The New York Herald Newspaper, November 27, 1874, Page 6

6 THANKSGIVING, —— Celebration of Turkeyday in the City Yesterday. -—— THE RICH AND THE POOR. SPESENINS oes How the Sick and-Needy were Cared for by the Well-to-Do. peccr tists THE HOSPITALS AND HOMES. SS In the Public Institutions, the Resorts for the Friendless, the Aged, the Crippled and the Outcasts. pa Rae a RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES tener Those Who Were and Those Who Were Not Feasted. ———— OF TOWN. —— In Brooklyn, Westchester, Staten Island and Long Island. OUT Thanksgiving Day was observed yesterday throughout the city as a holiday, Im fact, the observance of the festivity was more general among all classes than ever before. The public offices were closed, the dread neighborhood of the “vulis” and ‘“oears’’ was as peaceful as a May day morning, and al) business down town was sus- pended. Even the shipping in the harbor, with the wharves and docks sborn of their busy throngs of ‘longshoremen and noisy crowds of working sailors, and with not a creak ff a wind- lass breaking the silence of South or West streets along their whole length, seemed to wear a lazy, don’t care holiday look. For a wonder the re- tailers uptown on the avenues had their shutters Up, and were themselves the greater part of the day among the church-goers of Lhose who were merrymaking. “Old Prob’ had much to doinma ng the day 8 enjoyable as it was, and {fhe had been specially petitioned beforehand for THE RIGHT KIND OF WEATHER he could not have done better, ior the weather tat prevailed was truly deligntiui, There are people who say Thanksgiving Day doesn’t seem hike Thanksgiving at all when they can’t fee) the crisp snow crackle under their feet as they go to cpurch and the music of the sleigh bells jingiing in their ears, but these over-particuiar folk are Mostly all “Down Easters’’ who “when to hum” on Thanksgiving Day couldn’t avoid having snow banks in the streets of their villages if they wanted to; but it is pretty certain, judging from ‘the way everybody in the city appeared to enjoy himself and herself yesterday, that the clear sky, the bright sun, the bracing air and the summery atmosphere and have its being went to make up the tull measure of the desires of tne most exacting fine- weather wishers. Although by the Wednesday eastward boun? trains fully 50,000 persons must Dave left the city %o help BAT THE FAMILY TURKEY with the old folk they were not generai crowds which after dinner sauntered ta the Parks and on the avenues, for all the town seemed out of doors, and for every New Englander who went home tnere were ten persons irom the country who came to see the sights and enjoy them | 1016 netween 160 and 170 old ladies, the ma- | the repast, selves generally. Indeed, jodging from the number of country people dressed in their best who were met with at every turn in the Central Park with ample baskets on their arms, many of tbe strangers brought their turkey and cranberry sauce along with them, probably with the view ol avoiding the expense ofa city dinner, in order | to have all the more small change to spend at the theatres and shows, All the charches, generally, which were open for service were well at tended in vhe forenoon. There were sermons at most of them, but, as Thanksgiving sermons are | rather a worn-out articie, it Is more than likely that those who went tochurch for form’s sake, as the majority did, and got no sermonizing, were | pot very much saddened by the circumstance, It is almost needless to speak of THE FAMILY DINNERS that followed the church going, tor every family | that was abie to have aturkey had one with the usual accompaniments; but where the real enjoy- ment of the turkey dinners made the most im- Pression was among the poor in the public and private institutions, who, but ior the great charitable hearts who are #0 Dumerous if this city, would haye had no extraordinary Thapkgiv- fing dinner at all. The little orphans and half orphans, the fallen women wuo have been rescued from a life of sname and gathered tu the “retuges;” the aged women in the private asylums, without kith or kin; the hewsboys, the inmates of the prisons and hospitals, the poor triendiess girls and Dboys that are so kindly cared for at the various “homes,” the crippled and the maimed, old and oung, (o many Of whom existence has been and is destined to be, 80 jong as it lasts, @ grim, work- ing — all were givena chance to enjoy 4 goud, lentiful dinner, made all the more palatable by ing served out by sweet-iaced women, whose main aim in life seems to be to do good to others, At all the institutions, public as well as private, during the dinners and the after enjoyments, many of thpse who had jiberally contributed to the purchasing of the good things to eat and drink cropped in to see how the good, big and little folk were getting along, and Certainly none of them who saw the rows of happy, ruddy faces thatiined the long tables and heard the cheering voices of the little boys and giris, who never knew what it was to have ahome and 4 mother’s gentile care, could have gone away without jeeling that in being the cause Of happiness to others we but in crease our own senfoid. THE MISCELLANEOUS. ‘There were, of course, during the day the nsnal arades by target companies and fantastical ands. The lat delight not only of the street Ar bat of the listie ones generally, and so whenever the gro- tesquely-dressed paraders, with painted ana NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1874. as Many girls, were exquisitely neat and origh' They are divided of into what are termed cot- tages, or sections, and each cottage has its par- ticular rooms, thus making as mavy families as | there are cottages, A very comfortable dinner | Wes furnished, chicken fricassee, however, taking | the place of the stereotype turkey. But the ab- | sence of the latter biped did not seem to be felt by very good. During the afternoon some music was discoursed and made & pleasant divertisewent, Water Street Mission. At the above place, No, 278 Water street (for- merly “Kit Burns’ rat pit’), there wasa dinner given to the inmates—consisting at present of thirteen women—at one o'clock, The traditional in which everything seemed to move | missed in the | masked faces, put in an appearance with their | band, consisting of a squeaking fife and @ tin pan for a drum, they were preceded and jollowed from | block to block by entre brigades of ragged young- sters, yelling and screaming, while the more fer- tunate toddiers in the grand houses along the line of march peered out of the windows in groups, With faces ali aglow with excitement. In tne evening the theatres were crowded. The day, in point of fact, was everyWhere a thorough holl- day, than which @ more enjoyable one as not oc- curred in years, AT THE INSTITUTIONS. Home for the Aged. In Sixty-eight) street, be.ween Fourth and Lex- ington avenues, is the Baptist Home tor the Aged. 301s & plain brick commodtons structure, and at Present accommodates sixty old people of both sexes. No more admirable imstitution exists in this city, and yesterday it was a positive pleasure % Bee its venerabie Inmates sit round the pien- teous tables at dinner time, waited upon by some of the most promivent ladies tn the city, and en. joy their Thanksgiving dinner. ‘Tne old people looked happier than usual, though to some of them, perhaps, tne ’ ovcasiun recalled memories of sunny days in the far past or frieuds jong since departed. The din. ner conmaved of turkey, toast veef and mutton, vegetables ana trimmings, winding up with a dessert 01 ice cream and iruit, Mrs. Murpuy, one of the directresses of the institution, ana’ Mr Palmetier, Superintendent, were indeiativapie in their efforts to make the occasion ae pieasant ana agreeable as possibie. Mrs. D. U. Hayes, President, of the society, also assisted with chara benevolence in making the old people Many other ladies were similarly kind and tabie. The Sheltering Arms. At this institution, corner of Tenth avenue and Javt& street, everything was in the free andersy order, Aji the pildren, abgyh ASYGAIA Pvie Aud | eve * she chudren, judging trom their keen appetites. House of the Good Shepherd. Thanksgiving Day was not signalized by any | | Eighty-ninth street, East River. Contrary to 6x- | Pectation, friends of the inmates failed to send contributions of turkey, chicken and other charac- } teristic edibies of the day that lend such charm to | this time-honored occasion. It was hopeiutiy Suggested that the deficiency would be amply | Made up at the Christmas holida! There are at pre-eurt im the msutution 250 “penitents,’? 150 “class of detention” and 84 “Magdalens.”” Unton Home and School, The day was passed very pleasantly at the Union Home and Senool for Soidiers’ and Sailors’ Or- phans, corner of the Grand Boulevard and 151st | street, There were no formal exercises in the | chapel bus m their place free and easy romping and unrestrained enjoyment, The institution con- | tains at present 185 children, of whom sixty-five | are girls. {€ was a pleasant sight to see their | heartfelt satisfaction in sitting down to the dis- | cussion of their turkey, pie, fruit, &c They have | accomplished @ great many things at this maritu- | thon since last Thanksgiving. A shoe shop, which has been built, 18 now carried on by some of the boys, under the direction of one of their number, and furnishes all the shoes of the establishment, | The bread baking is also doue by the boys. There | 18 a Clags Of Doys studying telegraphy under an | emecient instructor, and also a class of boys and | girls learning phonography. The brass band | cleared during tue year over $1,000, | The House of Mercy. It must bave been @ pleasing sight yesterday to | Miss Kimball and her lady associates, who have | devoted so much of their time to this noble insti- | tution, to see the way the poor giris under their | charge enjoyed thetr Thanksgiving dinner. There | is, perhaps, no charity in this city that deserves more encouragement and support than that which | undertakes the reformation of the fallen, as 1t 18 & | labor that requires so much patient perseverance, | having so many nearly hopeless cases to cure. | Yesterday morning Dr. Seymour, the chapiain, ar- | rived early, and at eight A. M. the girls assembled in the beautiful chape! and opened the day with a choral service. Ateleven A. M. a second service was held, and at one P. M, they all sat down to a most bountiful repast and indulged in annnal tur- key, There are at present about eighty inmates of the House of Mercy, at the loot of West Elgnty- sixth street, allot whom are under twenty-five years of age, The institution is supported by pri- vate subscriptions, bequests, &c., &c., and is in a prosperous condition. The Home of the Friendless. | The lady managers of the Home of the Friend- less, on Thirtieth street, between Madison and Fourth avenues, had a busy time yesterday mints- tering to the wants of their little ones, Ths in- stitution has been im existence for over forty years, and for the last twenty-six has occupied the present premises, They have now a family of from 130 to 140 children that they take care of; but yesterday being an extraordinary occasion, they fed over 400, After dinner the children went | through a series of exercises, including singing, calisthenics, &c., and some of the visitors made a few appropriate remarks. This benevolent work ‘is supported by private contributions, bequests, and occasionally receives an appropriation trom the State, Besides the main building on Thirtieth street, the lady managers have eleven district schools, situated in tne | destitute districts, directly under their control The children belonging to those schools will eat their Thanksgiving dinner on some other day when the iady managers can find time to lJook after their wants. Tne children ~] Jooked bright and happy yesterday, and a large | party of lady and gentiemen visitors were moving around in thejr midst, doing all in their power to keep the little ones amused. Tne lady managers expect to have @ very severe strain on their | treasury this winter, a8 already the demands from destitute lamtiies, really worthy of help, are | more than they can attend to. They say tue rich will bave ample opportunity this season of apply- ing a little of their surpius wealth to good account, as there is need of all they subscribe or con- tribute. The Rose Memorial Chapel School, an | Institution under the same management and situated on Forty-first street, near Ninth avenue, bas mane arrangements to dine 500 children , next Saturday, at noon, | St. Joseph's Home. | Of the many charitable institutions in this city there i8 perhaps none that afford such material benefit as that given by the Sisters of Charity in charge of St. Joseph’s Home, at No. 209 West Fifteenth street. There are at present in the jority of whom are friendiess and penniless. The mastitution 18 supported nearly entirely by sub- scriptions and dovations of provisions, and as there is the interest on a debt of $50,000 to be | paid apy ald will be gratefully acknowledged. More than half of the inmates do not contribute | toward their maintenance aod many pay only a nominal sum. The home is, in truth, an orphan- age {or those who have fallen into their second | chilahood and where they are cared jor with a daughter’s love. Yesterday was One of their an- nua! holidays, and the Sisters gave them an excel- lent Thanksgiving dinner, which was provided en- urely irom their own resources. In the alternoon and evening the old jadies were visited by their | iriends and passed quite a pleasant time. The Ladies’ Aid Society. The Ladies’ Aid Society of the Methodist Episco- pai Church gave their old people the usual Thanks- giving dinner in their home on Forty-second street, near Eighth avenue. This benevolent in- stitution bas now eighty-six old Jady and six ojd gentieman inmates, and expects three more be- | tore the end of the week. Tneir utmost capacity, straining every point to make roow, will allow | them to take in about 100, nov over, and therefore the lady managers are anxious, if possible, to extend the work that they have so faithfully carried on. The society will very shortiy have been in existence twenty-five years, they gradually extended their operations from the time they starved with acapital of $42 tll two-day, When they own thetr home and lot and take care of a hunared, they are still anxious to move forward, and think it would be a good time Jor their Iriends and the churches to come iorward and by their timely assistance enable them to increase their operations. Aithough this society relieves the aged and infirm there is no limit to the age of the candidates lor admission, as the young are taken in when too infirm to work. ing, and the old peopie appeared thoroughly to enjoy tue good things that Were put before them. The society feel grateful to their many triends, as at ir last donation party they collected $300 in id received 4 large quantity of groceries and goods, presents of a very acceptable nature. Y yesterday Many friends of the oid | | { | After dint struction ‘irom which the mere want of these people called to see them, and they passed quite | articles had otherwise debarred them. The @ pleasant ume talking over old scenes and recol- | Secretary, the Rev. mr. Robertson, said many of lections. The Midnight Mission. | At this Institution, in Winthrop place, a kinaly | greeting was extended to the wretched unfortun- | P ates who cared to take advantage of the helping are always the Thanksgiving | hand put oat for them ana enjoy nome comforts | | tor at least one day In the year. Hill, busied herself actively all day in attend- ing to the wants 0! those who were in the Mission | House. There were twenty-three present yester- | day, and \hese were served at one o'clock with a | substantial repast, in which the finer luxuries of | The matron, Mrs, unusual exercises at this institution, at the foot of | and as | The scene at the dinner was very interest- | Thanksgiving turkey aud accompaniments were served, but only a few persons unconnected with the mission Were present. In the evening, at five | o'clock, the Superintendent, Rev, W. H. Boole, dined there aud services were conducted, * Ladies’ Home Mission. This admirable society occupies the building on the site of the famous “Old Brewery” at the Five Points, and where once red-handed murder stalked now dove-eved mercy dwells, The Tnanksgiving dinner yesterday, and the exercises preceding and succeeding it, will iong be remembered by the par- ticipants, patrons and visitors, The usual turkey, mince pies and toothsome things were provided for the walls, and it 1s estimated that first and jast during the day over twelve hundred persous partook of the mission hospitality. The pro- gramme of the exercises 1s too lengthy to copy | here. It consisted Of singing, prayer, speeches, caltsthenic exercises, &c., the performance of the infant class being seporaey excellent under the leadership: of Miss Susie McEvoy, @ young lady teacher Who was broueht up in the matitution, At three o-clock the senior Class dined, and alter | them che outside public, This morning, at nine o’clock, the remains of the Thanksgiving feast will be distributed to the poor, thus rounding and completing the merciful charity, Five Points House of Industry. ‘The day at this benevolent home was a continu- ous flow of the nectared sweets of charity. Early in the morning the walfs of the locality gathered about the building in Worth street, anda long be- fore the hour appointed sor the exercises they crowded the aisies and rooms in which were groupea the blessed almoners of the institution. A little before twelve o'clock the teacher o! the juvenile class marshalied the little ones, number- ing about 500, to the chapel, where a most uterest- ing programme was carried out, The bright, happy | taces of the enildren bore pleasant testimony to the sweet charity which was hamanizing and elevating them, while the singing and speeches were equally creditable to the patient and gentie- voiced teachers, About one o'clock the repast was partaken of on the top floor of the butlding, and the little ones soon piayed havoc with the turkeys, mince pies and accompanying datnties, amid gén- | eral jubilation. A group of happy benevoients | looked on the sceue of festivity, and tf the incense | from the cheered hearts of the children did not reach their own It Was not because the bubbling | laughter ane childish glee were wanting. Inieed, | there was @ rhythm of music in the air, a wave of | infantile gladness only to be meagured by beart- | beats—thanksgiving everywhere! The Howard Mission. ‘This splendid charity and “Home of the Little | Wanderers” gave their annual Thanksgiving dinner yesterday to the poor children and others claiming their benevolence. Nothing could be | more interesting than the preliminary musical | exercises under the direction of Miss Lewis, as- sisted by several lady volunteers, About 400 ciil- dren of the primary classes engaged in tne exer | cises, between the hours of eleven and twelve, alter which they marched im @ gerio-comical but | orderly manner to the tables, which were supplied | bonotifutly with turkey and ple, pickles, bread and the usual dainties provided by the benevolence | of the friends of this institution, to which | they did jull justice. From twelve to one o’clock the junior class partook of dinner, and irom four to haif-past five the semior Bible | class, numbering eighty-five young women, and | ranging in age from eighteen to twenty-live years, enjoyed the hospitality of the Mission. In the evening the parents ol the children and the | senior Bibie class of young men, under the care of | that untiring and zealous missionary, Miss 8. Oliffe, were entertained. Altogether it was a day to make giad the hearts of Christians, and it was pleasant to learn that in the miast o! this great city such a splendid charity is doing its noble human | work. Mr. A. S, Hatch, the banker; Messrs. Wil- liam Pheips, 4. E, Tompkins, J. F. Wyckoi? and | others are active workers in the benevolent | Cause, and no one can see this beehive of charity without wishing to share some of the honey OF seli-content which sucn sweet labor must provide’ The Newsboys’ Home. ; The newsboys’ new and splendid building, at the corner of New Chambers and Duane streets, | whicb has already been fully described in these | columns, resounded yesterday with the boisterous laughter and riotous caperings for which our | pewsboys are 80 famons. Children always enjoy themselves if they have something good to eat, and more especiaily u they can tall to without having first to listen to two or three lone winded sermons, which they probably do not ever under- atand, The Superintendent of the Newsboys! Home had gatnered yesterday his numerous flock | of little Arabs round him and gave them as much good turkey and vegetables and ple as they could | eat, which is saying a good deal,for newsboys | have et eS or eh and they did full justice to | fany of them had taken some of their | savings out of their box—for the Superintendent sees £0 it that every one who can lays by a litte | Money—to vurchase new clothing, and appeared { yesterday neat and comfortably clad, looking very | Unlike the shoeless, ragged urchins they had heea | Only the day bejore. It was @ gratilying sight to | see so many poor and homeless walls spend a di | or rest and enjoyment. a The Girls’ Lodging House. Tbe Girls’ Lodging House, at No. 27 St. Mark’s | place, under the charge of Mra. Hurley, was the | | scene of much merriment yesterday, It is a haven of refuge for fricndiess girls, whence they gen- erally emerge to take good situations in service or otherwise. On Wednesday night forty. girls | slept at the nouse, bat as six of these were in- \ vited by triends or patrons to spend the day with them there remained only thirty-four to enjoy the festive dinner set before them by Mrs. Hurley. | The tabie was decorated with most unique flow- | ers, mainly turnips, carrots, beets, &c., cut into flower shapes by the girls’ canning bands. So ad- | mirabiy was this artistic task accomplished that | many practised eyes were actually deceived and | thought the vegetables before them were reaily | flowers. In the evening there was tea, 1ollowed | py @ joyous reunion, at which games of forfetts, | bhindman's buf, turning the plates, &c., were piayed with much zest. The occasion was ren- dered especially interesting by the visits of sev- eral girls now in good situations but formerly inmates of the house, wno came to spend the day | with their old companions in misfortune. ant Javenile Guardian Society. At the Juvenile Guardian Society, No. 101 East | Eighth street, some 275 boys and giris between the ages of five and fifteen enjoyed their Thanks- | giving turkey. The children were not only well | provided for as far as their material wants were concerned, but their spiritnal needs were also not negiected, no less than three reverend gen tiemen | delivering addresses which were replete with the highest teachings of moraiity and religion. The | children attending the Industrial School of tne | society belong, for the greater part, to the poorer | Classes, and receive reiiei in the shape o/ clothing, | shoes, &c., which enables them to obtain the in- the children were those of Protestant parents who objected to the Catholic teachers in the public schools of the ward and would rather let them go to the society’s school’ managed bv Protestant eopie. Many of the neglected children who ate | their tarkey here yesterday looked as thongn the: had stood badly in need of it for some time, an all enjoyed their dinner hugely. St. Barnabas’ Home. St. Barnaba’s Home, in Mulberry street, above the Police Headquarters, was, as is usual on this day, in a perfect state of siege. This institution | barrels of a the tale were not abseat. Two hotels—the Pitth Avenue and the St. Nicholas—had contrivuted the most costly portion of the feast, such as the tur- keys, and the remainder was the con- tribution of the house itseif, That tne meal was thoroughly enjoyed there is almost no necessity of saying, and, despite misery, shame and all the other ills these women are popularly supposed to suffer, their appetites had not failed them in the slightest degree. The alter- noon was passed quietiy, and the evening was de- voted to a ttle musical entertainment provided by the matron, and which made a@ fitting and charming end to @ quiet and enjoyable day. * St. Vincent’s Home. At the St. Vincent’s Home for Boys in Warren street there Was bustle and stir all day long, and the expectancy of a feast brought together an un- usual crowd of lean, anxious, hungry faces which were a Study in themselves to see. To the street Arab Thanksgiving is the day of days, and is waited for impatiently during the whole year. Turkey is @ luxary almost @t any tune (in winter), but turkey once @ year becomes /iterally such a rata avis that its succu- le is added W @ hundred-fold and is more precious than the wealtn of India’s coral strand. A pleasant littie service was bela belore the din- ner and Father Drumgoole made an address as to general gooduess and the way in which boys should go, whick must have been a sort of purga- tory to the poys themselves, Whose empty stomachs criéd more loudly for refreshments than their minds. It was a treat in itself to see them all turn their heads as anybody would ascend the Staus in the hope of the long expected din oe announced, At length it was, and then the rush was something resembling in irresistible impetnosity tue force of a human Niagara, It must be confessed that the dinner was good. \urkey and plam pudding bemg its main elements, y voy had his fill—tnere was plenty for (he 400 WOg Sab dona “yo tebia, aad it was all r to | is a place of refuge for homeless girls of respecta- | bility, besides affording to poor children the ad- vantages of a sewing school, free reading room and even of a nursery, where mothers out at work can leave thelr little ones. There was an enor- | mous crowd of little boys and girls at the door, | each waiting for his or her turn to go in to dinner, Tbe number which could be fed at one time was extremely small, 80 that it took from one will five to satisfy the hunger of ail the poor children. The matron, however, with ber good tact, provided jor the Wants of all, and every une weut away sat- isfled. The menu was pot extensive, consisting of turkey, Vegetables and ples; but few gourmands at Deimonico’s enjoyed their Thanksgiving’ feast aa much as did vhese children the bounty of the Sisterhvod of the Good Shepherd. About 700 chile dren partook of dinner, which is the number usu- ally fed on Thanksgiving Day at thie institution. In the evening there Was no special celovration of the day. AT THE ORPHAN ASYLUMS, The Colored Orphan Asylum. ‘Tne Colored Orphan Asylum is situated on the Boulevarf at 143d street. It 18 a large and handsomely bait brick building, contaming | all modern improvements, It supports 180 boys and 100 girls—all colored orphans, A HERALD reporter calied on the superintendent, Mr. 0. K. Hutchinsou, yesterday, between one, and two o’clock, and was shown by that gentle man almost every portion of the building, The | youngsters had just left the large, clean refectory | after gobbling up as many as thirty-five turkeys, | and two smart littie fellows were arranging the bies and spreading the cloths for supper. Besides turkey, the orphans were suppiled with ham, pie vegetables, inciuding Sweet potators, In the mornina alter bragk- i = fast Mr. Hutchinson collected them all into the school hall—a very neat room, well decorated with all necessary apparatus—and there read to them the President's prociamation which had the ood effect of furnishing them with # splendid oliday. Alter this the children sang # Thanks giving hymn, followed 4 several other anthems, and then proceeded to the playgrouud to sharpen thetr appetites by leaping and running and tossing and jumping about, very many wearing ready- made masks, ausuitable clothing, awry and laugh- able, and many other kinds of the Thanksgiving insignia, On the whole the colored boys on the summit of Manhattanville Hill had a first rate tame of It yesterday, and rollicked the hours away to advantage. Protestant Half-Urphan Asyiam, The Protestant Hal!-Orphan Asylum in West Tenth street, an institution which has been estab- lished since 1835, treated its little inmates yester- day with due consideration and attention. Brea fast was served out at the usual hour to 220 hope- ful-looking boys and girls. The usual Dill of fare was greatly altered tor the better at dinner, when over twenty large turkeys Were dissected in the dining room and gobbled up with much avidity, The matron of tie asylum, Mrs, K. P. Hudson, with the two directreases, Mrs. George D. Phelps and Mrs. William G. Bull, were in atvendance, superintending the good work and encouraging the children to a hearty meal of turkey, chicken, bee! pies, oranges, apples and peanuts. Every- thing passed off beautifully for the little ones, They talked and masticated simultaneously ab oro admalum, and then took to romping and tossing about in the play yard until the supper bell rang, when their recuperated appetites were again sa isfactorily appeased. Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum. Atthe Koman Catholic Orphan Asylum of St, Patrick’s Cathedral, in Prince street, which 18 under the generous and vigilant care of the Sisters of Charity, 183 very neat, clean and healthy look- ing children were excellently provided for yester- Gay. Breakfast was servéd out at seven o'clock, under the direction of the Superioress, Sister Marty Francis. A good supply of meat and soups was given the children at this meal. This, of course, 18 not usual nor necessary on ordinary days, but yesterday was agrand exception. At dinner three or jour kinds of meat were disposed of, including the inevitable Surke ys, which were on the whole justiy dealt with. The process of recuperation commenced at twelve o'clock, and continued until one o’clock in the aiternoon, when oranges, nuts, apples, candies and so forth be- came the order Of the remaining portion of the day. The children of thie asylum were positively neat and healthy, and yet the good sisters had to coniess, in answer to the reporter, that the rich folks of the city forgot to make a single present to the institution. Fifteenth Street Orphan Asylums. In connection with St. Patrick’s Orphan Asylum, and under the same direction and supervision, arethe two Roman Catholic orpnan asylums in Filteenth street, on Fifth and Madison avenues, and next blocks to the new cathedra!. In these two institutions 1,000 orphans were served with turkey, beef, yesteruay. ‘he boys’ institution is under tne direction of Sister Aune Boroweo, and the girls’ institution under the care of Sister Cloulda, It is a very bard task to contro) 1,000 children and do justice to all, but these Sisters look upon it only as something easy and delightiul, The girls’ asylum i8 an enormous new orick building. In each institution there are two refectories and all other necessaries, affording all modern advantages, Ajter dinner hour yesterday playing and romping around with unrestrained merri- ment was the order of the evening. At seven o'ciock P. M. the advanced girls gave an enter- tainment, at which many visitors and donors Were present. The good children thus arrayed in costume sung Thanksgiving hymns, and showed their contentment in their merry !reaks of on- bounded pleasure. Catholic Foundling Asylum. This worthy asylum, presided over by Sister Irene, yesterday provided a Thanksgiving dinner of chicken and vegetable accompaniments for 350 | little fourrdlings and ninety mothers, and “tt really did one’s heart good,” in tne words of the kind Sister, “to see the little things at the table.” Alter the dinner was over an assortment of candy, provided .by some charitable ladies, was dis- tributed among them, and the poor little creatures stuck their hands. faces and hair up with the sweets to their heart's content, AT THE HOSPITALS. Bellevue Hospital. Warden Brennan, always thoughtful for the un- Jortunates under bis care at Bellevue Hospital, provided them with a most luxurious dinner. Turkey was the only thing that dia not garnish the Thanksgiving table, that being a regulation dish for Christmas alone. Mr. Morris, the store- keeper Oo! the hospital, employed twenty-five wo- men nearly the whole night of Wednesday to peel | and boil,1,000 pounds of pumpkins and innumerable pples and make them into pies for the feeding of the 750 people who looked to the Com- missioners of Charities and Qurrection for a good dinner on Thursday. Nor were those who were unable to sit at the table jorgotten, The pa- tients, through a committee, sent to the Warden | their thanks for bis kindness, Ninety-Ninth Street Hospital. At this hospital, also under the cnarge of the Commissioners of Charities and Correction, nearly 400 persons were fed, Tne dinner was of the fame kind as provided at the other places, and, to use the words of one ol the officers of the in- stitute, “Itdid one’s heart good to see the poor creavures eat,’ The Park Hospital. This institution, slso under the same care, was not forgotten, and the few in it who were able to enjoy the extras that were provided for them ald 80 with a relisi, and blessed the kina Providence who made charity the greatest virtue of three. Institute fer Crippled Children. At this institution, Madison avenue, @ most luxurious dinner was provided by the Superintendent, Mr. Averill, con- sisting of turkey, cuicken, a plentiful supply of vegetables, ice cream, pies, cake and fruit. Two hundred and fiity little cripples sat down yo the tabie, and, alter a blessing irom the Father of all good and periect gifts had been asked, the littie ones fell to with a will, In the evening a hymu of thanks was sung by them, and no one who heard it could doubt the gratitude that reigned in those littie hearts toward tie kind citizens of New York who never forget them. The Women’s Hospital. This institution, situated on the corner of Mad- ison avenue and Fifty-second street, is cared for by the ladies of New York, and most careful are they of their charges. Two hundred unfortunates sat down to a Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, con- isting of turkey and what acelebrated gour- mand once called “its trimmings.’’ early thirty other individuals had to be fed here aiso; but, as they do not masticate, the feeding was by & different process. The Chapin Home. The inmates of the Chapin Home for Aged and Infirm Women was looked alter by Mrs, Abner Mellen, of Fifth avenue, who sent a complete din- ner of the choicest viands to the inmates, lorty- three in number, and, according to the matr ons statement, they did iulljustace to the lady's worthy charity. Mount Sinal Hospital. Dr. Trenseh at this hospital provided a most ex- cellent dinner for his charges, eighty-six in num- ber, the dishes being in full accord with the senti- ment of the day. The German Hospital on Seventy-seventh street, near Fourth avenue, fed a large number yesterday, and the board was decorated with all the delicacies of the season, except that dish so dear to the German heart, “sauerkraut.” Little Sisters Hospital. In Seventieth street stands this hospital, pre- sided over by the Little Sisters, a bana of ladies good and kind almost as the angels. and who by thetr own efforts succeeded in providing a festal board yesterday Jor the 200 poor under tneir care. TARGET COMPANIES, The usual tarnout of target companies was a conspicuous feature of yesterday's celebration. The weather was propitious and the streets in ex- cellent condition for marching, so that the dis, tinguished soldiery of one day’s campaigning were particularly complimented by the clerk whose business it is to look after the movements of the atmosphere. ‘“Fantasticals,” representatives of all nationalities, and grotesque characters peram- bulated the main thoroughiares during the day, creating much laughter and followed by large crowds of ragged urcuins aud others, who shouted and clamored in tne wake of those disciples of Faistaf. The Oeitic gentleman Was exemplified in blue dress coat, corduroy knee breeches, “brogues’’ and the in- evitable “dudeen.” Of course an Irish peasant could not be complete without an attire of this character, Then comes the German burgher, weighing some 400 pounds, and representing King Gambrinus alter a le y carousal. Men were attired a8 women, rode on horseback, cos- tumed in the most lndicrons fashion. ‘The Fourth and Sixth wards were the headquar- ork, Sweet potatoes and vegetables | Forty-second street and | ters of assemblage for wbese companies. at ten o'clock they were ready to march, and caused uite & sensation On the line of thelr marca, de wo the target companies, many of them went to the smi arks and shot for prizes, The great harvest jor those one day diers”’ is in the few ks preceding election, ny Of the companies are organized in the interest of some local politician who fevers to serve the city In the Aldermanic chamber, or legis- late for the State in the Assembly. The compan, being called alter the candidate, he 1 waite upon by & “committay” of the “bhoys,” and if he does not “come down” handsowely political anni- hilation follows, but ifhe “puts up’? properly the company is sure Of a day’s sport and enjoyment. Yesierday, however, guite & bumber of those or- ganizations marched through the streets, com- posed of the business portion of our community, who thus assembie Jor mutual enjoyment and rivalry. AT THE PRISONS. The Day in the Tombs. ‘The prisoners in the Tombs yesterday nad indeed @ thanksgiving dinner. Some charitable inaivid- ual sent 820 pounds of turkey, 114 pounds of chicken, 150 pounds of corned pork, 1 busnel of onions and 150 mince ples for the dinner of the prisoners, upon which they regaled themselves in Troyai style, Many of the prisoners had friends | who brougut them turkeys and other delicacies, all of which were received and duly deltvered to the keeper, to whom they were presented, Ip ad- dition to the provender sent py the charitable person spoken of above several barrels of apples and puirs of turkeys were sent by different per- | sons interested in the prison and its occupants, ‘The day was indeea a pleasant one to the unior- tunates in the gloomy jail, The turkey, or most Of it, as usual, disappedred tn a short while, there being no stint. as to the amount each prisoner shouid have. In Ludlow Street Jail. ‘The unfortunates im this prison had nothing on the table to remind them of the day of thanksgiv- ing. Comptroller Green has not paid any of the bills of the prison since last January, and as the Warden is busy mandamusing the City Treasurer, he conid not provide the kind of a dinner which the prison generally supplea to its inmates on holidays. The dinner yesterday was the same as usual, nothing occurring to suzgest a holiday to the prisoner, At Essex Market Prison. As regards the provender the same story is to be toid of Essex Market Prison, Nothing foreign to the daily regimen was served to the prisoners there yesterday, and, in fact, many of them did | not know the day was One 01 thanksgiving, as | everything, including the soup and beei, had its | everyday look. ON THE ISLANDS. ——— Blackwell's Island. Cessation from work, giving the day the ap- | pearance of Sunday, was about the only marked | feature characterizing yesterday’s observance of | Thanksgiving Day at the various institutions on | | Blackwell’s Island, There was plenty of preach- | ing and good religious counsel, but no admix- wre of tnrkey a3 an agreeable set-vlf to | these didactic discourses, At the charity | | hospital there were appropriate religious ¢X- | | ercises in the chapel, Rev. Father Fetter con- | | ducting the services in the morning and Rev. Mr. Bourne in the afternoon, The dinner was the ordinary one, though of course with the usual va- riations to fulfl tue requirements of the respec- tive patients, There are at present 706 patients in the hospital, besides 96 in the charity hospital and 3 in the penal hospital, the whole being under the | charge of Dr. Kitchen, formerly of tne Utica State Lunatic Asylum. The mmares of the Penitentiary | found the day a pleasant one, inasmuch as it re- | | heved them of the tedium of their customary daily | toil, This tact probably compensated largely with | | most for the jack of any extra adaitions to the bill | of fare, There are now 934 prisoners in the insti- | tution, of whom 143 are women. The inmates of the Almshouse. numbering 1,081 | persons in both the male and female departments, haa the pleasure of listening, Jeast such as | | chose, totwo very excellent aiscourses, one by | Chapiain Bourne and one by Rev. Mr, Frenoh. | ‘This was the only variation from thé everyday | | monotony. They had their customary dinner, “only this and otnieg OL g.?. | At the Workhobté tue ininates were given a ) hotday, but no turkey or anything uuusual in the | gastronomical line, They were also spared the | ; Chapelexercises, The house is pretty well filled, | ' nuaibering 635 meg and 626 women on its list of | free workstt | In the Insane Asyium there were appropriate | religious exervises and the day made oy pleasant | #8 possible to tue unfortunate Inmates, Ward’s Island. : The Commissioners of Emigration—inasmach as the funds at their command are at present rather | low and as the most of Enropean emigrants have | never been in the habit of celebrating Tnanks- | giving Day, and, in fact, not knowing | any such institution in the Old Worlé—de- | termined to make very little of yesterday, but | | reserve holiday festivals until Christmas and New Year’s, Accordingly, at the various institutions | on this island under their charge there were no | special observances yesterday excepting inter- | mitting the usual week-day work, having religious exercises In the Chape! and an exhibition by the Beuool children. ‘The chapel services were con- Rev. Gustavus Smith. The Sabbath school exer- cises comprised songs aud recitations, and were very interesting. Inniates, some 300 less thaa a year ago, @ fact that Colonel Krehbiel, the superintendent, attributes to there being less emigration than tormerly and a better class of emigrants. Besides the admirable feature ol a Croton reservoir containing 1,100,000 gallons the cemetery. Formerly those dying in the insti- tution were buried in the Potters’ Field, on Hart's Island. Each grave ig numbered and registered, i that @ oody can be reclaimed by triends at any time. in the Insane Asylum, of which there are 161 in- mates, a mutton stew, instead of roast turkey, was served, There were brief religious exercises, con- ducted by Rev. Marinus Willett. An unusual num- | ber visited the institution, who were shown | through with great courtesy by Mr. Lush, the Su- | perintendent. | At the Inebriate Asylum and Solaiers’ Retreat | there was nothing out of the usual programme except a ball given in the evening by the female servauts, at which all the inmates were cordially imvited to be present, and which, it 18 to be pre- sumed, Was & most enjoyable affair. There are only 11 inebriates at present in the instita- tion and 210soldiers. The institution is in charge of Dr. William Hardy. Randalls Island. A neat little steamtug under charge of Captain carrying visitors to Randall’s Island, At the House of Refuge, numbering, both boys and girls, some 800 inmates, a sermon was preached by Rev. George H. Smith, the chaplain, after which a fine dinner was served in the large dining room. There ‘were also appropriate exercises at the Foundling Asylum, Idiot Asyium and other Iinsti- tutions on the island. IN THE CHURCHES. oo Trinity Church. There was nothing unusual to be observed in the celebration of the day at Trinity church, Of course the usual number of people—‘the youth in Iife’s green spring, and he who goes in the full strength of years, Matron and maid, and the sweet babe and the gray headed man”—gathered about the grand old structure early in the fore- noon and whiled away the hours in meditative contemplation of the crumbling slabs that mark the last resting place of those who, long since, passed beyond the festivities of Thanksgiving. At | half-past ten o'clock the bells inthe loity spire peeled forti their merry notes, attracting hun- dreds of pedestrians who were stroitiug up and down Broadway and holding them within the charmed circle of their sympuontous sound antil the last faint echoes of “Merrily Ring the Trinity Bella”? had died away npon the ambient atmos- phere of the lovely morning. The beats 2 as ct ‘on the chimes was an- nounced by . James KE. Ayliffe, the organist, and carried out: — 1. Ringing the changes on eight bells. i aie appy Beh . “Closer to Me, “There is # Beautttul World.” “thanksgiving Day.” Now Believe.” 7. “Merrily Ring the Trinity Bells.” No sooner had the pelis ceased their throbbing than the soul inspiring tones of the organ came forth, filling the loity arches of the edifice and stealing out to ravish the ears of the multitude in the surrounding cemetery and adjacent thorough- Jare. The church was quickly filled to repletion with for the most part devout men and women, who had come to give thanks for the mantfold merctes aud numerous biessings showered upon them by | ® benign Providence, The services were of tne customary form tpon snch occasions, being com- posed of music aptly selected and glort ren- dered; and when they were completed—when the Yenerabie minister in his robings of white bad read the last prayer, when the choir had sung the last anthem and the pulsations o! the organ were ne jonser heara vibrating from pillar to pillar and pm Len: ducted respectively by Father Prachensky and | In the bospital there are 880 | of water, & new feature has lately been added— | Grace was busily employed yesterday forenoon | Trom arch to arch, the muttituce slowly sile: Warongh the + + mamive sateway m: Built up in year: yr and returned each to his or her fireside to con template the anatomy of some unhappy torn tur- ey. — St. Thomaw Charch. The Thanksgiving services at this elegant and Spacious church, corner of Fifty-third street and Fifth avenue, yesterday morning, were exceed- ingly Well attenaed. Rev. Dr. Morgan occupied the palpit. He announced as his text Psalms clxv., @The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all bis works.’’ We feel God’s great benevolence, he began, in all Hw works. Jesas Christ was content to suffer death upon the cross that Me might be the instrument for saving sinners, This same spirit of universal benevo- lence is slown in the werks of the Holy Ghost Upon the universal benefl- cence of God do we base our offer- ing of thanks to-day. God’s mercies are over all His works, and everything receives His biessing. No one cab help pokngy edeine the: vouaties of God, and every one should espe- cially thankful for this day. Iam of the opinion that many of us do not suificiently spprecis the. biessings whica God has placed before us. One great blessing is our government, Despotism cannot live under our Skies, for no royal title will save it, and massacre cannot darken our free heavens. All intellectual development should be based upon religious truths. Every crumop ot bread and drop of water which falls to our portion Christ purchased for us, He basi come near to every one of rte this is the day to remember Him. He has lifted us all uy eprint es asobg upon each hp. Of whet avail it every star in heaven and eack blossom on earth bears witness to the living God if we do not know Him? We stand upon our mother earth ignorant. and filled with the knowledge that we muat die. Let us lift up our hearts, therefore, to the Son who has saved us by His grace. While all voices are rising in praise to God, and while our dwellings: are Milled with pratses, let us remember the fam- ishing and the helpless who sometimes feel their stay here little to be thankful for. Christ Church. The Thanksgtving services at this church yem terday were appropriate and impressive and at- tracted @ large and fashionable assemblage. Moreover, the choral arrangements were aditi- rably carried out and much enbanced the solem- nity of the occasion. The musical selections in- cluded the “Te Deum,” @ “Gloria” by Mozart and several joyous hymns, all of whicn were rene dered with excellent effect. The rector, Rev. Hugh Miller Thompson, delivered a lengthened& address suitable to the day, taking bis text from the eighth chapter ‘of Deuteronomy, seventh, eignth and ninth verses, The reverend gentleman explained the object for which the congregation. had aasembled, and drew a distinction between. holidays set apart by the State and those ordained py the Church, He thought that Thanksgtving Day had in recent years become lesa religious im ite general bearing, and was regarded more as & day of feasting and joyiul seiebration, Indeed, the proclamations sounded more and more like cant Words, and the day was altogether set aside for social and family observances, and not for re- ligious purposes at all. He clearly pointed out the necessity of devoting the occasion to an earnest thanksgiving to God for all the mighty oenefits He had conierred upon the nation; for, if we ovserve it at all, we should observe it in its religious as- pect. He traced the history of the country through many important stages, contending that whatever of fame and prosperity it had acquired, whatever success had marked its career, were due solely to God. He was the uni-~ versal King trom whom alone all blessings flowed. His omnipotent hand was seen in the rise and fail o! nations, and it were idle to suppose that the power Of man had ever worked the destinies of & country, The reverend gentleman, after an elaborate and exhaustive dissertation on this Subject, claimed that a government could not be governed except on the principles of religion. The statesman who forgets God was unfit to be trusted, not only with the interests of a great people, but with the smallest division of de. All past history was evidence of this fagt. He conciuded by calling attention to the individual responsibility attached to each person living an- der and deriving the benefits of'a free republic, The services were brougut to a conclusion about jail-past twelve o'clock. Reformed Church." The South Reformed Dutch church, corner of Filth avenue ana Twenty-first street, was well filled yesterday morning. The pastor, Rev. BE. P Rogers, preached on the “Glory of New York,” the text being taken from the twenth-first chapter of Acts, part of the thirty-ninth verse—“A citizen of no mean city.” The reverend gentleman said these words were spoken by Paul when attacked by @ mob in Jerusalem, and when he was about to be imprisoned by the Romans on a charge of being adisturber of the peace. When questioned as to whether he was not a certain ‘foreigner who on @ previous occasion had stirred up strife among the people, be answered:—‘ am a@ man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak to the people.” Although no man need be ashamed of his country or ancestry who has no reason to be ashamed oj bimeelf, yet it is a legitimate sub- ject of thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father that he has chosen to order the circumstances of our birth so advantageously, and I confess I have often thought of the language of St. Paulas ap- plicable to those of us whi, like myself, are na- tive citizens of the great metropolis, Every such | person can certainly say, “‘l am a citizen of no mean city,” tor whatever may be satd ot New York itcannot truly be said that it ts a mean city. There is a great deal said with more or less jus- | tice of the poverty and crime, the ignorance ana | corruption on the one band, and the luxury, ex- travagance and dissipation which Characterize the different classes of our city; and, doubtless, many good people tn the rura! districts think that it is @ place where lle and property are continually | unsafe; but there is anotuer side to this picture. There is a great deal about the history of this City; its wondrous growth; its commercial prog- Tess; its development in all the elements of greatness—material, social, artistic, educational and philanthropic—for which we may be pardone ably proud and tor whichits citizens should be profoundly grateful. Jefferson was not right when he said that large cities were ulcers on the bod: politic. There must of course be found there mucl of the dregs and forces potent for evil as well ag potent for good. But there is a great deal said | about the virtue of @ rural population which is not warranted by facts, ana there is a great deal that is good and great and glorious about great cities, although it may be Jashionable to call them hotbeds of vice and sinks | Of corruption. New York has been one of the best abused cities in the world, and as @ son of New York and the minister of the first church es- tablished on Manhattan Island, 1 fee) that 1 shall not violate but honor the proprieties of this an- nual Thanksgiving Day if 1 pay some grateful tribute to the goodness of God’s providence 1m the history of my native place, and try to show you that every one of ite native and ado \ wens may say, with the great Apostle, “Iam a citizen of no mean city.” Dr. Rogers then gave & most interesting torical sketch, showing the progress of the Empire Vity from the time when Oaptain Hudson steered his little ship, Halt Moon, into the Bay of Manhattan, 265 sr resent, and in conclusion sald:— There was no turkey on the bill of fare, bat Bue | Ago. up to the repast was of that quality and variety that | 88% 9 ittonaly commended Itself to the keen appetites K, then, at her wondertul history; consider of the Juvenile diners. It was ageneral holiday. | Ber matchless elements of power, estimate properiy her beauties and deformities, appreciate thoroughly ner duties and her dangers, and prove. ourseives worthy to be citizens of no mean city. iscard not the conservatism of the old while,you glory in the progress of the new, Never change the base which the fathers laid with faith and prayer while you carry the superstructure higher than they ever dreamed of. Weicome alb the races. of the earth to your generous fellowship, but see that they butid with us on the same old founda- tions of invelligence and Christianity,” St. Fr Xavior's. atthe Jesuits’ chureh in Sixteenth street, known as St. Francis Xavier's, high mass was celebrated. at half-past ten o’clock, Rev. Father Dealy acting celebrant, with Rev. Father Jelletter as deacon, and Rey. Father Desjardines as sub-deacon. Rev. Father Merrick delivered the sermon, which was listened to attentively by the large congregation. He sketched In eloquent language the sufferings of the Catholic Church from an early age, the perse- cations under the Roman Empire, the German Emperors of the sixteenth century, and down to the present time. He stigmatized the attacks on the Catholic Church as the outgrowth of heresy, infidelity.and bigoted teaching. The animosity of Gladstone and Bismarck he pare Ucularized a4 mistakes in an attempt to subordi- nate conscience to the law of tne State, He prophesied that the.attempts made by so-called Statesmen to upset the Uatnolic Church would ultimately result in their own overthrow, and wnat all attempts made against Uatholic doctrine, as exemplified in the teachings of Cnrist, had ever Inet with overthrow and disaster. imme dantem, Arianism and other attacks m the Catholics nad hitherto resulted in defeae The great Roman Empire for three hundred years had worked energetically against Christian teaching ag expounded by Jesus Christ, but ultimately the victory belonged to Rome and nothing could ee the laurel from where it properly be- long Father Merrick’s discourse occupied of hour in its delivery, fa ree Church of the Tri figuration. High mass, for the members of the Catholic Unton, Was celebrated at alf-past ten o'clock yesterday in the Church of tne Transfiguration, Mott street, of which Rev, Father McGean is pase tor. The altar was tastefully decorated with flowers and ap abundance of wax lienta, Rev