Evening journal., 1889-12-23
CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
Peregrinations Among the Bril-
liant Holiday Shops.
SUGGESTIONS FOR THEUNDECIDED

1uc hchhou Oi lue year - HcIt WuNu
"the youth in life's green spring and he
who goes In the full stength of years,
matron and maid, the speechless babe
and the gray headed man HE themselves
TO the business marts TO buy Christmas
presents. All streets lead to Market
street and In consequence Of this Market
street was crowded on Saturday night
The new asphalt road was used as side
walk by those who had not time to elbow
through the crowds. The stereopticon
exhibition on the Eckel Building caused
a block, and officer Broomall was placed
in command Of the sidewalk The three,
five and ten cent stores had such large
run of patronage that people stood in the
street, awaiting their turn. A police
officer guarded the door, and let half n
dozen supplied customers out and half
dozen would-b customers In every
minute and half
Fourth and Market streets was a stop
ping place for many of the pedestrians,
and crowd was ON the corner con-
stantly. The Delaware Printing Com.
pany's establishments were packed with
purchasers. All the EVENING JOURNALS
advertisers were happy in the splendid
run of business
The persons who filed the streets com
prised a various assortment Every body
pitied the man who carried 3 baby
through the crowds and at the same
time thought be was fool. The woman
with baby ia coach assisted In block.
ing che sidewalk between Fourth aud
Fifth streets for fifteen minutes, as she
discussed with herselD whether to give
her husband a % or 80 cent collar button.
The countryman and his girl covered
much Of the sidewalk aud hung on to
each other through the thickest crow ls
Three Yonng men hustled up the street
and then stopped on the curb to see three
young women pass. The latter passed,
and three young men were with them.
Fourth street, between Shipley and
King. resembled cedar and spruce pine
forest, where trees grew without roots.
All buyers thought the prices too high,
but few left without purchasing.
The experience Of finding what you
want in q crowded store at Christmas
time, is worth relating. Two young men
were after experience on Saturday night.
They tried the FIVE and ten cent stores as
they had the largest crowds. The goods
were arranged in long counters and at
the first store prices went much higher
than ten cents will 20 The atmosphere
/ kf
whom were young women, iooKeu ex
tremely uncomfortable The second
floor which was reached by a narrow
stairway, dangerous in case Of fire, was
as crowded as the first
All visited the counter where the
babies were built on the lever motion,
and sold at 25 cents. They were scantily
clothed and emitted small croak when
tramped on or pressed too closely. Some
acted when a string was pulled, others
when the string was not pulled, and
others would not act at all They Gre
ated no disorder and sold rapidly. Down
stairs they had undressed kids suitable
for midget statuary. 1t was very touch
ing, and the sickening atmosphere made
them seem very dusty-saw dusty.
The police officer allowed the reporter
to 90 into another store without pass
port He had intended to buy tin horn,
but he bought a pair of vases instead
10 cents As he was finding the money,
the three young women behind the coun-
ter held a whispered conversation which
none heard, and in which one of them
said, "Oh there's a reporter on the
EVENING JOURNAL; don't say word =
Not word was said
The night grew older, and the crowd.
thinned out after 10 o'clock, and at mid
night the tired young woman clerk wal
escorted home by the young man VIII,
had been shivering on the corner since
1890 o'clock.
Professor Well.
While passing the store Of Professor
Well, the optician, No 305 Market street
the reporter stepped in and had an inter
esting chat with the proprietor. Thii
firm deals extensively in optical goods
and is the only store in the city thaf
makes such goods speciality
The professor has been in the business
for forty years, and in that time, as h'
remarked, man should have been abl,
to retire. A look through the professor 4
stock revealed the fact that he has every
thing in his line, from pair OF 25-cen
specs up to q high price telescope. Here
Is way to make some one happy: Buy
pair Of glasses for some friend whose
sight is failing, or telescope for thl
boys and girls, or a microscope.
M. SIegary & Son.
M. Mepary & Son, No. sic Tatnal
street, present partial list Of thei
large stock IN our advertising columns
Persons who have never been in thi
large furnishing establishment will b
surprised at its extent. Everything
suitable for homes, large OF small, poo
or rich, is here in variety. HAndsom
! upholstered chairs and rockers, sofas
cabinets, secretaries and like articles il
the latest finishes and designs, give
large list from which to make selection
Engrsvings oil paintings, etchings ant
other works of art make up small Dor
tion of the large stock.
S. II. staats.
] The opening Of holiday goods at s. H
Stats, No 405 Market street. took plac
on Saturday. A large assortment o
handkerchiefs, silk muiilers, kid and mn
dressed kid gloves, silk and gloria um
brellas and many other fancy and usefu
articles are in this stock cologne an
perfumes, satc het powders, pocket books
y and other articles that are acceptabl
and useful gifts.
w. C. Robeiin.
j. w. G. Robelin, No. 10s West Sevent
: street, was found by the reporter in hi
usual good humor This establishment
is literally packed with wines, liquors
foreign and domestic cigars. importe
champagnes, imported French and Eng
lish cheese, and is the nearest approac
to a delicatessen store in the city. Her
can be found all the popular brands {
champagne and wines Mr. RobeH
makes a speciality Of cigars, and HI
II