Christmas Reception Given by Mr. Landis in 1863

Written by Mrs. Bridges, 1864

Among the festal annals of this Yankee land, probably there has been no denser crowd, or more general elbowing, since the great Ball given to the Prince of Wales—bating the astounding break-down, on that occasion, of the Academy floor pro. tem.—than the grand Reception given on Christmas night at the Magnolia House by C. K. Landis, Esq., to the residents of our wonderful Vineland.

At an early day a committee of six was selacted to make suitable arrangements for the Fete. The crinoline portion of that body found ample exercise in a hurried rotation between the mysteries of mince pies and plum puddings and the "pen of ready writers" among the long list of invitations, and the winding-bees— where evergreens grew into festoons, wreaths, stars and words appropriate to this holiday gathering.

The evening came, the hour also, and about nine hundred persons representing all phases of human life and advancement, convened to pay their respects to Mr. Landis, to study each other, to get acquainted with everybody, to ascertain who was the prettiest girl,—the smartest beau,—the greatest wit,—the best logician,—the most subtle metaphysician,—or the most interesting in conversation,—the most elegantly dressed,—the best dancer,—the most finished in literature,—the most funny in talk,—the cutest in "getting up" plays,—etc., etc. In short everyone came to entertain or to be entertained according to their individual notions. And the entertainment was not meagre—from the convivialities of the evening to the supper, at which nearly seven hundred sat down. A portion of the Vineland Band officiated on the occasion, besides which there was vocal music. A lady present contributed a glee arranged to the tune "Hurrah for Old New England" and sung by herself and husband. One of our most prominent and capable residents improvised and parodied several sonnets adroitly tacking them on to appropriate tunes and executing them much to the amusement of his many listeners. Among those contributing largely, and "without observation," to the general good cheer of the reception, I must not fail to notice the abundant and indispensable labors of one of the gentlemen on the Committee of Arrangements whose exertions to render the occasion all that could be desired were in season and out of season and added hugely to the pleasure and accommodations of the time.

While some of the guests were having a merry Christmas out of songs and mock oratory, and the usual amount of measuring lances in the ridiculous, the marvelous, the sublime and the pathetic, tilting compliments and bowling jests, while the ever youthful bachelor buzzed moth like about the dangerous light of eighteen, and the staid benedict settled his cravat and his dignity over some grave discussion with a quondam "school maam," another portion of the company "chased the hours with flying feet" and as the crowd swayed to and fro, there crept through, occasional scintillations of music and merrymaking below, the twang of the violin and interludes from other instruments.

O! Christmas is a merry time,
When snow is white and sleigh bells chime,
When skater's steel rings on the air,
With Christmas greetings everywhere;
But then, there can be little doubt
This Vineland, you have heard about,
Though lacking some in biting weather,
Can call a lively crowd together,—
As many fair and smiling faces,
As good a touch of fashions graces,
As much of life and thought and jest
As riper places have possessed.
Before next Christmas comes around,
Vineland must be "the banner town,"
And when we count another year
E'en cities will lie in the rear.
Then in a fine and roomy Hall,
There'll be another Christmas Ball,
While 'mid attention from the crowd,
An Antiquarian reads aloud
Of our first public Christmas cheer
The Grand Reception given here.

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