The New York Herald Newspaper, December 24, 1871, Page 3

CHRISTMAS EVE. The Greatest Festival of the ' Christian Year. The Season of Joy and Gladness in All Christian Lands, CHRISTMAS CHIMES AND CAROLS. ‘Santa Claus as a Myth and as a Saint. Christmas in the Middle Ages and its Ob- servance in the Eastern and Western Churches. Melodies, Songs and Anthems of Praise. A40Y AND JUBILANCE OF THE JUVENILES. A Festal Celebration for the Chil- dren at Trinity Church, Tiny Tim and the Tradi- tional Turkey. ‘The Display of Christmas Fare in the City Markets. Scenes in the Stores and the Spectacle of the Streets. Creature Comforts for Christmas Conviviality, ‘To-night the chimes of the church bells will once more make the Keen winter air musical with their clamorous warning of the eve of the great festival of Onbristendom, and the four hundred mil- hhons of tho children of the Cross will joy- ously prepare for another celebration of the birtn of their Lord. So widespread is the area of its kindly é influence that Christmas may, indeed, be regarded ‘as the universal holiday of the whole earth. Where- ever the name and the faith of Jesus have been carried this day of days will be giadly honored ‘with thanksgivings and rejoicing hymns and social Seativities, And few, indeed, are the lands, however foy—not of one race or people, but of all who pro- Seen ond call themseives Christians, ‘The spirit which bas always characterized the 5 ordptlegpaandiaprtizigdereepp worthy ‘fe nobleand pure faith in whose calendar of indeed, a widely recognized can worthily enjoy the giad in- unless he is at peace with all has given some substantial lively sense of that brother- men, which Jesus Corist made Principal features of His teachiag while How can we calmly celebrave the coming of Him who said, “The poor ye have always with you,” while we Know that almost within earahot of our table the poor lie starving with cold and hun- ger? But already ampie preparations have been wade by aJl our principal charities for alleviating, so far as possible, the lot of the wretched and the unhappy. Mapy @ dark and dismal tenement, ‘Whose inhabitants are never visited with the faint- Its @common truism that we have but too few holidays, and that our busy American iife would be ail the better for more frequent seasons of relaxa- , fon. And we have all, no doubt, as children, and perhaps even as adults, wished, elther tacitly or in ‘words, that Christmas would come twice instead of ence a year. Perbaps here and there, too, some gaan witb a gloomily speculative turn of mind has followed out the consequences that would ensue if Obristmas were for a few years altogether struck Out of thelist of holidays. We need not, nowever, @eek for evidence of the universal appreciation of Obristmas by remembering commonplaces such as these. Onrisimas celebrations are among the hap- plest memories of the majority of all men, ana the very name of the day seems to fill the heart with qadness and enable us to look at the world through Kindly spectacles. A Obristmas family din- mer—what @ wonderfal carnival of mad merriment is, though tinged, perhaps, now and then with a few gleams of tenderness, which add to ite charm! ‘The reassembied home circie, the constant current of gayety that carries everything before it, the “quips and cranks and wreathed smiles” tnat are the assured witness of guileless, happy hearts and _ Clear consciences, and now and again, from some der member of the company, & touching allusion to the Obristmastides of the past ana the kind hearts that were then his boon companions, but have now crossed the dark river—these have been ofen sumg and written about and painted on tbe magic canvas of genius, The frequency with which such subjects are alluded to isan evidence of the , hold which tne festival has taken on the adfections of all Christian men, ‘We present below articies that give readable, and, perbaps, also instructive, accounts of the various aspects of this crowning holiday of the year, and ‘we commend them to the care/ul attention of our readers SANTA CLAUS. ‘Who was Santa Claus? Weare all familiar, and Dave been from our earliest childhood, with the quaint figure with long veard and cheerful, ruddy Complexion, and twinkling eyes and snow-be- Sprinkled hood anc mantle, whose kind offices filled our Ohristmas morning stocking, or was, at any Fate, supposed to have been our benélactor, But is Santa Clause historical personage or ts he as pure a Mayth as in our riper years we have learned to re gard was bis agency in filling our pockets with Candies, and our hands with toys and trinkets and oar hearts with Obristmas joy and gladness? There Can be Bo doubt that he is, though the story of his Ife ts by no means 60 clear and authentic as it might be, Sante Claus isa contraction of St. Nicholas, and St Moholas uved and died in Asia Minor about the fourth century after Christ. He was avery good many was made Bisnop of Lyola; neary suffered martyrdom = in the great persecution of Diocletian, but escaped and survived to be come known to literature as the Children’s saint, ‘Why he is especially the saint of the littie ong may pernene = 6mt 6 MAtlY De last NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY DECEMBER 24, 1871—TRIPLE SHEET, f— the convemient obscurity of conjec- ture, It i# more than probable, however, that he deserves this graceful honor as much, and it ls hoped more, than any other among his saintly companions. He is now, in legends that have come down to us about him, represented as striking the balance at Christmas in favor of all the little folks, and awarding efther punishments or rewards to the innocent and the guilty in exact proportion to their deeds, For the bad he has a scourge of rods, and Jays on roundly and makes the delinquent tingie and smart as no schoolmaster—even the heaviest handea—has ever yet acquired the skill todo, As no boy is on record in modern times, however, a3 having actually received a thrashing from him, we may conclude either that there are no bad boys raised nowadays—an ex- tremely improbable supposition—or else that the good Saint las found this branch of his duties too much for his kind heart, and has allowed their exercise to fall into desnetude, For the good, how- ever, he carries with him an ample store of cakes and nuts and apples and Chrismas gifts, and these he secretly, though with a itberal hand, bestows upon the worthy, the diligent and the kind-hearted. His modus operandi of presentation is so familiar that we need only passingly refer to it, He comes down the chimney at the dead of night while the child he is to reward is quietly sleeply, and fills a stocking, which has been placed for his convenience at the foot of the bed, with his bounties. all honor vo the good Saint, and may he not forget to make ear his usual round of visits to youthful New ‘ork. Ito Insiftution and Its Celebration in Medisval 4 Times. There are comparatively few people who have & true idea of when Christmas was first instituted, Many, doubtless, believe that, although no mention of the special commemorations of the Saviour’s birth occurs anywhere in the New Testament, it must, necessarily, have been honored with some signs of rejoicing by the very earliest Christians; and such, indeed, seems to have been the case, though it Was not until about the middle of the fourth eontury that Pope Julius, having caused a strict investigation to be made into the matter, pro- Claimed the 25th of December as the day to be ob- served, This decision was accepted by the Eastern as well as the Western churches, although previously many dates had been held by Various Christian communities as the ap- propriate occasion for the festival, Some of the churches kept New Year's Day, others the 6th of January, while among the converted Jews some ob- served the 20¢ch of March, the time of the Jewisn Passover, and others the 20th of September, the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. But, since it was first definitely determined, all Christendom has con- sented to accept the day now observed, and to- morrow, as for fifty generations have done their ancestors, the four hundred millions of the children of the Orogs will celebrate, with glad rejoicings and harmless mirth and hearty thanksgiving, the holy season of the birth of the Messiah. Tu us modern nineteenth century folks, acous- tomed, during an entire year, to listen with more or less impatience to the Puritan clamor against an “exuberant” celebration of this crowning holiday of the year, itis somewhat amusing to find that, even in primitive times, Christmas festivities were a source of anxiety and an occasion of warning to the fathers of the Ohuroh. Just emerged from Pagan- tem, and enjoying but oral instrumentalities of en. lightenment, it was but natural that the new con- verts should now and then degenerate into the license of the old heathen festivals. The saturnalia were an especially seductive temptation, and, in despair of completely weaning their flocks from its sinful revelry, the pastors of the early Church Wisely transferred to the celebration of Christmas the more harmless sports and amusements that made this part of tae old heathen culendar so popular, It is eaay, however, to see that the com- promise was made with great reluctance and more Miagtving, as for msay centuries a “es. tive’ commemoration of the Saviour’s birth was frequently denounced by purists and Te "wentonie. and. “Seanainaving pices eS same method was employ éd to induce the ple to ‘Bonors to Odin and tro and Druidioal rites and come about are Up with'the ola nesinen cantons, mame of Yule is undoubtedly of pagan Intil the time of the Reformation, Christm celebrated by all Christians, wheréver they “night bappen to be, with appropriate religious services and social rejoicings, The Calvinist churches, however, rejected the custom aa of doubtful value, This sentiment still prevails in a more ur less tan elements or oor own, Dor fadon. it fe 5, alas seems, however, to be gradually nngout, * As was natural in ages, Which, though ignorant, ‘Were not devoid of post feeling, many very curt. ous superstitions pi led in medieval times in rears to certain mysterious virtues of Christmas. One of these superstitions in regard to 1s expzessed in the following uacouth doggerel:— Iwarme rorne, that day’ that Geydi was borse a a Sunday, Bun grent windes aloft saat ber? By kynde skile, witvouten lease Fiow ‘all landed shal be peas, ‘hat They shalt per! Within half year they shall dye pas fey ieee on spyil Thou dyest if pickiess takes thes. No better description can be found of the uproar- fous fun with which Christmas was celebrated in the old days of yore in merry England than io the following stanzas by George Wither:— ‘Now all our neighbors’ chimneys smok ‘and Christmas biocks are burning, Ther ovens the; ‘whore, with baked meat ‘And every spit ts turning ; ‘Without the door jet sorrow by, And if for cold it bas to die ‘We'll bury it in a Obristmas ple ‘And evermore be merry. Row every lad 1s wondrous trim, And no man minds his labor Our lasses have provided them you beaptpe jot ‘a tabor, * a ing men maids and gris and Give ire 10 one another's id And you anon shall by their noise Perceive that they are merry. Rank misors now 4: ahi w Bo allthings then aboundeth, ‘The country folks themeaives advance ‘With crowdy muttons out of Fran And Jack shall pipe, and Gill shall danco, ‘And all the town be merry. Now poor men to the justices capons ir errante; And if they bap to of these, pl b their warrants, ‘They plague them But now they feed them with good cheer, And what they want-they take in beer; For Christmas comes but once a year, ‘And then they shall be merry. Good farmers in the country muse how broad di Horch oiber fore fo remove, Anon you'll see them in the ball Our hones! it neigh! cot flocks, And now they will be merry. And the concluding stanza is one which even Americans of the nineteenth century cam gladly rheref MAoaiawert pray. ve auier 77" 0, let us sing some witness we are merry, One of the many Coristmas customs which bas been almost universal in Europe, and especially in France, Italy, England aud Germany, is whe singin, oi Uhristmas carols on the morning of the festiv: ‘The choriaters of the churches not only make their Ut eaain ji We CanEAe of Lpowes of inp val the pen before Christmas at tne the Christmas service sing t hymns, celebrat- the ion, These rejoicing carols, and the decking of the churcn with evergreens—a vestige of the decorations of the pagan temple at the cel tion of the Saturnalia—are among the great religious honors of the day; certainly among the most popu- lar of them. Holly, bay, rosemary and laurel are the most correct evergreens to employ for this pur- Pose, ivy having been by some objected co on ac- count of its hat ng, played so prominent apart in the Bacchanalia. ‘The use of the mistletoe, though allowed in private houses, 1s expressly torbidden in the church, its pagan origin being direct and noto- rious. These decorations are yoy allowed to remain in churches until the end of January. After all, however, especially among the Teutonic Taces, the Christmas dinner has ever n regarded asthe most important and solemn rite of its cele- bration. Special dishes have been from time im- memorial, in England for example, looked upon as necessary component parts of Christmas cheer. At every ‘house of noble and gentiemen open hospitality was, and in many cases is even now, practised for the last week of the dying year. The grand feast, however, 1s, of course, that on Christmas Day. At a sumptuous board the first and foremost dish always was a boar’s head, whicn was brought in on a dish of precious metal, heraided by the flourish of trumpets and the strains of joyous minstrels. ‘The “server” who carried 1t placed it on the table and sang in gladsome accents an old song, half Latin, half English, beginning:— Caput Apri def AI ne ‘The boar’s head in hand bring I, ‘With garlands gay and rosemary, 10 all sing merrily, Qurestls in convivio. But, almost as important as the brawn was the must which served as its condiment. To all lovers of what parents in a humorous mood term “Bite-your-tongue”’—and to all whoare justly indig- Bant at the common practice of making jwiches without an adequate supply of this wholesome ac- cessory, the following advice from an old book of instruction for the use of waiters at the royal table ‘will be of interest:— “First set forth the mustard with brawn; take your knife 1p your hand and cut brawn in the dish a8 it lieth, and lay on your sovereign’s trencher, and see there be mastard,”” ‘This custom of “boars head,” thon: Washing- ton Irving states that he saw it while he deagen. Yorkshire at Yuletide, seems to have pretty wi died out, and roast beef nas usurped its place. A in 168 natural plumage was also & mnapicuous feature in an old English Christmas %. Furmetg, or boiled wheat, and mince ples— the latter, thank heaven, still extant—were also distinctive Christmas dishes. Mince pies, however, in early days were called “mutton pies.” All ol ‘these dainttes were abolished under Cromwell, a8 the following satirical lines amusingly show:— Plum broth was Popish, and mince pie— Ob, that was flat idolatry! Last, but not least, plum porridge, which has since assumed a solid form in the shape of plum pudding, was a necessary element of Christmas cheer. In Old times, however, as ié still the practice in some sleeping coraers of Great Sritain, the pudding or Porridge was served belore the meat, Such, briefly, was the institution of Christmas and its celebration and salient features in the ‘brave day» of old.” Much more, however, would need to be oe order to give the falvest & fair mesente of jusi @ newspaper apace enong 8 ‘Ai the uproarious joility, the wassail and ncing and many of the quaint games with which Chriatmas Eve was honoi were again resorted to. All classes mingled freely together, and night was notsy with merriment and gladness, No doubt the ordinary workaday life of those rade times was hard and coarse and sad, but these occasional carnivals of fun and frolic must have done much to make it eudurable. CHRISTMAS INDOORS, Santa Claus is one of those delightful myths in which both juvenile and full grown numanity re- fase to give up their faith, Young America, of course, not only believes in the existence of such an important personage, but has him photographed in his or her mina weeks before the eventful festival takes place. Imagine those wondering eyes that dilate at early morn at the first sight of the Cbrist- mas tree in the parior and all the seductive gifts heaped around it, Tne delight of the children can only be equalled by that of the parents when the treasures of Santa Claus are unfolded. The mysterious absences of the living wife for & week or two previous are explained by the ele- gantly embroidered slippers or dressing gowa that she has been preparing a8 @ pleasant surprise for her husbana, and those porteptous parcels that Were smuggied into the house the night before by the paterfamilias pour forth their contents in the most bewildering manner. But the Tiny Tims—how they enjoy the wonders that the dawn of Christmas brings forth, and especially that mnever-to-be- forgotten turkey that Dickens has immortalized | “ls was @ turkey! He never could have stood upon his legs, that bird. He would have gapped ’em short of im minute, lke sticks of sealing Wax.” And that wonderful pudding that Very one m the amily deems ito astern duty to demolish, even at the risk of indiges- igh tua at iam ‘e Neda o: ingot ng words can do. yasuce to. fk But Mm the houses of poor, like that of honest Bob Cractchit, Christmas is an angel in every sense of the word. ‘That dinner which Dickens bas described should ve in the minds of every one that Fortune has smiled upon, and shouid betel eg their recoltections the yng Ai wt fg Sol that they can make happy ‘this festival of festivals. How important the ent of the dinner procession in which the entire Cratchit family took La “such @ bustle ensued that you ht have thought a goose the rarest of all birds, a feathered Phenomenon to whioh a black swan was a matter of course, and in truth {t was something very like it in that house. Mrs, Cratchit made the gravy (ready beforehand in @ little saucepan) hissing hot; Master Peter washed the potatoes with imcredibie vigor, Miss Belinda sweeténed up the apple sauce, Gusted the hot pilates, Bob took \y Tim beside him in a tiny corner at the table, the two young Cratchits set chairs for everybody, not forgetting themseiv: and mounting guard upon their ita, crainm: spoons into their mouths lest they should snriek for [ieee before their turn came to be helped. At last the jishes were set on and grace was said. It was suc- ceeded by & breathless as Mrs. Cratchit, look- ing slowly all along the carving knife, prepared to anes it in the breast; but when she did, and when he long-expected gush of stuffing igsned forth, one murmur of delight arose around the board, and even Tiny tim, excited by the two young Cratoni beat on the table with the handle of his knife, an feebly cried, ‘Hurrah |’? And, with Bob Cratchit, we wisn our readers ‘A merry Christmas to us ail, my dears)’ and, with Timy Tim, “God biess us every one.” CHRISTMAS OUTDOORS, Christmas Eve in the wide, bleak streets, In the streets, with the slush and miry snow splashing under foot; s dark, disagreeable, weary Christmas Eve, The heavens above presenting @ dark and eheerless prospect of leaden, dirty sky, and the people below, who \hrong the wretched sidewalks, are jostling each other angrily, and in all iheir faces appearing asullen and dissatisfied look, as if they would only be too glad to get up a quarrel with the weather and fight it out to the bitter end. And even tne poor omnibus horses have a misera- ble look, their heads hanging down and their tongues lolling out and the foam flecking trom their chafed mouths as they tear through Broadway and the avenues, splashing slash in all directions, without heed or intention to do harm, poor brates, The shops look very brilliant two-night, with the Muminated windows and their thousands of lights blazing like so many gems of price. Crowds of customers come and go, and the clerks and sales- women buay themselves excessively in showing articles of merchandise to the eager customers who swarm about the weil filled counters, ‘There in that thickly populated toy shop is one of these pretty saleswomen, about eightecen years of age, who has just found a customer 1a a young man & little over her own time of life, who has just been rummaging over boxes of wooden ana metal sol- diers, The young girl is quite willing to be communk tive and does not need more than @ spur to make her converse freely with the nice young man. “flow old is the child for whom you want the tin soldiers—is it a boy or a girl?” she asks witha smile in her eyes. “Oh, it’s @ boy of course,” he answers, “a little brother of mine wo bas & military taste and 1s fond of soldiers.” ‘That 1s all that is needed In the way of informa- tion by the young saleswoman, who is now perfectly ‘well satisfied in herown mind that the nice young man te not married, and accordingly she makes fierce love to him in the quiet fashion proverbial to young ‘#alesiadies” who are in want of husbands, Before the young man has concluded his Christmas Bve purchases tne brown curis of the saleswoman are mingling with the dark hair of the strange young man rt: Koning ed a counter, and ap ‘gee nce is whic! bear happ fore anower Unristmas shall have Pt + ved. the fabied swee' ry in fragrant heaps. It ii caletiated shat yes 4 afternoon and evening st least French bonvonnieres were sold in the Broadw: ah Chocolate arops were in great demand, and this article of luxury, which during the Franco- ar had fallen into disuse among those aweeth Loot, were sold by the bushel- ve, 10) a clothing stores had also r hands fuil of work and business, t Those who wished to eat @ Christmas dinner ta full dress of gorgeous brvedalotn iad ko Va) the aawine or elee pay their respects to their favored tailore, A decent holiday rig of tn cloth will coat $75, and in these hard times there was much chaffering about price, and dollars were counted carefully ere they were paid over by the customer and deposited in the shopkeeper's drawer. And in the whiskey shops how wasit? Of all trades the trade of the whiskey seller geems to be the best on a holiday or a Christmas Eve in thie city. Many of them were decorated with holly and evergreens and looked like the interior of churches with their floral adornments, Groups of nolsy med, With Nusbed faces, stood around fhe bars with half-drained glasses in their hands, and while the tumult grew fast and furtous bad blood grew apace, and curses and feverish oaths feil from seething and blasphemous lips as the night waned. In the horse cara the wet straw and the surly and dirty-faced conductors threw @ chill on the passen- gers, who were jerked like cotton bales in the hold Of a freight ship, Uid ladies with baskets loaded down full of Chnstmas provisions clambered into horse cars and were roughly told to leave their base kets outside, as the oar was not used for a baggage Wagon. One old lady, who attempted to get intoa Broadway car at Barclay street, slipped and fell on her side, while her immense basket was turned over and its contents thrown in the slush and mire of the street, The old lady, who looked as §6if she was goin; w cry, for a moment, pulled out a dirty piece ‘of white paper, and, aiter she had picked ‘up the articles of Provender and luxury which were lying in the Street a moment betore, she loaned the HERALD re- porter her hat and asked bim to cail off tne list, which he did, a8 @ good Christian should do and a8 ®@ govd citizen might be expected todo, The list was @ curious une, and the HERALD reporter pre- served it as @ curiosity, and it is here given, as fol- lows:—One turkey, twelve pounds; one piece of belly pork, seven pounds; one chicken, 61x pounds; one pound of raisins, one-fourth pound of citron, mine iemons, eight pounds of rib beef, three bunches > joalesy, one quart of onions, one small measure of Besides the above named articles there was & paper of salt and a package of pepper, and it 18 said it when these articles are well saturated they become utterly useless for the palate of the von piwant. So these two uny packages were thrown back into the gutter, aud the old jaay hav! re- capitulated all that had been dumped out of her Dasket, and finding the articles sale, with the ex- Geption of the salt ana pepper, she awaived another oar, and soon Was on her way to a tenement house in the Twentieth ward, where high carnival was destined to reign when Christmas Day came to gladden the heart of the family whose head she was. Out in the sloppy streets again, and here a group of booto‘acks and crossing-sweepers, who are dis- cussing the probabilities of a feast on the morrow, Said one:—“Did you see de big turkey dat Hunkey Pete’s bought at de market? She guv $4, be jiminy, down to Washington Market,’’ “No,” said another, by the name of Johnny MoGooldrich. “l got me Mammy to git me a bi; nece Of mince pie for to-morrow, and all the fel- jows in our are going to have a bully old Down around Washington Market the crowds Were 80 great as evening came on that the streets became quite impassable. West, Washington, Greenwich, Fulton, Vesey, Barclay and adjacent streets were so full of people, principally women returni to their homes up and across town, that it Was with difficulty that an observer made bis fa through the long lines of turkeys toward the ver, A Sixth avenue car conductor, in letting out some girls at the arcn in Vesey street, who were stepping off the car in solemn WP hetynote with big baskets, cried out, as he pulled the strap:— “1 vn all Washington Market will be bought out to-night,” And so it would seem, to walk tnrough the well Mned lanes of the old, tumble-cown market. There were to be seen those natty young butchers’ assist. ants, in white aprons, and having long pendant tape fastenings of white musiin, their hair all scented and frizzied for the delectation of the young ladies who thronged the market in search of beef, ton or turkeys, In the poe departmeut of the mi where all sorts of pigs’ flesh may be tound, smoked, pici@ed, fresh or corned, the majority of the oustomers who sought for hams, shoulders or bacon seemed to be of the Teutonic family, while the Irish were in great force around the corned beef stands, Eyery butcher’s stand was decorated with flowers, and the beef and mutton carcases were covered with rosettes, One butcher, who sells by retail, yesterday informed our reporter that he had disposed of $2,850 worth of meat, and another stated that for mutton alone he had received $817 io Doe! cash, 8 to say a better and cheaper @tnner for the poor can be obtained from a joint of Mutton than from any other meatin the market and at @ cheaper price, and the poor knowing tins, in- v purchase mutton for their Sunday dinners, and very substantial mealy tepid enjoy. A butcher dis] of 350 hams and shoulders in the market, while another solid $406 worth of butter and $7.0 worth of chi and last, but not least, a dealer sold vension which amounted to $1,180, THE CHRISTMAS TREE IN TRINITY CHURCH. Trinity church on yesterday, true to ite old tradi- tions, waa the first im the field to inaugurate the festivities of thia joyous season. Yesterday the sacred edifice put on its Roliday attire, the occasion being de church Christuas festival of the children. The scene outaide of the onurch on Broadway was in no-sense suggestive of a ume of cheerfulness and joy, as the sloppy state of the streets and the con- tant down pour of rain were not the things cal- culated to excite feelings of thankfulness in the hearts of omnibus and Wagon drivers, whose vehicles were stuck fast im the mad, or belated pedestrians, who plunged knee deep atevery step they took. But nowever unlike Ohristmas the out side looked the appearance of the interior Iu every Tespect proclaimed that the NATAL DAY OF THE MESSIAH, the great festival which, from time immemorial has been so dear to the affections of Christians, was at hand. For the past few days fair nands have been unceasingly employed in the decoration of the sacred building, and with wnat success the aam- Tation of all who saw the result of their labora yesterday abundantly testified. The side wails were beautilully decorated WITH BVERGREENS formed into devices inevery way suitable to the season and the occasion. On each side of the altar a huge tree was placed, and above the entrance te the chancel crosses of leaves and flowers were ele- gently interwoveu. But the crowning atiraction, particularly to the little ones, was THE CHRISTMAS TREE, ‘which was laden with gilts of every kind calculated to please the children and make them pappy. In the centre of the tree was a crucifix illuminated with gas jets, and on the branches were numerous transparencies of @ like nature. The church was crowded with the children belonging to the Sunday scvool and their parents and friends, the inciem- enoy of the weather having had no eifect in deter- Ting them from being present. The festival com menced with a hymn (processional), sung by tne Choristers, alter which evening prayer was read by Dr. Ugilby, assisted by the jull corps of clergy. A ONRISTMAS CAROL, special for the occasion, was then rendered by the choir, the children all Joining in the chorus, ‘The execution of it was very ine, particularly the chorus part, the harmony being as near periect as possinie, DR, OGILBY then briefly addressed the children in suited to their uapeeeear He said ve scene like that wi to present at & before him, Life 7 when he recollected from what small beginnings the Sunday school of Trinity church had sprung. He rememoered some sixteen ears ago, When the school was first starvea, how lew were the members that came together; put now the membership amounts to oundreds, with a staff of teachers as zealous in their work as any to be found in the city. Itseemeda to him the fittest place for such @ festival as they were celebrating was within the walls of the GRAND OLD BDIFIOR which had so long stood a: landmark in the city, In consequence of Cnrist: é jailing on Sunday they had in some sense to anticipate the day, but he hoped the enjoyment would be none the less for this reason. The members of the congregation had been extremely liberal in their contributions to the Onristmas tree, and he returned them his sincere thanks for what they had done. He hoped that the Sunday schoo! would be as prosperous in the future as it had been in the past, and that the annual festivais would be as joyous, happy and prosperous as the one of yesterday, At the conclusion of Dr. Ogilby’s remarks an anthem, ‘The Cnildren in the Temple,” was ren- dered py the choir and congregation alternately, varied by organ solos and the RINGING OF THE CHIMES, Then the Christmas trees were given, and the main feavure of the occasion, the distribution of ta, Was gone soroagh. The clatwer that prevailed uring, this part of the ceremony was very unlike the religious silence that is geaerally observed in “Trinity,’’ the children gi vent to their delight in the most nowy er me ible. Every child got something, and all went home fully satisfied with What had been done. When everything had been given away the ‘Gioria im Excelms’’ was sang by entire congregation, after which the audience dispersed, CHRISTMAS IN THE CHURCAES, At St. Francis Xavier's ohurch a new mass, by Rosst, in three and six parts, will be sung, with full chorus and orchestra, The solo choir will be:—Miss Teresa Werneke, soprano; Miss mary Werneke, con- traito; Signor Tamaro, tenor, and Signor Bacelii, basso, and Dr, William Berge, the organist, will conduct on the occasion. His magnificent arrange- ment of “Adeste Fideles’’ will be sung as usual. St. Patrick’s Cathedral will present a magnificent spectacie on Christmas Day, The pillars and gal- leries will be festooned with holly, mistletoe and other evergreens, while the chancel will be literally & sacred grove. High mass in the morning will begin the services of the day, which, after the inter. Mediate low masses, will be closed by Archbishop McCloskey’a pontifical service, Tha »geparations for the great Christmas seativ: erent ethene LE at St. Stephen's church, in East Twenty-eighth street, are on the most magnificent scale. The deco. rations are to surpaas, if possible, those of last year. St, Peter's Catholic church, Barclay street, 1s now being handsomely decorated by the Sisters, A beau+ tiful cross of choice natural Nowers will be placed over the Tabernacle, and on the altar of the Kiessed Virgin will appear @ chasse with a figure of the Infant Redeemer lying in an improvised manger. Tne galleries are neatly festooned with evergreens. The Rev. Father Quinn will celebrate the Grand High Mass, “Oid Trinity”? maintains the reputation of former years lor its dress tn honor of the festival of the Na- tivity, On entering the visitor behoids a stately dis- play of evergreens. The pulpit and font, lectern and side aisies, organ chamber and doors are neatly festooned with laurel, ‘Tne windows on the side aisles are ornamented with mistletoe, holly and sprigs of hemiock, artistically entwined. Over the doors leading to the robing rooms are crosses of laurel and holly, beneath which are arches of holly and two large hemlocks, ‘The font and lectern are dressed with wreaths, and the pulpit is festooned with evergreens. Two crimson panels on te altar are ibed with the words:— POOLE EET EOOTE OLE SE TELE NOLELELEDELEDEDE: 1, Unto us a Child ts born, 2 Unto us a Son ts given. Qrenenn nn rnnn ne rt test tere teee te L018 Ht EOE OE” The splendid rood screen, decorated with powers ‘wii be placed across part of the chance! In honor ol the season, and bouquets of choice flowers will rest on the Gospel and Episte sides of the altar. The organ chamber 1s handsomely dressed with festoous of laurel, and hemiock trees are to be placed in the porch, Mornin; Prayer will commence at half-past nine o’ciock and grand ser- vice at eleven, The Rev. Dr. Ogilby, Rev. George Ferguson and Rey. Mr. Kimble will officiate in both services, and the Rev. Dr. Dix will preach at the lat- ter. ‘Ihe following 1s the order of the services:—Pro- Cegstonal Hymn 47, ancient and modern—‘‘Introit.’? Hymn 42, ancient and modern, H. G. Thunier, “Kyrie”? Second Mass, Mozart ‘Nicene Creed,’’ Second Mass, Mozart. Sermon. Offertory, ‘‘Bene- dictus,’? Twelfth Mass, Mozart. ‘He is biessed who cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in tne highest.” “sursum Corda,” Tallis, ‘Sanctus,’” Second Mass, Mozart. “Agnus Vel,’ Second Masa, Mozart. “Gloria in Excelsis,”” Second Mase, Mozart. “Nunc Dimitus.’’ Recessional mn 43, ancient and modern—“Hark! the Her: eis Sing.” Evensone—Processional Hymn 42, ancient and modern. Proper psalms, “OCantate,” chant, “Benedic,” chant, Recessional Hymn 43, aucient nd modern. Besides the usual choir there will be @n orchestra of thirty-two select musicians, com- a as follows:—Tep violins, two violas, tWO Vi0- joncelloes, two double basses, two flutes, two ol two clarionets, two bassoons, two French horns, two cornets-a-piston, three trombones, two Kketlle drome, ‘The decoration of St. Paul’s chapel is now in pro- gress. The panels of the galleries and the organ chamber are festooned with evergreens, ana we yelp and lectern are similarly ornamented, The font will be dressed with wreatns and howera, Two evergreen trees will appear on either side of the altar and floral stars grace both sides of the Deca- logue. The flutings of the columns and the bases of the capitals are being artsticully decorated with holly. ‘he services will include @ beautiful an- them and the choir will be reinforced for the occa- sion. ‘the prinotpal, if not the only material used in decorating St. Jonn’s chapel, is spruce, but it 1s 80 artistically shaped as to resemble a variety of ever- greens, ‘The windows of the galleries and aisles are ornamented with trees, all in proportion. ‘he pul- pit, font, and chorister stalls are beautifully fes- tooned with spruce, and trees appear semi-circular 4m the niches of the chancel. ‘ne altar will be dressed with flowers in honor of the festival; and a grand Christmas anthem will Ledeen 4 ‘The services at Ohrist Church on Christmas Day Will be as follows:—Processional, “O come, all ye Faithiul;” ‘“Vepite and Psaims,’’ chanted by galler; id chancel choirs in alternate verses; id Carrozzi in D; Anthem, trom Mozari Mass, “Glory be toGod on High; Hymn tae tne Heraid Angels Sing;”’ Congregational Anthem, “Shout tie lad Tidings; Ofertory, Rossiai’s chorus, ““I'ne God of Israel’? The Christmas deco- Tations, consisting ol flowers and evergreens, will be very profuse. Bishop Potter will take charge of the services, assisted by the Rev. 8. F, Dupham and other clergymen. At Grace church the musical services will be con- ducted by the organist, Mr. 5. P, Warren. The solo choir consists of Mrs, Oliver, soprano; Mrs, Rachau, alto; Mr. George Simpson, tenor, and Mr. J. Clarke, basso. ‘The programme is arranged as iollows:— “Venite,” Mosenthal; “Te Deum,” Dudley Buck; “Gloria,” arranged from Costa, by Warren; “Jubi- late,” Mosenthai; “There Were Shepherds’’ and the succeeding numpers of “The Messiah,” and the anthem by Barnby, in which Mr. Simpson has the principal part ‘There will be fall parce service, with sermon and holy communion at All Saimts church, corner of Henry and scamme! streets, on Christmas morn- ing at half-past ten o'clock, vy. William N. Dui nell, rector. The following is the musical pro- gramme for the occasion:—Processional, by the Sanday school, “Brighily Gleams Our Banner;” “Te Deum,” Danka; “Kyrie,” Bristow; Antuem,’ ‘And ‘There'Were Snepherds,'? selected from Handel and Haydn; Hyma, ‘Hark! the Heraid Augen Sing.” Ww ~ Hodges, arren; ‘“Trigagion and Sanctus,’’ ‘The solo choir consists of Miss Annie Bristow, s0- 10; Mise Lottie Willingham, alto; Mr, J, Warp tenor; Mr, Fred. Condit, ; Captain Frank director ganlst, Of music; Jos. P, Jardine, or; CHRISTMAS AT THE THEATRES, WALLACK’s.—The success of “John Garth’’ has been of such an emphatic character at this favor- ite temple of the drama thateverything else has been necessarily laid aside for the present. Mr. Wallack hasreaped a new harveat laurels in this clever work of Brougham’s. Soorn’s.—The management of this theatre does not flirch from the legitimate, despite tne obsta- cles in the path, such as opers, comedy and gen- eral financiai depression. On Ohristmas evening the great tragedy of ‘Julius Omsar’’ will be pro- ar with Lawrence Barrett in his very best and world-renowned character of Uassius, in which he created such a furor at Niblo’a Garden; Kdwin Booth as Bratus, Waller in the title réie and Miss Paveman as Portia, Pirra AVENUB THEATRE.—When @ theatre opens ‘with s play, and the play is a success, proving its claims by 120 nights of crowded houses, and when this play has for @ subject a the of the most vital interest, illustrated by one of the best companies in this city, and sur- rounded by magnificent scenery and an assemble 1p every detail pertect, it would be folly on the part of the manager and author, Mr, Augustin Daly, to withdraw it. Therefore @ matinée and evening per- formance of * Divorce” will be given at the Fifth Avenue to-morrow. OLYMPIO 1HEATRE.—After all, “Humpty Dumpty” is the crowning success of the dramatic season. Pox, of course, is the commanding feature, but when we take into consideration the Martens, the giants, the Nixes, the ballet, the scenery, and we might say the general view of fairy land, tue se- cret of the success of the pantomime is easily un- derstood. Matinee and evening, the spectacular pantomime will be presented to-morrow. GRAND Opgea Hovuss.—Here is a bewildering dis- play for the holidays, First, the Ninth regiment baud of 100 performers give a concert this evening, with Madame Salvotti, Mile. Castell Mile, de Ley and Mr. Leton as soloists, and @ splendid pro- gramme. Then the tenor of tenors, Wachtel, ars at @ matinée on Uhristmas Day In ‘The Postil- ton of jumeau,”” and in the evening those de- servedly popular artists, Mr. and Mrs. Florence, give “The Ticket of Leave Man,” with all the sur- roundings that the drama 1s capable of. The charm- ing prima donna, Mile. Pauline Canissa, will sup- port Wachtel in Adams’ opera. Nisio’s.—‘The Black Crook,” with all its wealth of legs and red fire and its bright particular star danseuse, Mile. Adrienne, will be the sensation at this theatre. The third ron of this spectacle aces not promise to be as successful as either of its pre decessors. Srapr.—The distinguished actor, Mr. Daniel E, Bandmann, will appear at the German Theatre on Christmas evening in “The Iron Mask,’’ and on tne following night in “The Robvers.”’ ITALIAN OPERA.—The Swedisn Nightingale will not warble at the Academy to-morrow evening, but on Tuesday she appears for the last time as Leonora in ‘Trovatore.”” AlMBE.—This charming opéra bouge artist ap- pears both afternoon and evening at Lina £dawin’s as Boulotte in ‘Barbe Bleue.’’ Nixon’s BRoapwayY Oracus.—The management of this establishment announces, In addition to a host of attractions, an engagement with Santa Claus, ‘who Will attend both performances to-morrow. New YORE Uircus.—Mr. Lent has prepared @ gorgeous holiday pantomime for his young patrons this week, which wiil surpass in splendor ali hue previous essays in that line. PaRk, BROOKLYN.—Mesers, Carroll & MoCloskey have a sensation on nand in the shape of @ drama- tigation of Bret Harce’s poem, “Poverty Flat,” ORaTORIO.—There is nothing more welcome at Obristmas than ‘The Messiah,’ espectally when it ie rendered oy such an established society as the Mendeissohn Union, under the able direction of Mr. A. Reiff, and with such a peeriess prima donna as Miss Clara Louise Kellogg ior the soprano solos and Miss Ster! as the contralto, Miss Kell has already proved her claim to the ttle of a gre Oratorio artist. BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF Music.—A portion of Waliack’s fine company, including Brougham, beep, eng f Mme. Ponisi and Miss Deland, will give “The Americans in Paris” and ‘His Last Lege” o-morrow evening in the City of Churches. Comigus.—Mr. Joon Hart makes his first appear- ance this season on to-morrow evening. A bewil- ering bill of novelties of all kinds is prepared to do houcr to the festival of festivals, Uvion Square TaeaTas.—Mr. John Mulligan, an Ethiopian comeaan, and a great trick pantomime are the leading attractions on Manager Butler's Onristmas bill, Baxamr’s MINGTRELS,—Dan'A corked face will ne CEE uasually good-natured st doth performances to! morrow, and he is now rehearsing some exervsiséd ingly fanny acts for the occasion. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS.—Any one of thef famous quartet—Birch, Wambold, Bernara ond Backus—might be easily mistaken for Santa Cla to-morrow night, as they will bé brimming ove! with wit aud humor, and will make juveniles an adults happy. Bowgky,—There will be two grand performan: atthe Ula Drury to-morrow, and as there will be half dozen plays on each bill no one can complau of want of variety, Tony Pasror's.—Tony has composed a new oper 4nd dedicated it to Santa Ciaus, He sings it all Dy himself to-morrow, both matinée and evening. BLIND Tom performs some of lis piano marvels ad the Brooklyn Athencum to-morrow night. CHRISTMAS IN BROOKLYN. The preparations for the celebration of the grea! est of Christian festivals in Brooklyn were car! on yesterday upon & most generous and extensiv scale—that Ja if thronged streets, vehicles load down beneath the weight of good tnings, and de- Pleted warehouses are wo be taken as a criterion the manner of getting ready. The torribie im ments offered to pedestrians and locomotion every description certainly was @ drawback 4g, the enthusiasm of the thousands upon thousan who went shopping. Nevertheless the pure chases had to be made, and they were, butcher, baker, confectioner, toy dealer, ary merchant and all other trades people had no cat to complain of lack of patronage. Santa Cla’ 1s the glorious illusion which enchants chi hood and paints bright pictures of early youtn thi can never fade from memory in the coming when the innocent deception practiced by fond rents will be pardoved and repaid by filia! affect It was, however, remarked by a heavily laden pate Jamilias, ashe trudged home beneath a cargo drums, dolls, musical instruments, lolly-pops an ugar plums, that it might possibly be just as well “Ola Santa Claus” would carry home “on this occasion.” There was @ delight fal air of mystery and secrécy to observed in entering tne household and in socretti ht whicn was destined to gbout the mantelpiece or wad littie stockings 0! Sunday night, to gladden wee hearta and ope! wide bright eyes on Monday morning—Coristi Day. And now it is fair tv presume ‘that the soo! Ja safely stored, and that that fine elderly chap wh comes down chimneys ouce a year will not disap! point the Brookiyn boys and girls. i" ‘The Cathoilo and Hpiscopal services in the princ! pal churcnes will be of a grand order to-morrow, as the preparations made indicate more partici Jarly in the musical order, as will be geen from fohowing programme:— At the Church of St. Charlies Borromeo Mozart’ magnificent “Twelfth Mass’ will be gtven by th choir on Christmas Day assisted by a ful orchestra engaged expressly tor the occasion. solemn high masa will be celebrated at half-past tei o’olock A. M.—Father Charles Hubert, lebrant With deacon and supdeacon—at which time tne lowing programme will be readered:—Hymi “Aaeste fideles,” boy#: ‘Kyrie Ellison,’ quart and chorus; “Gloria iu Excelsts,” ruil chorus; “Qui tollis,’? quartet; “Quomam fu solus,” basso ai chorus; “Cum sancto,” chorus Before sermon. Hymn, ‘Veni Creator," by OCampant, duet (ten and passos; ‘Oredo,”’ full chorus; ‘Et incarnatus, ' tenor solo; “Cracitixus,” chorus. For the offertory- ‘Grand Cantique de Nove” by Lambilotte; ‘San us,’? chorus; ‘‘Benedictus,’’ soprano and chorus! “Agnus Dei,” chorus; ‘Dona nobis,” alto chorus, At St. Paul’s Haydn’s Second Mass will be sung, with full orchestral accompaniment, by the or: chestra of the New York Pniluarmonio Society, under the leadership of Papst. Solos will ne su tuined by Mine. Ulark, Miss Estelie A. Murtagh, Charles Jann and Hert Kraier. At the Chureh of Our Lady of Mercy Haydn’s Si: teenth Mass will be sung, aud the *Credo,””’ “San tua” and “Agnus Dei,” {rom Mozart's Tweilth ‘The choir wili be as tollows:—mme. Corrinne, Mi Mary Farrel, Andrew Waldron and ‘I. L. Dalton, AUbSt. Peter’s church Haydu’s Third or Limpert Mass will be sane by the cnoir, assisted by sever: lmembers of the New York Church Musical Associ tion, At the offercory Mme. Kouligot will sii Dressier’s arrangement of Agam’s “Cantuque oe with barp aud organ accompaniment an i) Chorus. T jay street, Haydo’s Mass No. 2. ‘At St. John’s Protestant Episcopal church the gramme 1s as follows:--Processional, by Sund. acbool, “Carols; “Venite,” chanted; Proper ims 19, 46 and 85, chanted; ‘*fe Deum,” in “Jubilate,” chanted; Anthem, with solo, the Lord,” “Kyrie,” Warren; Hymn 47, Ancien! and Modern; Offertory, ‘“I'ne Curist Ohild,’? Warrea| Recessional, “Uhristinas Carol.” at, At St Aun’s, on the Heights, the wil be! a or Prei “Adeate kideil musical Chopin; 3”? Novello, solos aud chorus: tique de Nodl,” Adam, sopranc solo; Grand “Vi Est,” eolos and cloru ‘Ulorias,’’ in O, F bet; Grand “Te Deum,” in U, Lorets, Jr., solos an chorus, harp and violenceilos; “Jubilate,” in ©, | retz, JF., chorus with voys; Psaim 89, Oarl Wagner, chorus; “Gloria Tint,” iu B, Lore dr., alto and sop! “Sancvus,” in A minor, Loretz, Jr., 80] sol0 ai chorus; Dommuition Hyma, "360; ‘CioMe, in Ex celais,” Samuel Jackson; Closing Hymn, Night,” Barnby; Voluntary, organ. "At the Church of the Holy Trinity the foilo ing works will be given: y i (Ancient and Modern, 47), Walawright: “Venite Exultemus,’’ James io Special Psalms 19, 46, 85; Deum Laud mus,” 8, B, Whiteley, in ‘Benedictus,’’ J, N, Hommel, in E fut; ‘Introit, eaphtig from Mesge Solennelie,”’ Gounod; “Kyrie Eleison,” Lf ‘ “O ‘hou That Tellcs' Goud Tidings mn’? (**Messian’’), Handel; offer: tory, “Cantique de Noel,” Adolphe Adam; al, “Gloria in Excelsiv” (“Messe Solennelic' Gounod; the ‘Sunctus,” ‘Therefore with &e., & B. Whiteley, in FP; ‘Communion Aymo”’ ( and M., 167), Winchester, old; “Gloria in aus,” “he St. James’ church we havi “Christ Is Born Indeed,” Oasley chant; “Te Deum Laudamus,” tn D wajor, Lamb love; “Jubilate Deo,” Lawbillotse; Hymn, Shepherds Watched,” Aruo; ‘Kyrie Ele! major, Gounod; Anthem, ‘there Were Shepherds," uthem, Buck; Carol, ‘*f'was iu tne Winter Vold,”” mby. "AU Bt. Mark’s church, Kev. W. I’. Fitoh, reotor, of Ohristmas Eve, will ve sung:—O; Noéi,’? Adam, and chorul chant, Farrant: jloria ia Excelsis,' “gonum Est,” ancient chant, Tailis; “Deus Misere: tur,” antuem, Millard, svlus aud chorus; Psall 62,, Haydn; Hymn 43, “Coronation.” Christmas morning the p' :—Upening, “Shout the Giad.1idings,”’ ‘Gloria Patri,’ ehant No. 10, Turle; script, R. 8, C.; Avison; “Gloria Patri,” doal, man “Te Deum,” in G, Thomas; ‘Jul late,” in D, manuscripts, R. 5. 0.; im 1: Lyons; Responses, chant; “Gloria \1bi,” chau! Mendelssohn; One 0; **1'risagion,’’ Faw. ‘Gloria in Exceisis,” ohurob ti ristmn: ma 165, songs of pra aS . Whose gior; re cett; Hymn 90, Hebron; ola chant. ‘At St. Peter’s Protestant Episcopal programme is arranged as follows: Anthem, ‘There were Sbepiierds,”’ Hoi Manuscript chant; ‘Gloria Patri,” 1, “Gloria Patri,” 2, Gunther; “Gloria Voncono’s Maas in ¥; ‘Ie Deum’ in & flat, Lioyd; “Benediovus” in B fat, Guother; Psalm 37, Fescu| “Gioria Tibi,” Brandenourgh; Hymu 46, Warren; fertury, ‘“‘Cantique de Nol,” soprano solo, Adam: ‘“Trisagion,’ Jackson; Hymn 95, Christmas 5 “lori in Excelsia,” vid; Ascription, “Gloria Patri,’’ Haydn, Offertory, “Holy Night,’ soprano solo ana Adam. At Elm place Congregational church, Rev. Hen: Powers, pastor, the services will be Deam,”? M senthal; Christmas anthem, “There Were herds,’’ Dudiey Buck; “Hark! the Heraid Angel Movent Offertor, Tnose Holy Voices?’ Buck; “Gloria Patri,” Mai F, soprano; . 3 Mr. H. marlin, tenor and leader; Mrs Ivan E, Morawax basso; Mr, B. O. Phelps, organist, Christmas Festivitios Willtamebare. ‘he colored children of vhe "Burg will be en! tained in Masonic Temple at two o’clock to-morro' afternoon, when a nourishing and substantial ner willbe served upto them bythe Rev. Mi Manning, the Rev. J. Hyatt Smith, Justice Voor hies, Counsellor Bassett and others. St, Paul’é volored Mission will conduct the religious exess cuses.. The rooms of the Young Men’s Ubristian. tion, Fourth street and Broadway, will be kept ie, A. for the reception of persons deatr of ret thetr publications and spending a q oo even: the Sunday school of the fae aethodut Frotenat ehuree will hold a jagonly Temple. ‘the festival ot ‘we Nati Will be celebraved 11 the Bedford avenue Reformed church im the e ing in the most im; manner. Instrument anc root! Pmoug Woe, vocal auirucuons wil be val. voc rio by ues Etna ‘Thuravy, ‘Sound the Trum| rusalem, raise service will be heid in the South Nat! street Congregational church tis evening, in whi several Southern divinity students will part. | A PLEASING PRESB: TATION, One of those pleasing iucidents which help te show the happy relations existing between ployer and employed occurred yesterday at Weatward bound freight office of the Brie Rallw: a City. Mr. Johu B. Silkinan, 0: that city, wi the recipient of a handsome sliver pitcnor jew, which were presented by tveocore Baier wil — remarks in the name of phuself amd Teh