one occasion if not 4
one day, and they were similar in
their outside gloominess only the
latter was more so-from morning Il
until after nightfall driving snow 0
storm shutting the people in their Y
homes. The Episcopal Church bell +
was not rung at all, and the Meth g
Odist numbered but little over a n
dozen persons present and the Z
not so many. The
Rev. Mr.. Brindle preached at the G
NJ. E. Church very appropriately ii
from Fear Not Little Flock" This >,
has been emphatically a Christmas v
Of family reunions because there r,
was no opportunity for anything cI
else. >