The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-25
THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
The Demands Upon the Post office
and Express Companies.
Portland Streets and Stores Jam Of
Christmas Shoppers.

Yesterday was spring day shot into the
domain of winter. The bright sun, blue
skies end balmy air brought out everybody.
The thoroughfares were great sight 1t
isn't probable that anyone remained In the
house except invalids forbidden to take the
air. Congress street from early until late,
and especially during the late hours of the
afternoon. was so crowded that the nervous
aud hasty traveller had to exercise patience
and allow himself to be borne along by the
current There were places where the pres
ence of a policeman was actually necessary
to prevent a blockade; such was the case In
front of Shaw's grocery window, Rines
Brothers, Owen, Moore & Co., Miiett, Ey-
ans & Co.. X, John Little & Co.. Eastman
Brothers. Turner Brothers. Charles Days
and Lords candy ston. Inside the stores
the throng, were as great as outside and the
wonder was where all the people came from.
Never can such crowds be recalled on the
day before Christmas.
II the Curious observer had gone to the
railway stations he would have seen where
many Of the shoppers had their homes. The
Rochester trains brought in great parties of
people from Saccarapps, Cumberland Mills,
Gorham ana the Sace River. The trains are
so arranged now that great convenences are
offered to the country cousins. The Og-
densburg division OF the Maine Central, the
Maine Central. Grand Trunk. and Boston &
Maine, all ran long trains that not only
brought home long separated members Of
families to enjoy Christmas dinner. but num-
beriess shoppers as we'll
If the general stores presented gaily
dressed and decorated windows. the provis-
ion >tores were delight. Great carcasses
of yenison, rich red rounds of beef, fat tur-
keys. geese, ducks and chickens, were
ranged appetizingy 10 the windows, or on
| hooks about the store wherever place for a
hook could be found, and were set off by
punches Of crisp we'll heached celery. and in
some cases punches of holly and little misle-
toe. The windows of the candy stores were
dazzling in their bon bons wrapped in gold
and silver flagree paper, great sticks of can
| dy Of all the hues of the rainbow,
cornucopias Of every size filed with sugar
| plums. and those Of the fruit stores were
equally attractive with the great piles of
| golden oranges, rosy checked apples and
piles of nuts that pleased the boys and girls.
To give some idea of what has been done
in Christmas presents it may be interesting
| to know that at the postofice, on Saturday
and Monday. there were $50 bushels of pack
ages day received. The week previous the
business was not as large as usual, but the
rush began Saturday, and will continue
probably throughout this week. The Amer
lean Express Company never had such bus
mess. Ten tons day was the average oil
their freight last week, und 10 tons yester-
day. Sunday night two express fre;gh,
were two extra express cars. one had eight
tons and the other seven tons OF packages
which stopped at Portland. The Portland
Office employees, Mr.. 0sgood said. had been
on duty the past week, from Z a. m. to mid
night, daily, and in addition Mr.. Kimball
the shipper, had been at work three nights
without wink of sleep and would work last
| night
| Mr.. Kemp of the Canadian Express Com
pany, said their business was larger than for
three years, and-pointing to great pile of
bundles-there are lot that the American
Express Company has just dumped in on us
Princes Express said they had great worl
to do, and Mr. earle said he had more goods
to deliver than for number of years. The
other companies told the same story.
Last evening the streets were still well
filed with late buyers, but in many cases
they found the stores had sold out their
Christmas goods and they were compelled to
| put up with "Hobson's CHOICE