Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-20
SANTA CLAUS EN- ROUTE.
FAIR HANDS BUsILY PREPAR-
ING FOR HIS RECEPTION.

Christmas shoppers Throng the Streets,
Crowd the Stores and Buy Lavishly-
Scenes on the Sidewalks and Around
the COunters-What Merchants Say
About the Holiday Trade.
Christmas shopping has set in, in good
earnest, and the young lady who has not
already been down town half a dozen
times TO buy something or to see what
somebody else buys must have been either
very III or she has been getting ready to
make q week OF IL from now until the
holiday is over.
The streets were thronged yesterday
with handsome dressed ladies and the re-
1ail stores did a brisk business. The side
walks, except what's occupied by boxes
and showcases piled full OF bright holiday
goods, were almost blockaded The
fhrong was greatest on Br0ughton street.
Men who were in any kind OF hurry
abandoned the sidewalks and took TO the
roadway. There seemed to be
fifty ladies TO one man on
that thoroughfare, and every one of them
carried from one TO half q dozen bundles
and looked as happy about it as though 1t
was So bouquet. The fancy goods stores,
toy shops, confectionery and dry goods
stores were filed 10 overlooking and the
Elerks and cash boys and girls experienced
HE beginning Of the rush which will con-
Enue until the close Of the holidays.
sob, dear; what shall l do nowp ex-
planned q pretty young miss who was
Medged in before a counter in one OF the
large fancy goods establishments towards
might. "Tve been waiting here for half
an hour and haven't been waited upon
get"
This was common cause Of complaint
among shoppers, but the clerks and cash
boys did the best they could under the
circumstances. erybOdy is busy and a
good many people from the country are in
the city making their holiday purchases.
Every branch OF trade from the peddler Of
TOY balloons aud jackknives, TO the largest
wholesale firm feels the stimulus OF trade
and the boom is expected 10 last until the
new year.
A wide awake retail merchant said last
might: sit seems 10 me there is more
money in circulation just at this season
than there has been for years before. Ev-
cry body seems to have something to spend
and is spending it,"
Another dealer SAID: eyes; business is
6rst-rate. Already we have employed
twice the number OF salespeople we had
last year. We had TO do it to serve our
customers. This years business is sure
20 exceed that OF last year. We expected
at, and have prepared for 1t. People do
not limit themselves in their purchases
rs they did last year. Costly presents
will be made, and tastes more than peck
et0Ooks are being consulted"
In all branches Of trade the demand
for holiday goods is greater than 1t has
been for many years, and before half Of this
week is over Santa Claus pack will be
packed fuller than il has ever been be-
fore.
The weather for the past week has been
Gne, and the sunshine has been taken adj
vantage Of by shoppers. ANEWs reporter
stood in one Of the big retail stores yester-
nay where anything in the holiday line,
from q tin-rattle for the baby to the
costliest silks and richest velyets can be
purchased, and watched the swarms of
people crowd N and out. whats the
price Of thisS and this? and thisi" was
asked in chorus by half a dozen ladies
as they surrounded the counters and each
one picked up something that pleased
her fancy. The clerks were pushed to
answer a dozen questions at once.
The question OF what the crowd bought
would be simplifed by asking what IL
didn't buy. A good many ladies were
looking for gifts to fill the hundreds of
little stockings that will be hung up on
Thursday night, and the toy counters
HuAAo0nuEu oil Ud9s OolAb Win
wide-staring eyes, and nothing on but
CHASTITY expression and a pair of earrings,
jumping jacks, whistles, rattles, banks,
and thousand and one things were over
hauled before anything was bought.
In the market everything tells of the
near approach OF tue holidays. The stalls
are filed with eatables inviting enough
an the uncooked state to stir the sluggish
appetite Of a dyspeptic. The meats look
foOthsOme and solid. Streams of people
with baskets squeezed past each other in
the market building yesterday to get a
closer look at the stock each
Vender had to offer. The lus-
cious orange, soon to occupy the post OF
honor on the adorned tree had no quarrel
with the round, compact cabbage, the
Odor Of which in kraut or the Old-time
dish known as "bacOn and cabbage"
will this week assert its powerful indi-
viduality. The fat sausage lay peace
fully on the block alongside OF the Juicy
steak, and no mutterings We're heard.
There were frst-class articles for those
with heavy purses, and others OF lesser
quality but equally as substantial for
those who had to calculate closely about
what they should buy. There was, how
ever, enough for all. The poultry stalls
received a good deal Of attention, and the
turkey market this week will have a
boom. The week will be busy one with
everybody.