The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-11
A phenomcn., Holiday season,
IPhi,adclphis Times.

Christmas is upon us. Formerly II came
on the 18th OF December. Now 1t begins
about The trst OF the month and lasts uatil
New Year. 1t used 10 be an affair OF the
home circle, aud the presents which ex-
changed hands were 10 great extent The
hands work Of those who gave them. This
was the case more in regard TO those given
by ladies and children. The men, who
were never so clever at making fancy hand
iwosk suitable for gifts, went to the shops
aud bought usefni or ornamental articles TO
give away. TIE shops aud stores OF the
fermer generations made some little extra
preparaiion for the Christmas traffic, but
not the fiftieth part Of what is made to-day.
The storekeepeIs OF bali century ago
would be astounded could they rise from
their graves and walk through our retail
establishments at this season or the year.
They would wonder bow all the exhibited
ootioas would ind purchasers. They would
ask where the money was TO come from TO
pay for these things. And they would be
lest in bewiderDcut In trying to lind out
what would be done with the varied mer-
cbaudiSe after il should be paid for and
taken away. But their innocent as'oDish.
ment would not stop the traffic. The de-
mand for Christmas goods has been thing
OF steady and gigantic growth. The won
der OF the shoppers OF to-day Is how the
grandparents managed TO exist without the
things We are able to buy over the counters
at comparatively trifing price and in enor-
m0us quantity.
Prominent among the many causes which
make the Christmas season what 1t now is
may be named the increased ease with which
articles suited for presents are now pro-
duced. and the consequent reduction OF
cost a. compared with what 1t was years
ago. II Is not only that labor Is cheaper,
but that With improved machinery labor is
able to turn out a vastiy-iDcreased product
as compared With the former times. Nobody
is toe worse off for this. but, on the contra
nv. The laborer who works, The capitalist
who employs him, aud the customer who
furnishes cash to both arc happier than
OF ycre. In toys, in garments, ID furniture.
aud, in ,ct, in everything except the works,
of art which are made by hand, it is now as
easy 10 produce fifty or q hundred as 1t
formerly was 10 make one. To these reasons
for increased business in gifts may be added
the fact that We are more social people
than we used 10 be, and also the equally
pleasant fact That there is more money in
the pockets OF the people than there was
few years ago.
The habit OF purchasing with view OF
bestOwing or somebody else the articles
purchased has become almost universal.
Christmas is no longer merely day OF spe-
cial religious observance among few
denominations OF Christians. 1t is the
worlds great festival, and everybody keeps
it. The few exceptions TO this custom are
generally regarded as behind tue advance
ment of the present age. Even they catch
10 some extent the general contagion,
and make the day business boil.
day. II they are engaged in retail traffic
they deck their stores with such attractions
as are ia vogue among the most ardent de-
voices Of the great festival. The tradesman
who would refuse to recognize Christmas
would be left in the cold by his customers
to keep company with the man who does
not advertise and with the retailer who
ecopon yes by turning down the gas In his
shop-Niodows until il burns blue. The
public is in sympathy with Christmas day
and with Christmas traffic.
What makes this Christmas season pbe-
nomepsl rs compared with others is that
there is SO much more money changing
hands than in former years; that the
crowds are larger and more eager, and
that the business has commenced consider
ably earlier than usual. The plethora OF
money in the private pocket is shown
by Toe Increased liberality OF puf-
chasers aud by the enlargement OF their
ideas. They buy more than they used 10,
and they buy better articles. Though there
Is a vast quantity Of cheap jack chang
ing owners, yet there is In many quarters
where il was not formerly seen an I'M
proved and refined taste, which calls Tor
srt-woik where gimcracks used 10 give sat-
isfaciiou, and which elevates humanity by
selecting objects OF real merit instead OF
being content With rubbish. These are III
every respect cheering indications. All
classes OF society may well hail them as
steps in the worlds march toward social
and individual happiness and prosperity.