CHRISTMAS IN PIONEER DAYS.
"... When I remember all the friends so linked together
... Fond memory brings the light of other days around me."
I have been requested to give my recollection of a Victoria Christmas
in the good old days, as to how it was spent and conditions
generally. In the first place, in speaking of "the good old days" of
the sixties, I would not convey the impression that they were
literally so good, for they were, so far as I can remember, some of
the hardest that Victoria has seen.
There is a something in recollections of the past that have been
pleasant that is indescribable. It is easier felt than described, and
I have no doubt is felt by many old-timers in this city to-day. Ask
them to describe these feelings and they would be nonplussed. "Mark
Twain" was written to by the pioneers of California inviting him to
come and speak of the early days of San Francisco, when he was
himself a pioneer of the Pacific. What his reply was I now forget,
but it was something to this effect: "Do you wish to see an old man
overcome and weep as he recalls those pioneer days?" These were a
few words of what he said in reply to that invitation. "The good
old days" may not have been the most prosperous, nor the happiest
that "Mark Twain" may have spent, but there was a something, a
charm indescribable that he felt, but could not express. I feel
this way myself.
It is Christmas and its surroundings in any age that help to make
these pleasing regrets. The incidents and the persons connected with
them are gone and can never be recalled. The friends we knew then,
whom we may have met at one of those Christmas gatherings, we see
them as they pass before our mental vision. Where are they all
to-day? The Quadra Street Cemetery might be able to tell, for each is
"in his narrow cell forever laid."
I have rambled far enough, and it is time I got to my story.
I would remark in passing that Christmas, to be genuine, should be
bright and frosty, with a flurry of snow, and this with walking
exercise makes the blood to flow freely, and makes one feel better
able to enjoy the festive occasion.
Well, we had just such weather in those days, and such weather is
sadly lacking in these. Our climate has changed very much since then.
Less snow and cold and more rain now. Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle! The
merry sleigh bell! After the advent of the first snow, and when deep
enough, there might be heard the sleigh-bell, either on a grocer's or
butcher's sleigh, or on an improvised sleigh made from a dry-goods
case with a pair of runners attached, to which would be fastened a
pair of shafts from a buggy or wagon not now usable. Everyone who
owned a horse had a sleigh at little cost, and good use was made of
it while the snow lasted. Long drives in the country or to church, or
to a Christmas party or dance. I can see such a merry sleigh party
of young people, the girls well wrapped up peeping over their furs,
laughing and dodging the snowballs thrown by a party of boys
around the corner, who are always waiting for the next one to
come along.
"Where is now the merry party I remember long ago,
Laughing round the Christmas fire, brightened by its ruddy glow;
Or in summer's balmy evenings, in the field upon the hay?
They have all dispersed and wandered, far away, far away!"
We nearly all went to church--the Anglicans, and many Nonconformists
with them--on Christmas morning, and the Catholics on Christmas Eve.
But first of all there was the preparation for the event. About a
week before wagon-loads of young fir trees were brought in from the
outskirts, and every storekeeper and many householders procured
enough to decorate the front of the house or shop, a tree being tied
to each verandah post. In those days no shop was complete without its
wooden awning, as may be seen in many of the old photos of that
period. Imagine Government Street, both sides, from end to end, one
continuous line of green, relieved with, it might be, white; just
enough snow to cover the ground, "bright and crisp and even."
I have often longed for such a Christmas in these degenerate times,
when rain is nearly always the order of the day. All the Christmas
shopping was done during Christmas week. The fancy goods stores of
those days were few--"Hibben & Carswell," "The London Bazaar," and
David Spencer. The former was then on Yates Street, corner of
Langley, and the other two in Government Street; and I must not
forget Thomas Gorrie on Fort Street. There was not the choice in toys
and fancy articles then. Children were satisfied with less, and were
just as happy. The beautiful and expensive dolls then were of
wax, and being susceptible to frost, were taken great care of. The
butchers' and grocers' shops were then as now a great attraction
at Christmas, and we had all to pay one visit at least to Johnny
Stafford's (afterwards Stafford & Goodacre), Thomas Harris' two
shops, and Fred. Reynolds', on the corner of Yates and Douglas,
and I doubt if a better show (for quality) is made to-day.
At Christmas there was the usual influx of miners from far-off
Cariboo down to spend the winter in Victoria, with pockets well-lined
with nuggets. It was "easy come, easy go" with them, and liberal were
the purchases they made for their relations and friends.
Christmas Eve, after dinner, mother or father or both with the
children were off to buy the last of the presents, visit the shops or
buy their Christmas dinner, for many left it till then. Turkey might
not have been within their reach, but geese, wild or tame, took their
place. Sucking pig was my favorite dish. Wild duck and grouse (fifty
cents per pair), with fine roasts of beef. Of course plum pudding was
in evidence with poor as well as rich, although eggs at Christmas
were one dollar per dozen.
A great feature of Christmas time was shooting for turkeys and geese
at several outlying places, and raffles for turkeys at several of the
principal saloons and hotels. The place I best remember was the Brown
Jug, kept by Tommy Golden.
A special feature of the saloons on Christmas Eve was "egg-nog," and
all we young fellows dropped in for a glass on our way to midnight
mass at the Catholic Church on Humboldt Street. It was one of
the attractions of Christmas Eve, and the church was filled to
overflowing, and later on there was standing room only. We went
to hear the singing, which was best obtainable, Mademoiselle La
Charme, Mrs. A. Fellows (daughter of Sir Rowland Hill), Charles
Lombard, Mr. Wolff, and Mr. Schmidt. These were assisted by the
sisters, many of whom had nice voices. Amongst the well-dressed city
people were many Cariboo miners--trousers tucked in their boots, said
trousers held in position with a belt, and maybe no coat or vest on.
When the time came for the collection, all hands dug down in their
pockets and a generous collection was the result. My old friend, Tom
Burnes, was one of the collectors on one occasion. There were not
sufficient collecting plates, and Mr. Burnes took his hat and went
amongst the crowd who were standing up in the rear of the church.
As he passed through a group of miners, friend Tom was heard to
say, "Now, boys, be liberal," and the response was all that could
be desired; for, as I said before, it was "easy come, easy go."
"Twelve-thirty," service is over, we are off to bed, for we must be
up betimes in the morning for service at 11 o'clock.
"When I remember all the friends so linked together," who met on
those Christmas mornings long ago, I think, how many are there left?
Those of the choir who led in the anthem, "And There Were Shepherds
Keeping Watch," and the hymns, "Christians, Awake," and "Hark, the
Herald Angels Sing." Of those who met at the church door afterwards
to shake hands all round, "A Merry Christmas," "The Compliments of
the Season," and many other good wishes--of all these a few are left,
amongst them Bishop Cridge, Senator and Mrs. Macdonald, Dr. Helmcken,
David W. Higgins, Judges Walkem and Drake, Mrs. Wootton, Charles
Hayward, Edward Dickinson, Mrs. Ella, Mr. and Mrs. George Richardson,
Mrs. Pemberton, and Mrs. Jesse, and maybe a few others I cannot
now remember. Well, all things must come to an end, and so must this
reminiscence of an "Early Christmas in Victoria," and in closing I
wish all those mentioned here a "Happy Christmas and many of them."
(Note.--Several of those mentioned are since dead.--E. F.)