The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-15
THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL.
Glimpses of Metropolitan Shop Win
dows and Counters.
NEW CONCEPTS IN ORNAMENT AND USE
Fabrics and Toys, Sparkling Gems and
Articles of Utility.


borrow. New York has made royal preparation for
the happy season. II ever her streets looked gay
aud the faces OF children free from il ever
her stores were lavish Of display and her store
keepers could count upon Q harvest, that time Is
now. The Seventh regiment fair has broken out
into epidemic and all the island has been trans
formed into bazaar. To 60 up some OF tho avenues
where Christmas trade most thrives is like walking
the streets of brooklyn on the day OF its Sunday
school parade. Cars and coaches are crowded
beyond all chance Of comfort. sidewalks are
given up to boys and girls and bundles. and to
catch glimpse Of q show window one must fall in
line and wait his he would to pay his taxes
It Is quite evident that everybody means to give
something everybody else upon the 25th but that
is long way OF yet, and the longest purse must
have bottom to it. There Is no miscalculation
about the supply Of good things to give. What In
the world is going to DO done with them all nobody
but Santa Claus aud the knowing storekeepers can
tell. Santa Claus won't be interviewed. but 1t Is
strongly Suspected that he has contracted with Now
York pack that sleigh of his for the entire route
Besides may have other worlds than ours to pro-
vide for. or 1t may be . colony at the North Pole
whom no one but himself knows anything about
thus:far.
PALMY YEAR.
He is Jolly good fellow. that same Santa-Claus.
but he is past finding out in most respects.
Roughly guessing at his intentions for the present
season, he is IN excellent humor and must have
made pot Of money somewhere. Was it in wheat
in cotton or in Wall street? These are questions
which tho reporter put assiduously to holiday mer
chants, and they ought to know but they don't
They did say that they had put in larger holiday
stocks than before, and that they expected to
sell every bit of them. They did say that they
opened the holiday season . week before tho usual
time. and yet they did not open day too soon.
'But why?' was asked of . Grand street dealer.
"Oh. knew 1t was coming. I increased my
orders fifty per cent the same purchases last
year. Where got two boxes Of toys then have
three bought toys that would not sell at all
two past; they would have been thought too
EXPENSIVE; but now they are going of fast enough.
aud wish had more Of them. Never saw people
eager to buy in my hfe Look at em coming in
those doorsi Beats the days before the war. don't
itY'
The reporter did recollect much about the days
before the war; bat he watched the swinging DOORS
tho shaking counters. the confusion OF customers
and the cash boys diving here and there until his
head was In . whirl.
Lots OF money! he asked the dealer.
well. should say SO. Come here" and he led
the way to the cashiers desk where silver and bills
were coming through the glass window in . stream.
and then down the bundle room. where q dozen
boys were
of articles into all sorts Of shapes aud directing
|. them to the houses Of all sorts of people.
"Where does all this oxtravsgance come fromY.
This Is time for asking conundrums." said
the merchant in good nstured haste. Come to me
after Christmas and I'll tell you where Of the
extravaganza goes to.
So the reporter was obliged to be satisfied With
things rs found them. put hts note book In ono
pocket. his hands in two others. and join the in
Vulnerable caravan upon the sidewalk. who were
willing to accept millennium without distressing
themselves about its pedigree.
WORTH SEEING.
1t IL three to that the man. woman or child
who goes out sightseeing for hour will get home
late for dinner. Try it yourself the coming week.
tyenth street or Grand. and if you don't
serve any legs to walk with. There are parts
OF Eighth avenue, even single establishments
other streets where people with fair share OF
osity spend couple OF hours quite comfortably.
Nor Is It necessary to 70 inside the stores tor amuse
ment OF the kind. The windows absorbing In
themselves. They are the frosting on the holiday
pie-the beginning Of evil. 30 to speak. Many man
or woman goes nome oanxrups. merely from stop
Storekeepers know this secret OF human weakness,
and you can't find window that is not we'll arranged.
The average individual never looks into window
II they did not want It before they want
selves, but I. is one Of the '' most happy happy
characteristics of this most happy season that
people think Of others quite soon and sometimes
sooner than they do OF themselves And is there
anything which can be crowded into show window,
from peg top to sesskin jacket. that either you
somebody Of your acquaintance is not thirst
ing to possess7 Another ract to be taken into
how high how wide how deep. but has
its entire stock represented in its window. These
facts that force themselves upon the reflective
traveller. but the reporter would write them
II he thought it would keep anybody at this
out Of the practice. thousand times mo-. ladies
.s.1 Wait thnQa uafxtA Hal.
though they be; empty your purses. and 60 to your
homes with the glorious knowledge OF having per-
| formed your whole holiday duty.
There is hardly store in the city but has some
the season Even undcrtakers' windows express the
| intention. though somehow they have not the
has new lot OF children's gardening tools. your
carriage store feet Of velocipedes your dry goods
snch orns,sens AZ vow have never seem
before, your grocery such cans and kegs that you
grow hungry by looking vt them But Il Is the
est share OF present attention. Mark Twain would
ind n sketch. DR.. Tamage sermon and
Secretary Evarts whole debate In the show windows
OF any Of them. On Grand street and Sixth
| they 30 attractive that the crowds around
their squandcrings BY looking in at tho Windows 1t
would not be so bad II there was only another way
get out after getting into store. Then there
are show windows that are lifted up side shows.
where goods are displayed ut all. Particularly
one remembers u store ON sixth avenue. where two
windows of this Kind distraot ths passing multi
| tude. The reporter found it almost impossible
| approach thoin on account OF tho crowd. such
scene before box Office would make mad the brain
OF tho most sxngune theatrical manager In town.
| Men and women actually climbed up the adjacent
stairs the IL railroad TO look Ut these windows
until the company put up screen pGDvont Thorn.
! What did they see? Well in one OF the windows
was perfect representation OF play house. with
'pinafore'' upon the boards There the stage.
with every detail of the familiar setting, with hnr
Dor for tho background. Her Majesty ship III front.
and Buttercup. Dick Desdeyo aud ali the rest OF cm
| on the deck. Then there was al auditorium aud
| boxes filled with people. all dressed Ia the most
stunning fashion, the bellies with their most engag
ing aud the swells ogling tho rest or the
audience from Places In front and at the sides. II
was q charming picture. aud curious last which
thrust itself upon tho mind was that while every
body stopped to get glimpse of this window not
soul seemed to away. Yet there no riot
At the next window there was loss OF crowd
| but enough to make II an object for New York
people to wade in" There was uuliver.