National Republican., 1883-12-14
THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
Appearance Of the Business Streets With
Their Christmas Preparations
The Artistic Display OF Washington Mer-
chants and Gala Look OF the streets.

The near approach OF tho holiday season has
stimulated tho Washington merchants to com.
petition OF display, and the store windows never
looked hnndsomer than now Richness of fabric,
vividness OF color, aud artistic arrangement are
all combined, until n stroll down Pennsylvania
avenue up Seventh street, and along amply re-
wards the eye and the taste for the labor of press
ing ones way through the crowds that throng
the streets. No better evidence that Washington
has grown TO the proportions Of metropolitan
city can be afforded than that produced by the
extent, the variety, and taste Of the business
houses All day long yesterday, in this beautiful
almost a monopoly, the streets were tbfonged
as on gala days. Tho Christmas decora.
tions are beginning to appear, although, strictly
speaking, those distinctive bedeCkings have not
fairly begun 4 REPUBLICAN reporter pressed his
way through tho throng yesterday and passed
through the above thoroughfares for tho purpose
OF peeping ut tho holiday displays in front of the
stores and in the tastefully arranged windows.
The confectioners have not been idle and dur =
Ing the past few weeks have followed the example
ofthy busy bee" in preparing tempting dainties
for the evergreen trees of Christmas aud The
stockings Of the little ones. The result Of their
labor was sLrikngy and temptingly apparent.
Large show cases were prominently displayed in
side and outside the stores, containing bon bons,
candies striped, and candies plain in every known
flavor The display of the Sharpless company,
4l9 Seventh street, was particularly noticeable on
account of its striking and picturesque appear
ancc.
Tho toy stores presented a genuine study. Tho
number of articles. both great and small, cheap
and costly is far In advance of the exhibit of last
season. The inventive genius of the American
has not been idle since last Christmas, aud the
result Is many new. unique, and curious toys aud
games for the amusement of the young.
Practical and useful presents will be a feature
OF the coming gilt day, II appearances do not de.
ceive. At least the business men think so aud
are making their stores attractive for buyers in
these specinlties. The display of children's cloth.
ing at furnishing establishments has been the
means II, Of attracting many admiring crowds.
pIonen wnef cS,bo % oo nd S0d Ia remarked
make better presents than nice overcoats ?"
Other clothiers appear to thlnk IN the same direc
ton, and the consequence is that the overcoat
display is varied and interesting. Particularly
interesting are the windows OF Timms, Robinson,
Parker Co., and others, gay with the many
colored silk trimmings arranged in graceful
array.
The intellectual branch OF trade has also been
studying to please the tastes of young and old.
Books with bright colored covers stories poems,
natural histories, tales of land and sea and air,
can all be found In great variety in the book
houses of Washington. besides lovely Christmas
cards and other articles suitable for the snow
clad holiday season. The exhibits of Ballantyne,
Whitaker, Brentano. and Fischer were particu-
The dry goods stores have gotten up their win
dows aud fronts in AN elaborate and tasty mau-
ner Bending hues OF silks, wooden goods, and
other fabrics can be seen on every side, mingling
In pretty chaos with delicate tinted ribbons,
laces, and fancy articles, which have been ar
ranged artstically BY experienced hands, and so
that selections can be easily made
The stores of Gunnip, Baum, Palais Royal,
Woodward 4 Lothrop, Langsburgh, Perry, Davis,
Shuster, and Mrs. Max Weyl attracted great at
tention and caused many remarks of admiration.
ShusIers windows, on Pennsylvania avenue are
like the Oriental bazaars Of the Arabian tales for
color, decacy aud richness of fabric and tasteful
arrangement.
A feature of the holidays in Washington is the
sidewalk venders who roam about dsposing of
their wares. The Italian candy vender Is out
early, and his familiar song, "Frueet candee, car
ran-els, bennanas" can be heard all day. An
other class of street merchants those who sell
minor presents from board stands The articles
ranging from penny wooden elephants and horses
to articles worth so cents.
The reporter held numerous conversations with
merchanls relative to the approaching holidays
"They will be lively" said one, "becauso storm
Is always preceded By calm, ana 1t is quite calm
now."' A dry goods merchant thought that Sens-
BILE and useful presents would be more largely
purchased, aud u toy dealer remarked "Ohrist-
mas Is Intended as q day of pleasure. Toys and
games give pleasure, therefore they will be pur-
chased US largely as usual. Children do not want
frocks or aprons on Christmas; they want toys and
games" The prevailing opinion was. however,
that the holidays would prove a genuine harvest
to the stores and that much money will be spent.
The markets have already assumed a holiday
appearance, and evergreen decorations are being
placed in position. Thousands of plump turkeys
are are arriving daily, in addition to the vast
quantities of game from the lower Potomac, Vir-
ginia, and Maryland. large dealer in poultry
estimated the number of turkeys that would be
sold here Christmas week at nearly 100000