Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-23
CHRIsrnAs GIFTS.

The weather to-day-whether it be bright
and clear, slush and drizzle, sleet and snow
| will not thin the ranks of the gift buyers
crowding the shops. Purchases will be
made up to midnight, and even tomorrow,
| Sunday as it will be, the back doors will be
entered in quest of some forgotten present
| for neglected friend. For the past week
| the city has been Gro H1fed, aud il is said
that purchasers have been lavish in the
selection OF costly presents. Indeed, it is re-
ported that the outlay in this respect far ex-
ceeds that of any previous year in the his
tory OF Memphis. This is an unerring sign
Of increased prosperity. The windows OF The
shops and stores of Memphis have been
blossoming out for several days in the
bright and beautiful colors that always
make the season SO wonderfully attractive.
All the pretty and costly things that tempt
full purses, and all the vat variety of ar
ticles adapted 10 customers in general, from
dress goods to Christmas books aud ornaments
for the person and the householI J, down to
toys and bon-bons are displayed enticingly
to all who are thinking what purchases they
shall make in honor OF the season, and what
presents will be most accept able and, there
fore, most pleasing 10 those for whom they
are intended. 1t is still an almost universal
custom 10 make the Christmas season excep-
tionAlly gay with reunions of families and
the distribution of gifts, and if the festivi-
ties are less uproarious than they were in
grosser days, it is because the manners and
habits Of people of the Christian world have
changed Tor the better, and thai they enjoy
larger liberty and more home comforts. In
modern society men claim charter broad as
the wind TO do whatever they please
within the limits of the law, which
prevents the disturbance Of the rights of
others, so that all can enjoy their hours of
Relation as they please. There Is no PEG.
pie on earth who devote more time TO labor
than the people of the United States, none
that have SO few holidays, and it is because
OF this incessant occupation in pursuits by
which fortune ia TO be made or a living
gained that Christmas comes to so many as
a season OF relief, which custom has set
apart for the interchange OF social smeni-
ties, halIowed by memories that carry us
back through long centuries TO the valleys
OF Judes, to the voices that sang to the sbep-
herds of peace on earth" and good will TO
men," and TO the star that pointed the way
to Bethlehem In other days the season
found expression in sIlly racket and drunken
csrousal, but now it is celebrated by reunions
and gifts to friends aud relations. Go
where one will in the cities Of this
broad land, the same variety of Christmas
presents will be found. Christmas of the
present day is much in advance of that even
forty years ago, as religious denominations |
which formerly considered II saerilege 10
decorate the church or rally its Sunday
school children under tree laden with all |
manner OF gifts, now vie with each other in
Ihese methods of celebration. Everything
indicates that Christmas will be observed |
next week IS never before, as more goods
have already been sold than at any previous
holiday season. Articles OF every descrIp-l
ion were never cheaper; the bottom price,
las been reached, and 81 will buy now whatl
5 would not purchase few years sgo. We
our readers on the prospect of all
lappy Christmas, and that prosperity which i
he purchase Of such an unusual amount of
ostly presents Enthusiastically indicates the
'eople are enjoying.