New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-25
CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS.
THE LAST HOLIDAY PURCHASES.

.rppfaEs FOR TIKI CBRIsTMAs ghDLR-DILAroRY
umusxKEKpERs OUT AFgEa NGHrFAIL.
The coming of the day which, above all
49,, 4, fragrant with peace will toward men
hshsns all hearts, Even the heaviest soohed by
the holy precious influences of the time are con
so,ed by its memories and lighteped by the loving
kindness which seems 20 I'll the very air To children
i eisddest day OF all the year Christmas has stiR its
eeod hdings TO youth n middle age, and TO the old
yas hardhearted SOFTEN lift bowed heads
tnder the impulse Of the desire to bring relief
10 tho heavysden 10 comfort the grief stricken.
eod spme ray of life and light and hope wretohed
and unfortunate, and TO swell a. much may be the
As,ock OF happiness in the world. often ptfuly
Asm>,i.
Yesterday was a day bristng with preparation for
eGhs great holiday The clear aud bright, and
Sesmed through the braeiug srin the sharp vigor of
which was the very wine Of nfe-upon wintry scene,
lone we'll beitting Yuletde Al the unsghtlness Of the
city all lis dirt and discomfort which had lain bare and
euey for the weeks when month of snow should have
khidden ALL with white, and the early
hours noisy with the ding Of shovel and scraper
land the sweep of brooms But the day which opened so
srly for Christmas buyers degenerated sadly The sun
arOved too bright for the snow, aud the tread OF
thousands of ramplng feet aided by the melting air.
mixed with the mud of the street into the viles
footing very dscOuraging the multitude whose
Sholidsy plans drew them from their homes
They had y sunny sky, and atmosphere
oike Spring. however. and all day long and far into
he night thrOngs surged along the sidewalks and the
stors dubbed with activity. The crossings wero
escughs OF dospOnd and the walks miy plains but the
ondomitable host. Christmas deeds intent picked
their perious and rejoced their difficulties
were no greater The morning trains filed the stations
with numbers. and the very, look Of all be-
aokened mnds astray from the daily routine Of bread
winning OF they hurried, many q worthy father of
sfamly wearing half puzzled smile he over
mind TIE nultitudnous commissions with which he
t,oon cha ~x-,fao Ia
ptores. diverse in KIND and widely separated, were
ssly visited in order 10 return good for the
ssestivities OF Christmas Eve.
Early the day the walks lively with passers,
while every attractive shop window the nucleus
gathering crowd. The shops had put their brightest
Asspeot Many had their windows decked with greenery
snd before doors OF graceful little
The wealth OF color. the charm OF gtteTng sheen and
the grace of pretty forms made the iewelry stores
taVOrtes with the gazers while the dainty aoes the fine
textures the smooth surfaces and contrasted tins
the dry goods stores did not admirers. Wherever
handsome paintings and engravngs shown, there
TOO, was curious crowd, while elsewhere well-peased
eyes fingered the soft beauty of choice furs,
FghGencd while watching the antics of the merry little
figures m the toy shops In the markets there
eul skin shown in the tasteful disposal OF plump
eousry tempting game and fine edibes of every kind.
holly sat evergreen freely used for ornament. and
bhe lively green with the warm tint Of the red berries,
ycisved The groupings from dulness.
IA the day trade waXed warmer The lines
carriages doors OF the great retail houses
extended, and the counters within hned with
dainty clad purchas Pretty toilets not
Sired 10 che occupants of Despite the rire OF
street aud sidewalk the number OF ladies srrayed in all
heir bravery who TO be in the afternoon
Broadway from Stewards to Madison square,
veious Nor they usual only bent seeing and
beng Many bore little bundles on their homeward
way. aud mad their purchases dispatched Lady
buyers out IN such multitude that the stores were
gay with light laughter bright with fair faces and
graceful forms, and rustng with trailing draperies.
Etistmss buying was. however, by no means surren-
dcred fair Shoals OF shoppers there OF
Ilier aspect and less discriminating taste All had an
unusual courtesy, reader smile than common and
good .Ure which did not fail though service slow
rsnd time short. Even the weary, overworked |
cierks had \ Merry Christmas look.
Not only Broadway and in the splendid uptown |
eDrss DID holiday trade flourish The humber streets
aud less pretenous shops had even larger resort Of
customers, whose frugal purchases afforded them
seoer satisfaction than luxurious indulgence to richer
buyers albeit they turned wlsful looks on many a
ooged after their little had been spent
TO coarsely and and to little children
of "rsggedness loopholed and Widowed" the sights
ou tho shop windows proved an unfailng delight
Whom dusk set in and the many brilliant lights dis
played clearly tho array OF enchanting FORMS Or
arrsnged In notices of Christmas welcome,
,entrsly overcame the youthful Imagination, open
,eyss grew wider and longing and admiration
ssppsared every line OF intent faces Then
shoussnds OF working folk, whose labors had
Beft them no leisure before, began to appear
"a buyers and though the railways from the city and
ehe street carrying away countless NUMBER
,who bore packages, some Of them carrying
hristmss trees hands the throng in the streets
nd IN the paronized by the working class was
oratber Increased than diminished. The hustle and
crowd continued till hate In the evening Meanwhile,
40 households all the city there was abundant
fraaa iOnrIp Alb AID
up from the tall spre Of green, gterng with nghts
nd gay with costly gifts and decorations, In the house
hold OF wealth the little verdant branch bearing one
Tor two cheap presenss which made glad the children Of
the poor
Chrtstmas shopping always eliminates at Washington
send Fulton Markets. The requirements OF the Christ
,pss dinner be slowed days beforehand In
secret await the surprises OF the merry morn
ing ike toys and books and other more lasting gifts
daro must be an element freshness about Christmas
snests that would be utterly incompatible with the
lelsurey dgnied shopping that has been going on
sIl over the city last two weeks. Consequently
last evening" as on every Christmas Eve, Fulton and
Washington Markets a deluge OF marketers+ who
sssmed to have been aroused all OF sudden and for
khe arst time 70 the absolute necessity OF providing
bomething for dinner. They surged In and out with
baskets bigger themselves, crushing one another
against stalls and into Easements, screaming 10 be-
wldered butchers for the pnce OF that
furkey or the instant delivery OF yon
der chicken, with vehemenco ana zeal
70 vhch they could by possibility have been ncted
eroept by of the stomach. For the stomachs
alone these earnest crowds brayed the discomrors
weather the Of streetcar straps and the
hangers OF and ferry crossings with magnificent
courage until the hours were nearing Christmas Day
ytelf Brawny men, stout womeB and weak but deter
mined specimens OF both continually plung
ing headlong into the strife struggling with desperate