The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-23
GIFTS BY THE THOUSAND.
CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS THRoNo
THE STREETS AND STORES.


Their Clerks Overrun - The Stores
Kept open until Midnight-scenes 4,
the arket-The Rush for Christmas
Turkeys The Fruit and Candy
Dealers Harvest Time.
Yesterday was a field day among ths
shopkeepers. 1t was the Saturday before
Christmas, and there was a crowd in all thu
stores from o'clock in the morning until il
O'Clock at night. As is usually the case
those who contemplated gift-giving post.
poned until the last moment the purchase oI
their selections. The result, as usual. VA,
that it was impossible to wait upon all, and
hundreds were turned away who INNS,
depend upon their chances tomorrow and
tomorrow night, when the rush is expected
to be fully up to that of yesterday.
Brougbton street yesterday afternoon
was veritable Broadway. The'street Va,
lined with vehicles which almost blocked
passage, and the sidewalks were almost in.
passable from noon until late last night
All the streets south of Broughton bounded
by Drayton on the east and Jefferson On
the west, including the streets running
parallel with Broughton street. were
crowded with purchasers, and the market
was never besieged by such a steady fow 81
people.
STALL KEEPERS TIRED OUT.
Stallkeepers were as much fatigued last
night when the market clu.sd as were the
shopkeepers and their force of clerks,
While the disposition has not been te, make
such expensive purchases as in past years.
the increase in the number of buyers has
more than made up the difference.
A MORNING NEWS reporter dropped into
store last night, and while he found the
proprietor almost too busy to give 4
moments time for an interview, yet the
merchant simplified a perplexing question,
The display of holiday goods seemed to be
as full as it was before the active buying
began.
How is thiss Are not the holiday goods
going off this years" the dealer was asked.
''Oh, yes" was the reply.
But it looks as if your display OF plush
goods, toilet sets, manicure sets and work
boxes is as large as it was one week ago.
Yes, it does look so to the general pub
lie, replied the dealer. THAT is one of the
tricks of the trade We find it necessary to
rearrange the goods, making as prominent
display of the unpurchased holiday stock
as possible. Don't you remember that when
you were here week ago that table point
ing to table upon which standard goods
were neatly arranged was covered with
distinctive holiday goodss"
TRICKS OF THE TRADE.
''Well, you see they are all gone now. and
this table, while the remnants are DISPLAYED
to the best advantage, appears to the IN
practiced eye to look as 1t did when cur
holiday stock was first put on exhibition
A closer examination proved this to be
true. The dealer went on to say that the
holiday trade is fully equal to expectations
and there viii be very little left over. All
branches of business have received a full
share of patronage. The out of town Gus
toners were the heaviest buyers during the
week, and they completed their purchases
yesterday, and on Friday and yesterday
they were reinforced by the city buyers,
who will continue their purchases to-mor-
row, and even up to noon on Christmas day.
The bakers and contectioners have had
their run on cakes and candies. The book
sellers and stationers have had good trade
in books, periodicals aud Christmas cards.
The butchers have done driving trade in
pigs, turkeys, chickens, geese and ducks.
The china stores have been busy selling
china ami glassware, including some very
pretty and new designs in vases and odor
bottles, and new designs In hanging and
stand lamps and bric-a. brac.
ALL BRANCHES OF TRADE BUSY.
The drug stores, many of them, have done
a good business in plush sets, new designs
in cut glass odor sets, vases aud perfumerv.
The dry goods stores have carried a full
line of articles suited to the holiday season,
and they have been kept busy. The florists,
in addition to the demand for cut flowers
have had quite demand for branches Of
the holly, pine, magnolia and cedar for
parior decoration. The fruit dealers have
never done a more satisfactory business
The green grocers and the dealers in staple
groceries have had a continual run, and
many of them were unable to deliver all
the goods they sold yesterday. Some of
them said last night that they will have to
run their wagons late Sunday morning to
finish up their delivery.
The jewellers have never had so varied "a
stock, nor such q continuous run of custom.
The tendency has been to buy the less ex-
pensive goods, although some very elegant
designs have found ready customers. The
music stores have been well patronized, and
the sale Of musical instruments, sheet music
and art supplies, OF which there are many
new designs this Christmas, have exceeded
that, thus far, Of any former holiday fes-
tivaL
TURKEYS BIZ THE THOUSAND.
The poultry dealers have been kept as
suppose will be consumed on Christmas
day" reporter asked j. 8. Collins last
mot less than 5,0oo,n and Mr.. Collins
went on to explain that it is wonderful
what an enormous amount OF poultry Is
consumed here. A row OF twenty employees
were ranged in front of his countipg-room
receiving pay for the poultry they had
dressed. Mr. Collins said that be has
handled carload and half of Tennessee
turkeys and half carload Of other poultry
during the past week, in addition to the
poultry received from Florida, Georgia and
South Carolina in coops.
wont there be big lot of turkeys left
overF' he was asked.
sTo the uninitiated 1t would seem SO. The
hucksters, and the green grocers, and the
poultry dealers seem to have more turkeys
than they can sell, but by noou Christmas day
it will be hard matter to find an unsoId
turkey In Savannah. That, at least, has been
the rule in past years, and while turkeys are
retailing for less this year than last, on
Christmas day the buyer is likely TO find
that be cannot buy good turkey for less
than IS cents pound.
EVERYBODY EATS TURKEY.
He went on to say that be himself ca
pected to sell 1 900 turkeys by noon Christ
mas, and other dealers will sell In propor-
ton to the trade.
ii. Logan was asked how the poultry
trade is this holiday season, and he pointed
to orders booked up 10 noon yesterday for
200 turkeys, nearly half as many pigs for
roasting whole and three or four pages Of
orders for geese, ducks and chickens. "Ths
t,,rLav and poultrv trade " said Mr.. Logan,