Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-26
"A ksrSSk HOLIDAY Trade.

WHAT DEALERS SAY ABOUT ia GREAT INCREASE
REPORTED IN SOME LINES OF TRADE-THE EFFECT
OF INCREASED POPULATION AND wEALTH-THE
BAD YEARS FOR BUSINESS IN WASHINGTON.
The Christmas trade has been generally better
this season than usual, though interrupted by the
pad weather just about the time people generally
DO Their holiday shopping. 'The trade this year
has been at least double that of last Christmas -
said prominent jeweler to a STAR reporter. "The
class of trade too,ndicates increased wealth in the
city, We have sold more expensive iewelry this
season Than ever before. Why, just look at this
he said, taking from under the counter the journal
OF each days trade, and running his finger down
the long column Figures "Look at that: there Is
not an item there OF less than forty dollars, and
they run all the Wayup to two and three hundred
dollars. Yes, believe the trade is more than
double that of last season, though the sale of small
cheap articles has fallen off greatly"
A dealer in fancy goods said that his trade-and
he thought that OF all other dealers in that line Of
goods,had been much better than usual. His
sales, he said amounted to at least so per cent
more. The only effect OF the bad weather. as far
as he could Judge had been to keep in those who
Simply want to look at the goods. Those who
really wanted to buy, he said, came any how and
under no circumstances could he have gotten more
customers in his store.
In books, stationery and Christmas cards the
sales were reported as large and while the dealers
said they believed that had the weather lust before
Christmas been better they would have done bet
Ter, the trade was SO much larger than it was last
season that they could not complain.
me dry goods merchants did not do as well as
SOiie vi inc Otnef dealers "Dry goods has no
claim on Christmas trade" said the proprietor OF
one OF the large Avenue dry goods houses. "The
dry goods trade is always better after Christmas
We sell great deal in the line OF silks velyets and
sittlnS, ana all kinds OF expensive party dresses
Wnen the fashionable season commences, lust after
christmas Our trade is as good this year as usual
vi perhaps better, but there 10 such thing as
Christmas trade for staple dry goods establish
ment."
"The Christmas trade was much better titan it
was last year," remarked a leading dealer in pro-
visions and groceries. LAST year 1t was very good
but this year 1t was better Our population is in
creasing, and business increases with it, and the
volume or Christmas business shows 1t.n
"We did big business" exclaimed the proprie-
tor OF a large toy store. "a great deal more than
we did last year. We are perfectly satisfied with
our Christmas trade"
When the owner OF large furniture store was
asked about his Christmas trade, he replied: 81
haven't looked over my books, but l should Judge
that 1t was about % per cent less than was last
year There are 600 or 30 600 people in this town
who spend all the way from S. to s25 for Christmas
glftS but next year the elections held and the
- and so gifts were reduced to toys for 81 or less
In anticipation OF the drain upon the pOcket-boOk
winch an election always causes.
Next year. he continued, Cuisines will not
begin until october, and the volume Will, perhaps
be so per cent less In this city we have two good
years and two bad years. This is one, next year
will be another"