St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-23


NV ->asS- to any extent which
z>We - they please. The
4G- windows along Mic
Ollet avenue display
Santa Claus and his gifts in all their
glory. The children 90 wild over the
treasures shown, and spend most Of
their time. outside of school hours, with
their noses tiattened against the pane.
trying to decide on what they would
select if Santa Claus were disposed to
let them try. Children of a larger
growth are tempted to venture inside
and, at least, look over the array. 1t is
needless to add that they don't come
away without purchasing.
Shopping is such serious business
that nearly every lady draws up a list
of presents and an estimate of cost in
yoiyed. This is an arduOus task, and it
is suggested that both time and money
might be saved by hiring an amenuen-
sis tor the work. Her compensation
need not be more than 80 cents day.
After little discipline and training
she could make out lists OF purchases
which would only need to be overlooked
and approved by the ladies. thus leay-
ing them ready to- begin the shopping
round with energies untaXed by preyl-
Gus mental strain.
Even with the most careful prepare
ton the ladies find holiday shopping
like unto path beset with th0rnS. 1t
is celebrating but WeariSOme.
There is the woman who hasn't quite
decided what to buy. One day she
purchases a quantity of goods which
would
Fill. A FURNITURE VAN.
The clerks are delighted at having Sc
cured so good customer. On looking
over the assortment next day she con-
cludes that it is not at all what she
wants and takes it back in sections TO
be exchanged or have the money re-
funded: then wonders plalntively why
the clerks froWn and don't seem half so
glad to see her as they were the day
before. After much trial and tribula-
ton the various changes are effected.
But that woman is as restless as wan
dering Jew and keeps changing her
mind over the purchases until the h0ll-
DAYS are at last gone past recall and the
gifts have been distributed for good.
Then there are whole families who
90 shopping together. that is. they look
over the goods together, then play sort
of hide-and-seek game about the store
in their efforts to conceal the presents
which they are selecting for each other.
A detective would feel himself tyro,
were he to hear the willy devices and
questions with which these aTtleSS SIM
ners deceive each other, or, at least,
think that they do.
One might Judge that the ladies had
suddenly become quite democratic in
their ideas. NicOllet avenue is crowded
with women of all ages and rank. but
each one tolls along under mountain
of parcels of every size. The little pack
ages are slowed away in coat pockets,
making them bulge out in all sorts of
nueer shapes, giving the innocent be-
holder an idea that perhaps Mrs. Cleye-
lands edict i'll regard to the hustle had
been Obeved, and that now women were
carving the Ostracised appendage in
their pockets. Such is not the
case, The fashions in dress are not
undergoing any serious change, and
after Christmas the ladies will be seen
paving the same attention to appear
ance as of yore. They don't carry those
huge, unshapely parcels because they
like to, but because the messenger boy
is sure to deliver the precious packages
at the wrong time and quite likely to
the person, who should not have seen
them until Christmas day.
it would be. at this season, to find a
package delivery which would combine
intelligence, discretion and speed in its
operations.
Among the busy throng the farmers
wife and daughter are we'll represented.
Shopping to them is an awful response
bility. The general store in the village
can usually supply their everyday
wants. but only Minneapolis can fur
nish what is needed for the holidays.
Their life of comparative solitude must
have the effect of toning down and al
most Graduating the desire which all
women naturally have for useless or
frivolous articles of dress. Their list
of purchases includes mutfiers, caps
and substantial articles of dress. The
clerks are glad to see the farmers wife,
because she generally knows what she
wants and has no time to spend
in looking over the whole
stock and promising to call again
A short time will suffice to select her
Christmas goods aud have them snugly
bestowed on the hay-c0vered bottom of
the jackson wagon which is hitched at
the curbstone among the coacher and
landaus in waiting for their respective
OCCUPANTS.
The toy stores, perhaps, see the shop
ping community in its most favorable
light. There are toys to suite the taste
of all. Science even deignS to apply its
knowledge to the making of steam en-
gines and speaking dolls. The number
of musical instruments that are being
bought give promise that the Juvenile
portion of the community will make
themselves heard.
Some people never forget to be polite.
A prominent society lady recently went
into a toy store; kept a young lady clerk
busy for nearly an hour; had all the eX-
| pensive articles taken out of the show
cases for her inspection, and finally de-
parted without buying anything, re-
marking 10 the clerk as she went out:
Il have really enjoyed looking over all
those pretty articles, it makes the time
pass so pleasantly. Wish you merry
| Christmas" Her pleasant manner and
good wishes. of course, reconciled the
| clerk to any WEAKNESS or diSappOint-
ment that she might otherwise have
| felt.
MINNEAPOLIS PEOPLE
| are evidently grateful to Providence for
! the privilege of living in civilized and
progressive city, nor do they forget
| their unfortunate friends and neigh
bors who are spending the winter in
| the South. According to the state
ments of the fair customers. a large pro-
portion of their purchases are ''for
friends in the South" 1t is surprising
to see how careful they are that the pres
| ents shall be uneXceptionable in every
| respect. In order TO make the final de-
| cision on such presents it Is sometimes
| necessary for each member of the family
| to make separate trip to the store to
| inspect the intended purchases. On
! the whole, the season before the holi-
days is one of pleasure and good will:
| Everybody seems eager and happy. Ii
the eagerness sometimes degenerates
into fault-fnding, it is hardly inten-
tional. All seem happy and care-free