Daily Gleaner 1898 December 28 page 7

The Christmas Festival

HOW IT WAS KEPT UP IN KINGSTON.

The fact that this year, the 25th of Dec., fell upon a Sunday naturally had a somewhat restraining influence upon the usual exuberance of the Christmas celebrations. In Jamaica, despite the heat and the general un-Christmas like conditions, the festival is observed with not less pomp and circumstance than in England, although we have not got the snow and the holly, the skating and the mistletoe. On Christmas eve, the city of Kingston presented a scene of considerable animation. In many of the principal streets large crowds were to be seen dressed in their " best" and enjoying themselves very thoroughly according to their favourite methods. Most of the stores in King Street were opened until a late hour and were nearly in every case thronged with customers eager to purchase the wherewithal for the next day's Christmas dinner, or seasonable presents to give their friends and fill their children's stockings. During the evening the bands of masqueraders who had played their antics about in the streets all the week, were particularly active, giving huge delight to the youngsters and to some of the older folks as well. Although so many people were about the streets and the occasion was so thoroughly festive there was a notable absence of serious disorder. The police did their work well but had no particular trouble with the merry-makers. Here and there one might see a reveller who had been indulging not wisely but too well in the cup which both cheers and inebriates, but these were few and far between, and on the whole the Christmas was perhaps the most sober seen in Kingston for many years

THE MARKET.

As usual the Christmas market on Monday morning was a very interesting and important function. The weather was perfectly fine and therefore there was no hindrance to the presence of an extremely large crowd of sellers, buyers, and spectators. Although, of course, the element of business was dominant. It was by no means a case of all work and no play. Nearly everybody was in his or her Sunday best clothes and intent on having a jolly time while the market lasted. A jovial spirit and thorough good fellowship appeared to reign supreme on every hand. The quantity of beef disposed of was very considerable. Thirty-one head of cattle of fine quality were slaughtered. On every hand were to be seen industrious vendors of toys, sweet meats and other articles calculated to enhance the festivity of the occasion. The boatmen at the market wharf did a fairly good trade with the pleasure parties to whom the prospect of a row on the beautiful waters of the harbour appeared a pleasant relief to the incessant dim of the market itself. Most of the boatloads rowed around the German training ship Moltke, which is at present lying in the harbour. The scene, altogether, was one which a stranger cannot readily forget The brilliant colours of the women's dresses, the ceaseless clamour on every side, the obvious delight of the multitude, and the extraordinary variety of the 'fairings’ sold, struck one as thoroughly tropical.

Mr. Watson's band fully sustained its old reputation for pleasant and lively music. It gave a good selection of music and considerably delighted all present.

THE ELECTRIC CARS.

The electric cars have been running throughout the holidays from North Street to Constant Spring and have been very well patronised by the public. A good many people have been very glad to avail themselves of this opportunity, and taking a pleasure trip to Constant Spring which, as most of our readers are aware, is a very delightful excursion.

THE RAILWAY EXCURSIONS.

The railway excursion to Montego Bay took place on Sunday and was a very great success. As was announced, the train left the Kingston Railway Station at 7 o'clock on Sunday morning. It contained six coaches which were filled with

excursionists for Montego Bay. There were a large number of cyclists with their bicycles, which were conveyed free of charge. The Sunday trains on the Port Antonio line were also largely patronized. The tickets issued to persons who travelled to Montego Bay are available for the week.