New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-25
THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS

The bad weather did not prevent an immcsse ho-
idsy trade yesterday. Broadway, Sixth-ave.
Grand-st and other great centres OF retail
shops On the East and West Sides were
filed with tens Of thousands Of seekers for
Christmas gifts. The scenes during the day
and evening were very cnrous and interesting. Az
the Stock Exchange the brokers Lad lively cele-
bration. The Wilson Mission made its children
happy with Christmas tree. Notes Of the prepara-
lions for the holiday in Brooklyn are given here
with.
LIVELY SCENES IN STREETS AND STORES.
THE SIDEWALKS rHRoyGED WITH EAGER SEEKERS
FOR HOLIDAY GITTs-cURIous SIGHTS AND IN
cIDFNTs-rHE IMMENSE MULTITUDE OF BUYERS
on rHF EAST SIDE.
There are some features of New-York street
life that brought special prominence during the
Christmas shopping. For several weeks before that
OF giving the store windows take en- appear
OF gorgeous display that exceeds anything that Ia
offered other times Of the year And with each year
combinations and designs invented Tor the pur-
OF attracting customers look, and then 10 buy
The crowds that the popular shopping dis
trcts at this tme having spent the first few weeks IN
seeing what there Ia for saeand during this shop
ping called the storekeepers do not expect TO
make their largest salesstart out IN Christmas week to
buy They throng such streets Fourteenthst. Broad
way and sixthave on the West Side. ana Grandst ana
Others the East SIDE and are in such numbers that
IT is difficult to walk on the sidewalks.
With the streets condition they were in yes
terday the crowdng worse than in dry weather
streets, which were marked by evident Improvements
m their condition, yet there was still much
mud and melting snow lying in the gut
and nj the sides OF the streets, making
them impossible except at corners Some of the people
stopped frequently to look into the store Windows
while others impeded the moving multitude by dickering
with the c1rbsone pedlers or these there were yes
terday the usual number and the usual variety, espe
cially along Fourteenthst and sxthave. where they
stood in nearly continuous lima There we're dealers I'd
chdren's toys Japanese china-were and aequer-worK
fancy grasses for decorating mantoshelves, picture
frames soaps. perfumery laces and pocketoooks mar
velous instruments that the human voice into
rneIodious insirrIaental music " and even useful Ir
tices not wanting, such a cement to the dnra-
bty OF which advertisement has ever done justice
As the day advanced. the argument was used-Hlways
considered yOtent with the buyerthat there were ohy
few more lett" This. however could not be SAID Oh
whole wagon load OF chcstnnts that stood AT corner
which suggested industry IN picking them up iro"
the ground chat made ones back ache to contemplate
The cries OF the vendors the shouting OF drivers aad
the tinkng OF the ear-bels. combined to make Babel
of the crowded streets and very short Intervals the
roar Of the trains on the elevated road was added
Inside the stores all life and hustle. To
obtain "a place az "A counter was Oi'cn ~
ter Involving not only much time and patience,
but much physical effort well There Was the Dusi-
uesslike matron who ploughed her way through the
indignant throng; the pOrty old gentleman who was
dragged hher thither by the young girl who knew
what she wanted, II he dill not the young man who
han dropped his UP town. and the Oder man
whose long list ana worried look Indicated plainly
that he had been sent the young girl whose com
nanon was friend who did mind being troubled. or
brother who did, the shabby dressed. forlornookng
woman with child whose only pleasure was TO LOOK at
the pretty things other familiar types OF shoppers
The force OF clerks had been everywhere
increased for the holidays, and they stood
az every point along the counters The sharp taps on
the counter and the cry of Cash. were heard-above
all the noise made by the crowds OF However
attentive these girls-as most OF them were-seemed
wearied and listess with constant standing and con-
tnuaI sOning One OF them said In the hearing OF
reporter Ihave told the price OF that writing esk
no less than forty-three times already"
But gay the scenes were during the daytime the
arrival OF night added briiancy. The windows were
lighted and illuminated the street. Gasjets with Merry
Christmas and other NOTES appropriate % the time
sere easily read from distance, While In some
s,ore, the staring white blaze OF the electric
light produced dazzling eject which was
made weird by occasional nIckering Locomo-
ton outside became uncertain and exasperat1ng,
for the eeanesi Of the streets not free from deep
water in the cutters and at where the
ers were choked up and easy thing 10 avoid
the puddles unless the direct reflection OF light re-
vesed them The belated shopper now appeared, and
eagerly bought without stopping TO look further The
azores ere kept open until the highland the last
buyers only disappeared when they were finally closed
The endento OF OF the many large bazaars
where everything Is sold under one roof nom soup
plate toOthpick: from KID boots TO the topmos,
me present mad been nay successfu one
aud that enlarged accommodate iaieI I'd pro
liners sedu
He said this was also the testimony OF others III Tue
Tne ram that began to fall about o'clock seemed to
have little effect upon the buyers VINO had been pre-
pared ds with umbrellas Many deserted the streets
for the stores and completed their purchases
where 1nsy opt undsuned and went from
place 10 place. The curbstone merchants however.
whose stock consisted OF article woch the rain
could damage. The varied excsiencles OF TINS Tor
household could not all be heard II one did not stop
hut passed eisurely by. although this single voice
reached far down the street.
GLANCE AT THE GREAT EAST SIDE.
On the East Side, from the Bowery to the East River
especialy In Grand and the neghborng streets the
scene was one OF universal animation and busting
activity; and II 1t lacked the more refined
and fashionable features OF the West Side, IL
certainly did not yield TO IL in point OF numbers
and liveliness. In spite OF the rain and siush
and all It's melancholy accompaniments-the impedi
ments to travel and the numerous obstacles which be-
numbed the pedestrian energies OF the crowd-tbe
streets were as denseiy throngcd, and the
stores were as cheerful and bright as the
finest crispest weather Of previous years. From an
early hour neighborhood was thronged with pur-
chasers aud number steadily Increased the day
wore on, when at o'clock one might almost have
reasonably imagined on beholding the immense assem-
blage around him. that the entire population Of the
quarter had tarned out In honor Of the day
Grand-st WIS., Of course. the central and eliminating
point OF attraction. The whole street WAS
lined with stalls, laden with oil kinds OF
articles and doing q very thriving trade. Among
The smaller stores were that presented unusually
gay and appearance. These shop for the
sale of dolls toys, and a French pastry cooks
rinhf