The New York Herald Newspaper, December 25, 1872, Page 9

SINS OF THE SYNDICATE CONTINUED FROM EIGHTH PAGE. r. sade ube lou Has stat be asta ae i was ‘throug! First Ni: Bank of this city ‘conve! q but bank one Penn; ee tranecton it was simply a of x W. ‘State whether other national hanks einer teaeiitet =I should rather furnish a statement ke to answer from from the department, than to underta @ , My impression is that the jon of Seek ewer: Ete che ecg om Sap 000 108. T think that I furnished a t boint during the last session. Kere—As ‘subscriptions were made by the Sige Kotiopel it woud appear ie 28,4 that the sptene ave been on a peat é »a” to depos ‘old six per conte as 6e- 44 t parunisted to déposit ‘as fast the; sie todo ut Prac’ , then, when did Jay Cooke & Co. a Bete Prac these new bonds? 439 - oon RLL—Speaking generally of payments tn this Shey never pald atallin coin; paid in five- ‘twenty bon h ‘That ig what I supposed. Then the same ts }» L presume, of the subscriptions made by the other banka? » BOuTWwELL—Yes, sir. There were some who in ‘calm, bus the amount ‘Was vory small, Nearly ali paid by r) ir. As a matter of fact within what a of time did the First National Bank reatly pay for these return of old bonds! ir. BoutwxLi—I SoRDOL san Zonas whasiens the whole ted in that ct. It is fs 1¢ sane terms it would have been made ey recived no interest, a8 a matter ot the six per cent bonds aiter the expiration of ety days, Mr, Kern—Did they not have the use of the coin as well a8 ast the new bonds ir. BOUtwELL—No, sir. My instructions to the clerks, Pecgse4 understood upon dpquley were carried out, were that the settlement should made upon the basis of minety days, and that no interest should be allowed for a ser period, rr. #—I am not now speaking of interest. I assumo ‘that they did practically have the use of tits money from September until April, and at the same time receive in- terest on the new bonds. Mr. Bourwziu—As I understood the transaction it was ¥ took the new bonds the lst of December to the amount o! the called bonds which had come, and subse- uently from time to time as the old bonds came in, but t the interest of all these called bonds stopper of mber, so that they got poring. by. the delay ox- 2 im tho matter of convenience ‘exchanging the Mr, Kene—I understand that the interest was stopped on the called bonds the Ist oi December, but that some of them were not, in fact, returned until the lat of April. WhatI want to know is whether the banks did not have the use of the old bonds themse!vos on which to transact ‘business for a longor period of timet Mr, Bourwrii—No, sir; I do not so construe tt. Ido mot see how they had any advantage trom the delay. ‘They realized only five per cent interest on the actui ‘Vestinent in bonds after the expiration of the ninet in regard to the six per cent bonds, they had no in’ their possession which they could take, or on which thoy could do business. Flid not deliver them the dive per cent bonds until the six per cent bonds were re- tu or the coin paid in their stead. Mr. Kenn—As a matter of fact they did not put that money into the Treasury at all? Mr. Bourweit—No ; I may as well say that I never con- ‘Yomplated that any amount should be put into the Treasur: inthe shape of money in connection with these transac- tions, It would have been ‘A MATTER OF INCONVENIENCE: to the government to have received coin. muoh whether th could stand the withdrawal of ever, be stated iB settlement notice. capital i I doubt very 6 cominerce of this country or Europe (eS of coin, It we have See mcaerat bet ru} Ta shale hand KERR—The money way then yeally in thelr hands, ota had Boca ul mibed toh jovei pment of the United Statos and, in the theory of law, should actually have been paid into the Treasury? Mr. Bourweit~It had been paid—that is to say, we had bonds in our hands of an equal amount There was mein loaned to thein in scat f way. Mr. Kear—They gave sccurity, but did not pay? Mr. Bourwsit—They paid by A BANK DEPOSIT UNDER THR Law. per cent bonds which they exchanged were coin without interest to us—that is to say, after the ember they bore no interest. It wasonly a of settlement. .-Kere—I understood you to say a while ago that the mow bouds hore date to the Ist ot August, that being the commencement of one of your regular quarters; that whea you sold them 7 made the interest commence to ran from September f. I ask you to state whether, as a matter of fact. in any case you allowed interest to com- ‘The six securit of, earlier? rt. Bourwett—T am not aware of any such care when ‘you speak of the en, Me. Kerr—In rejerence to national banks other than “those connected with the Syndicate, did the same rule sapply? 1 hourwext—Genierally the national banks presented ‘their old bonds in exchange for the new, and the interest was adjusted on the day the exchange was made. T! was no loss or gain of interest to either party. allowed the value of the compound on the six per cent ‘bonds up to that date, and if there were couponsnot «matured on the new bonds we charged them ir value up to that date. Mr. Kerk—When you sent your agents abroad in cus- aoa or ane new bonds did you at the same time send any ‘ol is Mr. Bourwett—Oh, no; we sent nothing but the new bonds. They brought home the oid ones. Mr. Kenn—As a inatter of ‘act were they ever permitted ‘to transier the custody of the RW BONDS 10 THE SYNDICATE before they r. er ™ rcevived the old bonds for exchange ? Mr. Bourwett—Bonds or coln ; never otherwise. My in- structions were specific on that point, Mr. Cooke thought dt wasa close way of doing business; but my instructions were invariably followed so tar as I know, Mr. BurcHard—Within what time did tne Syndicate scouclude the transfer ? Mr, Boutweti—The agreement was, as I remember It at, were to take $10,000,000 the first month and x each succeeding month until April Ist with the retusal of the remainder of the $200,000.00). The a ‘ment was baced upon the idea that the subscriptions ‘Would be much less in ainount than they turned out to ‘be. In fact, when they opened their subscriptions the smonns revorted ‘was really greater than the whole unt to sold. in, BuRcHaRD—They had until April to complete the Agtiveryt ir. pb gecrm eas & had until April to complete thoir eubdscriptions, They did not, as I have stated, agree to ‘subscribe for the bonds so rapidly as they did subscribe. Mr. Burcuarp—Was that $10,000,000 alt you were to cal i five-twenties to cover, at the expiration of ninety Bovrwstt—=No; not if more were subscribed. Mr. Beck—I understand the object ot giving us the DETAILS OF THIS WHOLE TRANSACTION 4s to indicate that unless some modification of the law governing your action is made you will renew otiations on the sdme basis for a further amount, ir. BOUTWRLL—No, sir. I do not say iat this ismy @ one T have oxy existing law, of if the: not to be carried as to ht furt wr the existin, r the er hig aed ought jaw, then they Mer were aiven, then Tor’ the “other $300 000000 m the basis on with the Syn- inion or the be: SRSA eae anertad's which you negotiated ‘thove $i dicate t Mr. 1—If, by the expression of action of the commitiee, I should be at to Inter ‘that what has been done 4s, on the whole, sat tory, I would then feel myself justified in folng on, I am ‘not Brings: f uidught ie was decsrous and proper thar i C0) should come here and let the committee Kup just how a Li re st 4 will mvereine rag. own any’ ome ‘makegng. seqpmmondation to ‘Congress, +3 o Mr, Beox—Why was it thatwhen you had sabscrip- feuberyonty ioued a call for 810 ‘st the" ave: uber, . pon Ra ie $100, of the five Mr. Boutwxit—The reason was that, in the first place, 1,000,00 of that amount was to be presented. mmiager: making S11800(00" in all, “Tho” sissple truths yoy th in all. 1e tru waile Thad great contdence ine >? iar THE GENTLEMEN COMPOSING THR SYNDICATE I had no absolute assurance that they would carry the hing through, and I did not mean to have the govern- ‘mont bankrupted if they tailed. I thought it wasa mat- tex of prudence not to call tor more than $100,00.000, a —| you not have the right to use the surplus gold in the Treasury to help you out in case of @ failure on their part Mr. Bourwert—We have never had in the Treasury, since I haye been at the head ot pr antes $93,000,000 o: @ mome! coin belonging to the government at mnt when Swe were loaded th at, 80 that, asa ma‘ter of fact the call exceeded ual 4 ury belonging to the government. oC a the Treas: ir, Back—Are you not mistaken state that you deducted the interest ay, ot Septem- ber? Did you not, in fact, deduct the interest from August 1 up to the day—whatover day that wassthat you rere notided by the bank ‘that a deposit had beeu mde 0 ‘tr. Bourwsit—Of course: I said the Ist of September because that waa the day on which the largest subanter tion was made. There were subscript made on other daya ‘That iswhat should have been done, and I prec ‘sume was done. Mr, Buox—The difficulty with me has always been, whether end $133,000,000 subscrided, $15.000,000 of mis- ous bonds being turned over, fail to call for the Mount {9 make up the balance not put it out wer e government to complete the exchange tall amount had been called *, and did not put Mt the to make the ex- when you ir. BoutwRLt—We were under no thg bonds until the expiration of the ninety days. Mr, Beca—What I want to understand fs whether, in that ease, the t ‘ompelled to pay ‘the eleven per cent it, We could not, in ¢ to make the exchange bei the expiration of nii ae, penis Tomaitty. Ke bapa - —, is a ques- Ly rn . and not y ut - ‘Fr Hourwauintbat is my construction, on ‘which I SG. Marnann—T wish to ask you alittle further about ‘thi rate of exchange. When you adopted ninety-one as par value of exchange what was it. COoKR—| e represents the par value pre- chely; there was not @ fractional difference, Ido not ae A ou could have come nearer if you had employed al al men in the country to estiinate it. Mr. MavwaRo—What is the difference now in the value of gold in London and New York! . ne—There is no difference, except in the sov- and te PE Mer an gold say American gold Mr, Coome—There is nowitterence at all, tis worth exgctly Ite valve tn proportion to the purity“ot the metal. if re a wort 1o~ day in New York Ren veny) Cree te t. Coone—J in gold, hey worth in Tondont Kiki ‘i e London at about 91. '¥ would be quot r Mr, Mavsand—The British consol i t 92, Why does it go into the market bearin ror ase of interest than our bonds, and do you think, in view of this » itis worth while tor us to go into the market with more bonds until our credit has appreciated beyond what it now is? Mr. Bourweit—Our credit is today better than the Egan ane one bore ea; Bngltsh consols do not sell out of Nir. Marman>—What was the rate of interest of the Ten onrweti Five per cent, our five per cent pemsis sold Bt par, whtie the Brench lene colt et Bheat bet ‘Mr. Rosmets—Do you know at what rate the German loan sold during the wart ir. BourweLt—Every loan sold below Russia ne- gotiated the five per cent loan at less than 90. Mr. Maynanv—! point of my laquiry, was whether terms it had better, rhaps, wait a year condition to command better terms than we now on r. by the delay . Bourweii—I think that ws lott that has already occurred. I think the failure of Con- to pass the first bill proved a great injury to the ountry. Mr. Marnarp—Was not thatin eae ya % LL r cent bonds previous to the Ge an*war far ‘bet terms than Kany, period since. We could havo di! of the five per cent bonds aad probabl have followed with a large amount of four one-! four per cents. Mr, Maywanp—Then your judgment is that we had bet- ter dispose of the Touining Ave per eats aow that, t Mr, Boorwati—I cannot see why we should pay six cent interest when we can get money for five per cent REMEMBERING THE POOR. ——-——— Proposed Reforms in the Wostchester County Almshouse—Ladies Appeal to the Board of Supervisors in Behalf of Poverty—An Additional Appropriation Asked For, A committee of the Board of Supervisors of Westchester county proceeded to the County Poor House yesterday, and there met by appointment a committe of ladies, whose object was the better management of the institution named. The ladies represented the local visiting committeo for the Westchester County Poor House, the organization being an auxiliary of the State Charities Aid Association, which hag for its ob- ject the establishing of local visitin, Mmittees for the almshouses, hospital public institutions of charities throughout the city and State of New York. Having visited the Poor House Redeon ey, during the past year a number of ladies connected with the association indicated ap- peared before the Board of Supervisors a few days since and asked that an additional or ete of $5,000 be made for the purpose of employing a resident physician, several paid nurses and other subordinate officers, male and female, which they assert are needed for the better management of the mstitution. They also asked that the order for committing vagrants and criminals be re- scinded, as unjust and degrading to those inmates who are victims of poverty and not of crime. As @ result of this appeal to the Board of Supervisors Be ay committees met yesterday, as above Bi . Nothing is known as to what transpired during the oon‘erence, as a lady named Schuyler, who was chairwoman of the ladies’ committee, curtly de- clined to admit the members of the city press, who were then in another portion of the building, and whose desire to be present was made known at their request by the Superintendent of the Poor House. It is not improbable, however, that some- thing will be done by the Board of Supervisors towards setting the afiairs of the Institution on'a more popular footing. THE MAYOR ON MUSIO AND MORALS. ‘What Mayor Hall Knows About Psalm Singing and Operatic Airs—“The Cid Hundred” in the Central Park, Mayor Hall sent yesterday the following message to the Clerk of the Board ot Aldermen :— Mayor's Orrice, New York, Dec. 24, 1872. To rae Common Co! The Mayor signs the annexed resolution, althongh it ossesses no legal effect. Its terms are not even direc- ry, and the Common Council has no mandatory powers over Ped Department of Parks. Moreover, if the resolu- tion did 88 legal effect the Mayor, with great re- purpose of amendment, by red.” In his opinion it is ble Phariseelsm to speak of performing by in- struments all “sacred” music as any more tending to con vey ious in@fulses than much of the music ordinaril called “profane.” Some men are so eonstituted that if passing through the Park they hear “Old Hundred” performed, by é ‘band the ejacu- lations they would utter would go far towards stamping the music in the ears of passers-by as eminently profane, while the same persons, should they hear performed the dirge in “L'Afri sweot strains from the last actof “Traviat almost bowed to the green sward in momientary rever- ence under impulses of religious emotion, and yet, in both instances, be ignorant of the source of the music. We have all heard, no doubt, performed in churches, from Trimity down to a Mission chapel in Seventh ave- nue, music trom the operas; and we may have seen a deacon, ignorant of operatic music, grow very emo- tional and ecstatic under the notes of “Ah Mio Fernan- do,” from “La Favorita.” If the Common Council would read Dr. Haweiss’ recent charming book arr “Music and Morals,” they would see that the time has ‘ong vanished which in’ popular estimation used to se- parate so-called profaneirom sacred music. Note move- ments, well approved in church choirs, are often heard in the theatres, where they provoke merriment from thelr peculiarity of tone, while movements trom wicked operas (as the cantyhrase is) often move congrega- tions to tears, The above memorandum was on @ resolution or- dering music on Sunday in the Central Park, MUNIOIPAL AFFAIRS, Payment of Boulevard Laborers. Comptroller Green paid the Boulevard laborers yesterday the amount due them for wages to the 15th of December inst., amounting to the sum of All of the rolls ot laborers which have peen re- ceived at the Comptrolicr’s office to this date have been paid, Payment for Street Cleaning. Comptroller Green yesterday paid to the Police Department, on account of street cleaning, the sum of $80,000. Board for Revision and Correction of Assessments, A meeting of the Board of Revision and Correc- tion of Assessments, which was to have been held at half-past two o’clock P.M. yesterday, at the Comptroller's office, did not take place for want of &@ quorum, the Comptroller betng the only memb:>r present at the hour appointed. The Board will meet on Thursday, the 26th inat,, at half-past two o'clock P. M. REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE. The Republican Central Committee held their regular monthly meeting last evening in their headquarters, on the corner of Twenty-third street and Broadway. There appears to have been some error as to the night they should have assembled, as when they assembled together last evening they found their meeting hail had been let to a club of colored gentlemen, who designed passing Christmas eve in the gay and festive dance, They were in- formed, however, that the hall would not be re- quired before nine P.M.,8o the chairman of the committee, Mr. John k. Townsend, jumped upon the platform and called the meeting to order. Mr. Townsend opened the proceedings by stating that by some mistake this meeting should have been called for the previous Tuesday evening, but as they were assembied ater anid only had some trifling matters to transact they might as well get through with them. Oa motion, then, the readin; of the minutes of the previous meeting and roll cal were dispensed with. Colonel SPENCER then rose and said that one of the most interesting features of the last meeting of the year was the report of the treasurer, AS that gentleman was not present he took the lhoerty of informing the members of the com- mittee that after paying all expenses there would be @ surplus to hand over to the new committee. He also congratulated those present upon the work of the year, which em! led one Of the most brilliant victories ever achieved by the republican party. Colonel Spencer conciuded his remarks by Co op ay can but recollect that tri- umph has cost first the reason and then the life of a man that from my boyhood I respected and loved, and I am willing and the republican party of the country are willing, to bury this last great fault of nis in the grave; to remember his genial and generous qualities, and on this Christ- mas Eve, wiien it is our duty to feel kindly towards CHRISTMAS. Recollections and Observances of the Greatest Festival of the Christian Year, THE DAY OF JOY AND GLADNESS. Its Celebration as a Religious Holiday and as a Family Merrymaking. “THIS DAY A KING IS BORN.” Christmas Eve Was Ob- served in the City. SANTA CLAUS AND THE STOCKINGS. Mirthful Scenes im the Thor- oughfares, im the Stores . and in the Markets. ances a ar CHRISTMAS TREES AND TRINKETS. How the Great Festival Will Be Celebrated To-Day in the Churches. MIDNIGHT MASSES. The Unusual Jolly Cheer and Joy at tho Institutions of Charity. —+ THE TEMPLES OF THESPIS. te Feasts of Romance, Sentiment and Fancy in the Thronged Theatres. -———- “PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILLTO MEN.” There are no flowers abroad, rich fruits nor leaves, pines Save tho green needles of the con But all the world i ‘Ys, Bay Its joy in.fadeles This day @ Son is born, a child is given. His will be done on earth as 'tis in heaven. Chiistmas | What a wealth of joy and gladness in this one word! What feelings of love and Chris- tian charity well up from every heart at the recol- lection of what the day reallv is—of the great event s0 fraught with good to all mankind which it com- memorates, And as one goes back in memory to that night, nearly nineteen hundred years ago, when'the shepherds guarding their flocks learned that a Saviour had been born into the world, and they beheld the divine babe laid in the manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, how can it be oth- erwise than but kindly feelings should prevail in every household to-day—that old grudges should be forgotten, old fricndships made stronger and Chris- tian charity glow everywhere in brighter colors, and PEACE AND GOOD WILL reign the wide world over? And the remembrance ofthat lowly birth brings its lesson to us all, for, look at it as we may, as @ day when families are reunited and feasting and merry making ruie the board, it is in every clime, wherever the lght of Christianity has been spread, a day of Teligious observance. That lowly birth in the stable was a religious lesson, so to speak, and as such it comes home to every heart in the midst of allour rejoicings, We who have the means to rejoice; to make dur homes bright with every surrounding suggestive of the day's celebration; who will sit down at the table at din- ner to-day with the smiling faces of those we love clustered all about us and the laughter that proceeds from happy hearts ringing in our cars, if we give a thougnt to the lesson, will remember that, like Him who had not whereon to lay his head, there are many, very many, to-day for whom the general rejoicing sounds harsh and unchristianlike. There are those in our midst who are suffering in many ways, whose lips may mutter a prayer of thanks to God for the mercy that the birth of the Saviour brought to man, but whose hearts rebel against THE PEANS OF CHRISTIAN QEJOICING that go up from househo.ds of plenty who give no thought to their poor neighbors. The day to these suffering ones may, indeed, be a religions day; but what cau be said of the charity and mercy it brings if they have nothing to eat or drink and the little ones are crying from the cold, while across the way the lights flash from golden chandeliers, where other little ones dre shrieking with joy at the sight of costly gew-gaws on the Christmas tree? Let us all to-day, then, take the lesson to heart, and do what we can to make Christmas for our poorer neighbors a real day of rejoicing in- stead of @ day of sorrow, mayhap of bitter curses. Without the door let sorrow lie, And it for cold it hap to die, ‘We'll bury it in Christinas pie, And evermore be merry. Christmas as A PAMILY DAY, a day when every member of the family, big and Uttle, feels tt his bounden duty to make merry, will of course be celebrated right joyfully. It has be- come of late years to all the nations what Thanks- giving Day was wont to be in the olden time to the New Englanders, where, by the by, they do say that a man who dared in Puritan land to celebrate Christmas was Hable to be taken in hand by the magistrates aud dealt with most terribly by due process of law. It is but @ very short time ago, indeed, that Christmas was cénsidered of suMcient importance in this city to justify the snopkeepers ‘and the moncy-makers generally in closing their places in honor of the day. Asa matter of course no reference is made to the long ago when our good Dutch ancestors revelled in clouds of smoke and made the day A FRSTIVITY OF HUGE PROPORTIONS from morning to night. Probably the brightest part of the celebration in the family will be done honor to by the youngsters. The day to them is the day of all days, and for weeks back they have everybody, when we are carried back to the pieas- "been counting the hours on their Nngers, and won- antest periods of our life, to say God bless the memory of Horace Greeley. On motion a vote of thanks was tendered to the oficers of the Cs Sead and aiter Mr. ‘town- send had responded, the mecting adjourned sine ate, THE TAMMANY SOOIETY. A special meeting of the Tammany Society, Co- lumbian Order, was held at the Wigwam last even- ing for the purpose of initiating betweem thirty and forty elected members, whe were notified to appear for that purpo: The inStallation of Messrs, Dunham and Abraham R. Lawrence as Sachems, vice Oswald Ottendorfer and Charles O’Conor declined, was set for the first meeting in January. Mr. Lawrence was among the members present, but left early. The publication of the names of the persons initiated last meet- ing seems to have deterred members from coming forward, as not half of those notified to ap- pear were in attendance, The janitor was also in- structed to prevent the reporters of the press from visiting the ante-room, where from personal ooser- vation they could report the names of the: candl- dates for initiation, Among those who were in- itiated are Andrew J. White, Colonel J. R. Fellows, James J, Neallis, Morris Powers, James D. Dunlap, award Henry, Assiatant Alderman 0. M. Clancey, Luke ©. Grunes, Josoph M, Lyons, dering li it would ever come at all this year. And there is nothing surprising about allthis. We were alk children ourselves once upon a time, and we all know with what palpitating hearts we heard the firat intelligence from our dear mamma that Christmas Day would come “next month,” and with what eageruess we asked her every morning after nurse had soaped the sleep out of our eyes and tied our shoes and buttoned eur bib on, as she huddied herself before the roaring fire on the hearth, “Will next month be to-morrow?” And then, don’t you ail remember how our hearts sauk within us when we were told, in a confiding whis- per, for fear SANTA CLAUS MIGHT HEAR mamma tell the secret, that next month wouldn't come for a week longer; and then Christmas would have to be waited for twenty-four long, dreary, agonizing days. And what then made the waiting for us in the long-ago all the more painful is doubiy more so for the youngster of the present time—the display of goods in the toyshops, Of course every little one who has toddied out for the past six weeks with mamma has beheld with wondering eyes and ag ag eee the thousand and one beau- tiful things in the windows—the wagons, the en- ines, the horses and the dollies, His imagination \ as been carried into TH® SEVENTH HRAVEN OF TOYDOM by the riches thus strewn about when ho knows that they are all ceserved for the irjendy of Santa Claus, who will, when Christmas ome, make a bountiful distribution of them, and tha! all the people whom he sees buying the precious things are only doing so to take them some- where else where the jolly elf can store them mear where he wants to leave them, is it ® won- der that the youngster grows wonders whether hejis too naughty not to be, tof when the time comes, that he should go to bed talk- good ing about the wonders in the shops, ana why Santa Claus don’t let little people's papas buy them and give them away beiore Christmas comes at all and that on the morrow he only wakes up te fee! hike crying because the day when St. Nick is to go his rounds is yet to him still very far away. But thea, at last THR GLAD TIDINGS go through the house that to-morrow will be Obrist- Mas! To-morrow! just think of it! And to-day! How it does drag along! How every Httle o1 appetite fails him, and how in his nervous anxiety he toddlea up stairs and down stairs so many times that nurse threatens him with dire things to come on the morrow! At last it is bedtime; and who- ever knew a youngster who didn’t want to to bed on Christmas Eve?” For once nurse need use no arguments; but—ah! that’s the key to the mor- row, those ee Are they hung up at the ominee corner? won't do for papa or mamma to say they will be after, Willie like a littl boy, goes right to sleep. Not a bitof it, He hi been wasting his young life away for the past six weeks in waiting jor things that “will” come, and now that he knows that he is at tho threshold of the great day close at hand at last, he is not wiil- ing to put faith ae longer even in mamma's ro . And why should he go to sleep and trust anybody's HANGING UP HIg STOCKINGS? What, if in the hurry of the houschold prepara- tion for the morrow, they should forget to han; them up at ail? The thought is so appalling thal one only has to look back to the Christmas eves of the long gone by times to tull sn preniaie, the blood- curdling horror of the thi ‘forget them! and Santa Claus to come ¢own the chimney and grope about im the dark, and at last, with a chuckie, reach his favorite corner and undo his pack and find no stocking! Horror of horrors! What would he do? Ask any boy that knows o/ him and he will tell you what a touchy fellow the old gentlemen is, and how he would angrily bound up the chimney and never visit that house again—never more for- ever. So, though every youngster goes to bed willingly ou Christmas Eve, the stockings must be Pung. up in his presence beiorehand. Then tho lights are put out, and at once begins the troubled sicep with its visions of the little sleigh and the reindeer and the red faced Santa Claus himseif reining up at the roof-top and STEALING DOWN THE CHIMNRY and watching the little ones in bed lest they should open their eyes to watch his movements, which would, you Know, be a dead loss to them- selves. ‘The troubled sleep goes on, the stockings are filled, and, in his good nature, the old man, not being able to get In them all he wants to give, slyly puts a wagon at the toot of the bed, an en- ‘ine, and @ big real grocery store on the chair at ita head, and slips @ curly headed dolly, wish all her day clothes on, into the armd of little Lulu in the crib, who, without knowing what she does, hugs it fondly to her heart, And then what shall we say of the morning’ Bright and early the cheery church bells ring out on the crisp, cold air, “Christ-mas, Christ-mus has come! Christmas has come! Wake-up !—Christmas! Christmas! A MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!’ There are no quicker ears to catch the cheery sounds than the children, and without even wait- ing to rub their eyes they are bolt upright, aud then—we all know what comes then, the surprise, the cries of delight that alarm papa and mammaso, who run in just in time Barerens tue youngsiers failing headlong out of bed in their eagerness to get at their well-filled stockings. Well, we were all children once ourselves, and who will that on Christmas Day, old and bent down with age though we may be, with our locks the color of the snow on the ground without, and with our children about us, who in their turn have some one to call them pupa and mamma—who will say that to-day we are not yet young, that the days when we hung up our stockings are not so blended with the prea- ent that we are once more childrent Whe among us would if-he could, for all the gold the world con- mgr phe out from ‘is memory the recollections of the Christmas of his childhood’s days? The remem- brances are yet so iregrant, when placed side by side with the realities of the little joys o/ the young about us, that it would acrime to forget them. ‘They liit our hearts nearer to God, and thus to all of us, ho matter who we may be, the day becomes really a day of heartfelt religion, THE DAY AND ITS HISTORY. Christmas, 0! course, like everytning else, has a history, and the customs which it gave rise to in the olden time, long before our grandiathers were born, were peculiar and widely ditferent in various countries. It was not unti’ about the middle of the fourth century that the 25th day of December was made a day of observance aa the aniversary ofthe birth of Christ. Pope Julius it was who promulgated the decree fixing upon the 25th as the Pro 1 day to be observed, and thus it will be seen hat Protestants now-a-days in one thing at least agree with Catholics—in obeying the mandates of a “sovereign Pontiff.” Previous to the issuance of this decree by Julius Christmas had been observed at many diflerent periods ofthe year by the various Christian communities. Some of the churches kept New Year's Day, others the 6th of January, while most of the converted Jews observed the 29th of March, the time of the Jewish pass- over, and others the 29th of September, the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. Pope Julius’ decision, Mixing upon the 25th of December, was made atter & most careful investigation had been instituted to ascertain, as nearly as poss'ble, the date of the Saviour’s birth. It was acquiesced in by both the Eastern and Western churches, and from that time to this all Christendom has ob- served the 25th of December as the birthday of the Redeemer. In regard to the various strange cus- toms which in the early ages of the Churci grew out of the celebration of Christmas Day, a writer on the subject remarks that, “Just emerged from Paganism and enjoying but oral instrumentalities of solar ment, it was but natural that the new converts should now and then degenerate {nto the license of the old heathen festivais. 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 translerred to the celebration of Christmas the more harmless sports and amusements that made this part of the old heathen calendar so popular. It is easy, however, to see that the com- promise was made with great reluctance and more misgiving, as for many centuries a festive com- memoration of the Saviour’s birth was frequentl denounced by purists and reformers. Jn the nort! of Europe, among the Teutonic and Scandinavian races, the same method was employed to induce the Recble to give up their annual honors to Odin and Thor, and in Great Britain also various Druidi- cal rites and superstitions, From this cause it has come about that even our presents Christmas fes- tivities are strangely mixed up with the old heathen customs.” In THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF YORR the day was celebrated in merry England right merr ly. The Christmas dinner was the principal enjoyment of the day’s festivities, and upon it was lavished ali the rare devices of the culinary art of the period. The first and best prized dish was a boars. head, which was always brought into the dining room on a huge platter of metal amid.a flourish of trumpets and tue strains of joyous minstrels, After the dish was put upon the table the server sang in gladsome accents an se song, half Latin, half English. [t began as fol- lows :— Caput Apri defero idens laudos Domino, The boar’s head in hand brigz T With garlands gay and rosemncy. I pray you all sing merrily, Qui estis in convivio. It is almost needless to say that this boar's head custom has died out and that the knighted roast beef has taken itg place. However, Washington Irving insisted that he had seen the custom ob- served at Yuletide in Inkshire. Anotner great dish at the period referred to was a peacock undivested of its plumage. Nurmetz or boil wheat and mince pies, then called ‘mutton pies,’ were also among the dainties, although they have it that under Cromwell all these were abolished as Popish Villainies, Plum porridge, now the more solid plum pudding, was also among the dishes of the well-provided table. Nowadays the Christmas dinners may h: about them more that is artistic in the embellishings and extraordinary seasonings ‘of the dishes; but it is doubtful if the “good cheer” of the modern company is half so great or hal/ so joytully entered into as in the olden time. Still the rejoicings and the dinners and all to-day depend upon the spirits of those who celebrate, and ma} be upon the balance they have at the bank. Would to God that among the rich and the poor alike not a tear or aching heart could be found in any home! It would then be, indeed, to everybody “A merry, merry Christmas,” CORISTMAS EVE. «SAE How It Affected Metropolitans at Home and Abroad—Christmas Trees and Trinkets=The Shopping and Market- ing=The Old Notions and Why We Have New Ones. There waa no Yule log rolled on to the hearths of the metropolis last night, nor was there any hang- ing of the mystic mistietoe over the doors; but there was just as general and as heartfelt a wel- come extended to Christmas Eve as ever was paid by the mummers of “ye olden time.” It was “a nipping and an eager air” that swept along the streets as the sun went down upon & world busy in preparation of wel- come for the day that gave mankind a Saviour. The cold was suMiciently sharp aud penetrating to make everything abroad look bristling and busy, and to render home doubly welcome to all those who had a home to enjoy. And it was eufficiently bitter, too, to make the homeless and hungry feel their condition doubly lonely, when they contrasted their solitariness and poverty with the gladness and abundance that seemed so universal—though it was only steming. The streets never presented a |) More picasantly animated appearance than on Christmas Eve of 1872, the weather ahd the occa- sioz Doth combining to make evergthing active. Sbov windows biazed out witn garish ciulgence NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1872.—WITH SUPPLEMENT: of gaslight upon armies of hurrying en, women and children, and it was 5 REALLY A RARITY . to meot any one who had hot at least one Mundie, Package or parcel. The great emporiums of toys, fancy goods, jewelry, confections, edibles, knisk- knacks and Yankee notions were literally besiege’ by vast, swaying, jostling crowds, eager to pur- ‘ chase and then tobe at home. Express wagons rumbled through every street bearing parceis of Presents and “goodies” for tne merry- making of to-day. The markets, how ever, were the places that — presented the most characteristic pictures of preparation for the feasting, and it was from these that the most Christmas-like purchases were borne through every street. Bundies and parcels were in the hands of every one, in stages, in carriages, in street cars and afoot; but they were mere packages. To see ® man with ao package affords, after all, a very indefinite idea of the nature of the shopping he has been doing; but when you see him carrying home a turkey or a Christmas tree, or an evergreen wreath, you fecl as though you know all about it. For these reasons then the markets looked extremely PICTURKSQUE AND FESTIVAL-LIKE last night. Of course there was confusion—con- fusion enough to gladden the heart of the Lord of Misrule; but it was a jolly confusion—a confusion that makes humanity more human, and shows up 8 large part of its better side, A thousand lights, swayed oy the wintry winds, cast rays and shadows over the heads of the surging masses, made roseate the faces of the lus Market women. And what & Jargon oi voices and sounds greeted the ear a8 ghrill-voiced bo; and women, and deep-mouthed men cried aloud the cheapness of their stock and bade the purchaser take his choice for the cash! Culverhouse, whose famous pictures of strect scenes by lamplight are so very elective, might have found A THOUSAND “STUDIES"’ in Washington Market alone, The flaring torches on wagons and stands, the burly venders, the sibenng crowd that presented every variety and pype of feature, and rarest vagaries of costume; the piles of fruit, the trin of poultry, the stock- ades of beef and mutton, the ranks of frozen open- mouthed hegs, with legs extended, like ® field of steeplo-chasers running a ‘dead- heat,” notwithstanding these were all dead- cold; the so! ir and anticred heads of slaughtered deer, and even the black, glossy hides and dark-red flesh of slain bears; tle deep emerald embankments of vegetables, and a thou- sand other articles for the festal season, made a Picture that, if anything, was too varied to be ap+ Preciated, Now and then, as the lights wavered, a Scene that was an instant beiore all brightness and ilumination became a vast silhouette of the most extravagant and grotesque outiine; and again long askance beams of light threw Raphaelite gild- ig. on the profiles of a dozen scenes. ut these were only the street aspects of Christ- mas Eve. It wasthe mere preparation by labor for enjoyment, and it was on! IN THE HOMES that that enjoyment was to be realized. From every house the lights shone brighter through pane, window-shutter and curtain, and within there were anxious and glad rippinga of bundles and inspec- tions of parcels, The evergreen Christmas tree was rea.ed in hundreds of thousands of households, gar- nished with sweetmeats, toys, trinkets, ribbons and flags, and greeted with the merry shouts of millions of childhood’s voices. Kris Krinkle was the reg- ant monarch in the hearts of juveniledom, and there was rare wonderment as to the time that Santa Claus’ reindeer would patter over the roof, What a Neng waiting would the children glvo, AL midnight and beyond, could they but once see the be-whiskered oid man with the toys on his back come down the chimney; and yet he comes in such a weird way that not- withstanding his bounteousness they would blanch with awe if they thought he was coming. And so they went off to bed, to be HAUNTED BY DREAMS of the Christmas tree they had seen, of red-berried holiy branches on the walls, of jingling toys and dissolving candies, and of to-day’s peep into their stockings my, the fireside, Among housewives it is very questionable whether last night was not an unusually busy one, with tee eres of turkeys, the filling of plates an dishes and the thousand duties that devolve upon them as hostesses for the Christmas feast. But it was all a pleasant duty nevertheless, notwithstand- ing the fact that the glamor and mystic awe which wey ae for Christmas in their childhood had de- arted, i: There is something very singular about tho unt- versality with which the Christmas tide festival is observed among Americans. THE OLD. CUSTOMS, traditions and observances of the Eve and of the Day never have had much influence here to attract such general homage to the season, and it was doubtless these myths, now forgotten, though much revered and wondered at, which gave so much poetic and romantic interest to the event. Not one man or woman in & thousand celebrates it with any enthusiasm jor its particular and great religious significance, and the old-time observers of Christ- mas Eve were prompted as much by superstition as aught else. ‘The burning of the yule log and the rites which attended it, the preservation of the ember from year to year, the cutting of the mistletoe and its distribution as an amulet, the sacrifice of the oulls, the reer oe of the Christmas tree, are almost all traceable to the mythology of the Druids and the dark ages, and yet form the whole ground- work for the romance and mystic character of the Christian Leo eR But romance and super- stitions and mystic ritea look too much like “put up jobs” for THE MATTER-OF-FACT AMERICAN character, and while we are content to read about them it would be nonsense to expend so much time, trouble and money for anything but tangible enjoyment. And so we let leg etry? alone and stay at homo with our families, Yule log-rolling is substitated by legislative and backwoods work of the same sort. We put up Christmas trees for the children, and not because Thor or any other bogus deity is to be tates ae and we drop the mystic mistletoe an hang out holly and pine boughs; and if any kissing is 5 be done it 1s immaterial whether we do it beneath the endant evergreen or not—so we do it, And this B just where the universality of the American Christmas and Christmas Eve comes in. 1T8 OBJECT is tohave @ “good time,’ without any regard to superstitions, vagaries or traditions, and we bave that time; aud that fully accounts for the bustle and whirl and benevolence and chceriness that was everywhere, at home and in the streets, among. buyers and sellers, in market pines and shops last night.. Everybody ielt that was to make others ‘happy, go they appy all around and inal ted on Christmas Eve the spirit of “peace and good will” which comes in with the dawn of this morning. A FITTING TRIBUTE to the sacred character of the occasion was of course the midnight masses which were ield in St. Albans, St. Alphonsus and other churches ‘last night, There were Marre thnies fa tew of the sacred edifices opened for these services, but those in which they were held attracted q goodly at- tendance, consisting chiefly of devout-worshippers, the remainder of the assemblage being made up of those who were merely respectful observers of the novelty of the exercises at so peculiar an hour of the night. CHRISTMAS CHEER AT THE INSTITUTIONS. Soldacimenpacniciinae: Fach returning Christmas 1s looked forward to with anxtous expectations by the inmates of the charitable institutions that are scattered all over the island of Manhattan and the adjacent isiands inthe East River. Judging from the information guspices of the Commissioners of Charities, crew of the schoolship Mercury, which is now sea, will spend a merry Christmas on the deep, as she took with her from this port an pees ofmoney for the purchase of the hristas cheer. ‘The Commissioners neglect THE INMATES OF THE TO! and the gentlemen murderers coniined there once sit down to a dinner. It is to be that Stokes and may for once have ‘hunger stayed, and that Fisk's all mu Nay not be compelled to chew the cud of apvointment, irrepressible George Francis Train, the Cor etl Ee ‘s ag faneg & ing hot, Warden Brennan, of ‘| BELLEVOR HOSPITAL, will be in his element to presiding over his sumptuous dinner and cracking tis jokes wi “Corkey” Mary, who claims bim as her es; amnity, and “Hon.” Mr. Kelley. A grand “lay-ouv? Will be provided about noon, and the inmates wilt be allowed to enjoy themselves ad Uittura, Im the evening the Warden will act as master of cere- monies ab id ball in the amphitheatre, whem ; 'Hon," Mr. and “Corkey Mary’’ will open the “show” with @ genuine breakdown. The great Indian hunter, Daniel Boone, will lecture on tem- rance, and his pretty cousins, Grace and Myrtie ‘one, Will render the song, “Little Footsteps,” im oa. completeness. This ia but a small portion: the programme which will exhibit the humorouw ‘ae well a# the acrious side of Bellevue Hospital, Private Charities. ‘The managers of the private charities will not be’ behindhand in providing for the temporal and spir- itual care of their respective charges, The HOWARD MISSION AND HOME VOR LITTLE WAN> DERERS, in the New Bowery, will be an interesting institu. tion to visit. There will be, besides the dinner,.re- ligious services, singing, presentation of gifts and other exercises calculated to gladden tho hoarts or the “little wanderers,"" TUB FIVE POINTS MISSION and Five Points House of Industry will serve din- ners to the inmates, and the exercises will inclade addresses, vocal and instrumental music and the ae ol toys and sweetineats, ie OATHOLIO MALE ORPHAN ASYLUM, in Fifty-second street. and the Female Orpham Asylums, in Madison avenue and Prince street, the day will be appropriately observed, and savory re- its provided ior the poor little walfs who are so may cared for. In all the other Catholic chart- ties the day will be appropriately observed. The managers of the Protestant Half Orphan Asylum, in West Tenth street, will gladden the hearts hundreds of girls and boys under their care by @ teast of good things, religious exercises and music. Great preparations have been made for the ob- servance of the day by the NEW YORK JUVENILE GUARDIAN SOCIETY, where articles of ciothing, toys and candies will be liberally distributed to the little children, The houses of the society are at 101 St. Murk’s place and 207 Bowery. The oflicers of the CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY will celebrate the day in all their institutions, an@ doubtiess will render all the little people given to their keeping supreinely happy for once, At the Newsboys! Lodging House, 49 Park place, a sump- tuous Christmas dinner will be given the news- boys and bootblacks by William M. Fleiss, who will be present, to give the little fellows good advice and witness the Pilea) that his bounty produces. The inmates of the Phelps Union Mission at 335 East Thirty-fifth street, will be amply provided with good cheer, and will be entertained by addresses and music. The above are the principal institutions. in which the day will be celebrated by eating, drinking and merrymaking. There are ‘other equally deserving institutions, that will not be forgotten. Among these are the Gld Ladies’ Home, the House of the Aged Indigent Females in East Twentieth street, and the Roman Catholic Protectory in Westchester. CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE CHURCHES, pane el SBE OE Christmas Eve at Trinity—The Old Chime Again in Holiday Attire—Yes- terqay’s Service—Dr. Dix's Address—The Chimes, Hymns and Carols—The Christ- mas Troe. ‘THE DECORATIONS, Trinity church was yesterday very handsomely decorated for the Christmas festival. The back of the altar was ornamented with festoons of hem- lock and lauref, On the altar was a large an@ beautiful floral cro: it elther side being bouquets offowers. The baptismal font in the chancel was filled with flowers, and the lectern was also em- twined with fNowers and evergreens, From wim dow to window a festoon of laurel went round the sides of the church, between each window being a hemlock tree. The front of the organ gallery was- also profusely hung with laurel and evergreens. CHRISTMAS EVE. At half-past two o'clock the chimes began to ring, the following being the selection :— L Ringing the changes on eight bells. 2. Carol, “Angels trom the Realms of Glory.” 3. Carol ‘hristmas Tree." 4 Carol, “Christ Was Born on Christmas Day.” 5. Carol, “Awake, Ye Faithful.” $ rol, ing the Bells for Christmas Morn.” , “Hing Out the Bells.” At three o'clock the Christmas Eve service wag opened. Tho sanctuary was lighted by a number of candles placed on the altar and in front of the cnoit seats, Around tho pillars also the gas jets were lighted, and as the dusk of the evening set im. the sort of twilight there was in the church added much to the impressive Episcopalian service. The Rev. Dr. Dix, the rector of rele presided, as- sisted by the Kev, Dr. Ogilbee, the Rev. Mr. Hough- ton, the Rey. Mr. Kimber and other clergymen, In the choir, aiso, were the usual number ef choristers. ‘The service opened with a hymo— Once in royal David’s city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Whore a mothor Iaid her’baby, In a manger for His bed. Mary was that mother mild, Testis Christ her little child: Then the evening prayer was read, after which another hymn was sung, and then came the ad- dress by the Rev Dr. Dix, which was specially in- tended for the little ones. about five hundred of whom were present.. He began by telling them that many changes had occurred since last Christ- mas Eve. Many friends who had been with them then are now gone. Their Sunday school was changed @ new sand more commodious one having been secured. Last Christmas Eve and on previous similar occasions ne himselt had been with them as @ visitor and as a friend; now he had neat ties with or and they were nearer to him. He telt thi hence the especial interest he took in the children this. year. He then spoke of the.arrangements for the Sunday School and for the Young Men's Asse ciation, both of which would in future be under the care of the Rev. Dr. Ogilbee, than whom they could have no truer friend nor abler counseller, thea explained, im simple language, the me: of the Christmas festival, which would be celebrated all. over the world with great pomp and solemnity. Im ea he asked tne biessing of God upon.the children. After the address a carol. was sung:— Ring out the bells for, Christmas, In Winter wild. the Woly Child Within the cradle lay. Oh, wonderful! the Saviour Td in a manger lone; table, ‘m His throne. at hand, to-day will be as happy a Christmas as haa ever dawned upon the poor of the city who happen to be inmates of the nobie institutions that have been reared by public and private bounty to shelter the aged poor aud destitute youth of the great city. The Commissioners of Charities and Correction have been engaged for a week in pre- parations for tne event, and iu all their institutions good. cheer and innocent amusement will make buppy the hearts of those committed to their care, Public Charities. ON BLACKWELL'S ISLAND. Religious services appropriate to the day will be hetd in all the institutions. The Charity Hospital, the Penitentiary, the Workhouse, the Lunatic Asy- jum and the Workhouse Hospital will be tmpreg- nated with the savory odors of Christmas turkey and chicken, pudding and other delicacies not en- joyed on any of the other 364 days of the year, ‘The same p!easure will be afforded the inmates of the Inebriate Asylum, and the disabled veterans of the war, who are domiciled ON WARD'S ISLAND. The former will find spread before them a repast composed of all they may desire, wines and liquors, which have been their stumbling block, alone being excluded, The soldiers will have occasion to re- member that there are those who still bear in mind the services they rendered in sustaining the na- nal honor in the dark days of the country’s peril, and wilt be timulated to nue their bumbie duties to the satisfaction of tuelr patrons, The orphan asylum ON RANDALL'S ISLAND will be @ point of interest, as Mr. Stephons, the warden, has spared no pains to please the little boys and girls placed in his keept Beside the usual Christmas dinner the girls receive their doll babies and the boys their tops and whistles, ‘The inmates of the House of Refuge will come in for @ share of the good things distributed to-mor- We rohie Commissioners of Charities will also bounti- fully provide for the childrea tn the Boya’ Reform- tor, wae ON HART'S ISLAND, and the usual religious services will not be forgot- teu, Besides the (nstiiytious named under tue The chorus of the ky 34 was given by the chimes, the effect being very fine. ‘THR CHRISTMAS TREB. The song of “The Christmas Tree” was then sm The Rev Dr. Dix and the Kev. Dr. Ogilbee, wil other clergymen, came to the front of the sanw tuary, and, standing two by two, joined in the hyma:— Our Christmas tree is deck'd once more, In joy we meet around It tells of brighter things in store; Let sol praise resound. The Christmas tree is an evergreen, It blooms when frost and snow are seen; The Christinas tree is forever bright, Tt shines with everlasting light. Then @ procession was formed, which moved down the centre aisle to the vestibule, where the Christmas tree had been pre ared, The tree was fully sixteen feet high and six tiers of branches, and these were all burdened with good things. The tree was lit up by numerous lights, and the | affair was “a oy to look at.’ A large table, los with presents for the little ones, was adjoining. Ahout five hundred children each received a pretty resent, and then went their way rejoicing. The Boys in the choir received quite handsome pres- ents. The gilts being all distributed and the tree left unshorn of its fruits the service 8002 COm- cluded, CHRISTMAS. The following ia the order of service at Trinity church to-day :— Oftertory—"Benedictus” Sanetis~gecond Maas, Gloria 1a Bacole— serene Domitiix jonal Hytany CURISTMAS CHIMES, The following programme will be rung on the “ ohizaca this morning, beginaing at bali-past em o'clock :-— 1, Ring! h Nght bell & Gersiet Giritmas is Come aga.” ‘Christmas Guest.” + ing the Bells for Christmas Morn, 5. Carol—"Christmas Bellis.” 6. Carol—"Ring Out the Bells.” . Alban's, The beautiful ritualistic service customary os Chrigtmas Eve was given at St, Alban’s church, om