The Grand Masque Ball
Under the Auspices of the
Metropolitan Club 

 What then remains but well our power to use,
And keep good humor still, what'er we lose?

 When the Christian philosophy took the place once held by the heathen doctrines of ancient times; it retained many of the customs and practices that it found existing, contenting itself with turning them into new channels, and giving them, it may be, new significations, instead of trying to destroy them outright.

And thus it happens that in the general features of a Christmas celebration there are many points much older than Christianity, itself, and some, perhaps that fail to bear rigid inspection when jedged from a purely Christian standpoint.

After this much by way of preface, we may be permitted to add that the most brilliant Christmas celebration in the history of our town and one that would have done credit to a much older and larger community--was that of 1874, the prominent feature of which was the grand masquerade ball under the, auspices of the Metropolitan Club, an organization upon which "success has smiled" all through the season, while "exclusiveness, " that maid of uncertain pedigree" has extended but a feeble recognition, feeling, perhaps, that her services were not required in behalf of the real material, and that the "galvanized" article would present a closer affinity as well as a warmer welcome.

 By nine o'clock in the evening, Standly Hall presented an imposing array of gay masqueraders, while the number of "lookers-on in Venice" was sufficient to occupy the seats, and to keep the costumed dancers continually before the footlights." Among the characters personated were kings, queens, demons, imps, pages, monks, gipsies, clowns, counts, no-accounts, sailor boys, fat boys, lean boys, school boys, and a host of nationality characters too numerous to think of.

The Sentinel 12/20/1884
Wy

 There seems to be considerable excitement over the alleged discovery of the Lost Cabin Lode, as reported in the Sentinel last week.  We hope the reported “find” will prove immensely rich, but we are inclined to believe that the whole thing will amount to nothing.

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An unbranded yearling steer and several others that are branded has been staying pretty close to the front door of our office since cold weather has set in, and if the owner does not come and drive him away, we shall have a branding iron made and take the initial step toward becoming a cattle king.

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The Sun 12/23/1877
Wy

John Marr, who came to grief  yesterday will dine for twenty days in the Hotel de Carr.  He is also taxed $30.  And this is how it happened;  While wandering along sixteenth street near Joslin & Park’s, John espied  a fine buffalo robe in one of the government ambulances under the charge of Capt. Gilliss, and concluded to take it.  Like the aforesaid Shaw, he was nabbed in the act.  His holidays will be marred by such conduct.  Justice Fisher cooked his Turkey for him.

Las Vegas(N.M.) Gazette 12/27/1880

         Passengers on the up train from Santa Fe yesterday, brought the news that a shooting affair  had taken place in that city on Christmas evening.  The particulars of the affair appears to be about as follows:

       Several men it seems, had engaged in a drunken row of some kind, when one of them drew his pistol and fired a shot at the other two who were a few feet distant.  The ball missed its mark however, and took the effect in the forehead of a German who was in no way engaged in the affair.  Another man was wounded but weather seriously or not, could not be ascertained.

Rocky Mountain News 12/28/1861

Dastardly Outrage- On Christmas Eve, while the Sunday school children were enjoying their festival, and some hundreds of spectators present a rock was thrown through the window of the hall at Major J.S. Fillmore.  It missed its mark, but struck Mrs. Stock on the neck, inflicting  a severe bruise.  What could have prompted the attack upon Mr. F., we are at a loss to guess.