The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-25
THE DAN BEFORE CaR'STMAS.
Holiday shoppin2-Ludies Out in Force.


Next IN Importance to Christmas is the day before
Christmas, ana the interest belonging to tie cele
braon OF this joyful festival is scarcely greater than
ton. For many days preceding in thousands OF
households the thought Of Christmas Is uppermost,
and charming secrets are beng kept with great DIM
Guilty by matrons and maldens and the babies
OF different sizes who are all preparing some
thing for those they love best. Various pru-
dent people buy all their gifts In good season
and put them carefully away till the Christ
mas tree Is ready to receive them; but the
genuine Christmas enthusiasm IS not forthcoming
till the holiday is close upon u.s. ana 1T Is always
best to so Chrlstmasing as near Christmas Eve as
possible. f one is not In the jubilee spirit, and for
various reasons has come to the conclusion that
GALL IS VANITY"
he should go up Broadway and watch the crowds or
ladies' who ii from one to another Of the magni-
fcent stores, selecting Christmas gifts. Yesterday,
as the afternoon waned, thousands OF pretty women
Jauntily booted and da,ntly gloved, wrapped up to
their little noses in soft velvet and costly fur
tripped hither and thither, stopping to chat In
groups over lovely trife and then nurryng on to
find something more beautiful than anybody ha
yet In the book stores they thronged the
counters turning over the tinted and pictured pages
OF holiday volumes, choosing poem for the lover
Of poems, fairy story for fairy at home and
huge collection OF brightly coored plates for the
BABY's LITTLE FAT HANDS,
to tear into hundred pieces on Christmas morn
ing. They besieged the picture galleries, locking
with longing eyes at what they couldn't buy, and
selecting dainty piece Of water colorlng, delicate
engraving some wonderful bit OF carving, wishing
all the time that purses were full as hearts at
this happy Christmas tide.
SLIPPERS AT A DISCOUNT.
"Wnat shall get for Harry2; said O bewitching
blonde In blue. "Its difficult to choose gifts for
gentleman. think to tell the truth, that few
boxes OF cigars would suit him best, but that
wouldn't do, you know. What pity 1t is that the
provo king fellows don't wear their slippers out
iaster heard Harry say last night that he mad q
LAID AWAY IN LAVENDER
and you may be sure that IdIdn't own up to having
Just iin1sned most elaborate pair for him. | had,
though" Through the cold, clear air the dear crea-
lures hurried, cheeks growing rosy and eyes bright
in the excitement OF the search after things rich and
rare. How thelr eyes frightened the delicate
laces That exquisite set would exactly suit Fan.
she Is Wild on the subject OF laces. They nocked
ABOUT the toys tilthe dolls must have thought that
the rocking horses Were
PUT UPON THEIR METrrE
to 90 at their highest possible speed And The brown
paper parcels TO see them one would suppose that
the paper supply must be completely exhausted.
and that the clerks would be exhausted to the point
of fanting with tying up packages Every lady had
parcel excepting those whose servants were laden
with parcels or whose carriages were beng filed
with parcels.
.'lpromised Kate diamond this Christmas
said comely matron In stylish cachemire
jewels, taking pearls and rubies and emelaIds
In her white hands and then putting Them with
sign, back upon their soft beus 'and diamond 1t
must be;' but when one IL In these places
ONE ISN'T SATISFIED WITH ANYTHING
less than the best II she had thousand dollars to
spend It would be worth while to look at these bits
OF crystallzed light The gems sparkled and
shlmmered and gl0wed. The ladies' bought "Kate's
diamond" and went away to get o "dear little
ermne set' for somebody else And so, till the sun
went down and million gas jets flashed their light
through the brilliant streets. the good fairies trOoped
one dav IN t up anu ,ba hrpgs far lay or e
to us.