CHRISTMAS: How it Was Spent in this and the Adjacent Cities; Doings at the Churches and the Public Institutions (12/26/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 12/26/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Of the eighteen hundred and sixty-two Christmas celebrations of which we have record, the one of this year of our Lord 1862 was, so far as we have the means of knowing, the dampest, warmest, muggiest, and most burdened with mingled feelings of joy and grief.

As a Nation, we are not in a particularly jolly mood; as individuals, some are joyful, and others are, on the contrary, quite the reverse. The inhabitants of this and the adjacent cities gave every public indication yesterday, of health, happiness and prosperity.

The streets were filled in the earlier part of the day with generous fathers and loving mothers, whose arms or purses were full -- depending entirely as to whether they were going toward or away from home. The money expended this year in Christmas gifts exceeds by far, by very far, that which has gone that way in many years. A prominent jeweler on Broadway sold at retail, on the day before Christmas, $45,000 worth of gifts, ranging from ivory paper cutters to diamond necklaces; and on Christmas morning he sold as much more lacking only $800. In like proportion, other establishments, which sell expensive trinkets, costly toys, articles of ornament and fancy material for dress, disposed of an unusual quantity in bulk this year, at prices exceeding greatly those of other days.

Furs and horns seem to have come into universal use. Every hatter, every dry goods dealer, every other jeweler, all the tailors, nearly every merchant, of whatever class, has furs for sale, and the boys of Gotham without, we believe, an individual exception, had yesterday a tin horn, through which he blew all day long, from the damp, drizzly fog of the early morn to the rain-laden, clouded night, stopping only at dinner-time, as the cars do,

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4118809/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Christmas: How it was Spent in this and the Adjacent Cities – 2-4
News from San Francisco – 4
Gen. Sibley’s Pursuit of the Indians – 4
The Army of the Potomac: Gen. Hooker’s Command – 4-5
The War in the Southwest: Communications with Gen. Grant Cut Off – 5-6
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 6
Editorial: The Movement upon Fredericksburgh – 6-7
Editorial: Conservatism and Radicalism; - Patriotism the Master of Both – 7-8
Editorial: Danger in the Southwest – 8-9
Hindman Disciplining His Savages – 9
The Indian Executions Today – 9
Amusements – 9