Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-04
NICE HOLIDAY GIFTS.
THE RETAIL MERCHANTS GETTING
IN STOCK FOR THEIR XMAS TRADE.
Some Of tho Novelties That Are Being
Shown-ropuiar Articles for
Prcsent-Making.


affections Of the last week, will bleed
more freely in the month TO come, for in
ilrce short weeks thousands and thou
tnrds Of the barn- yard monarchs will be
jmmolated at the shrine Of Santa Claus
No sooner does the month so beauti.
inily described in poetry rs Indian sum-
mor pass than the minds Of ali good south
eru people turn TO yet happier time-a
tine when the hearts Of children are
fllod with eladness and tho thoughts Of
the aged and the weak revert 20 "A gIori-
ols DAY Of nearly two thousand years
ago when blessed light shown down
mon the world and foretold the salvation
Of millions 10 come in future oges.
THoU0HTs or CHRISTMAS.
December came upon us with touch
of frosty weather, but the chill breath OF
winter brought JOY TO many, even. though
. followed lovely autumn, for In this
twelfth month, above all others. the at
'saton Of the public turn to happy day
Vhcn loving hearts are united and
fathers, mothers, and children sit to-
coiher IN blessed peace and happiness
around a happy hearthsde.
Every hour Of December betOkens
"hristmas-in the morning the merry,
uurt.ing multiindes that thrOng the
streets, aud in the evening when the
twilight Of winter casts its darkening
shadows over the busy city, the hun
dre5s OF lights that sparkle from the
windows OF the shops. Woman IS IN her
llory now. No matter how small her
Ilrso NAV be, provided there is some
thing in Il, she will be happy. Hours and
hours are spent on the streets by once
busy house wives, and frequently, II
must be admitted, hard-worked club
bics ind cold or hastily-proparedd din
uers awaiting thom when they return 20
th,ir afternoon meal. But oil these do
mrstic trials are overlooked, and no
father can have hard feeling when he
knows that ~, rs in the stores seeking
something that viii gladden. the hearts OF
the httls ones.
rHK MTrLE FOLKS AND SANTA CLAUS.
But IL mothers and fathers are looking
forward to Christmas what must be the
feelings Of the young folks How many
little curly heads are busy concocting
demands 10 make upon that mysterious
nd genial spirit. Santa Claus. Preco-
cio,ls mfnDts are wondering how nc can
possibly gCt down the chimney when
iie hearthsldes are blocked with Latrobe
stoves end "big sisters" bric-0-brGc.
And vet tins firoside god has never
failed thom, despite these seemingly I'M
rruuItlOue circumstances
Ia q city Of Richmonds size il is in
deed pleasure for the more mature TO
uandcraroundinth in those realms from which
Chris Kringle draws his supplies, and TO
note the many pretty TOYS and presents
that are laid before the public. This
amusement "a DIsPATCH reporter sought
OBJ Yesterday, and though the day of plea
sure and happiness 10 all is still some
weeks of the stores have all commenced
getting In their Christmas supplies.
uoLLs IN CLOTHES AND WITHOUT CLOTHES.
one of the fret places which the re-
rort,r visited was a large dry goods
LJuso on Broad street, or more properly
au emporium, for in the vast stock Of
Holiday goods almost every conceivable
'yle Of gift was presented to his gaze.
Perhaps the most amusing features of
tle establishment was the tremendous
outlay Of toys. Dolls were seen in
scOros-eome clad in the daintiest and
most beautiful robes, while others, hOr-
ribic d,ctt, appeared as did fair Venus
IN the days Of old, sans hats, sans
clothes, sans everything. The salesman
who WIS plotting the newspaper-man
through the regions of oll-babyhood
remarked that the sale of this toy was
larger at the present day than il had
ever been before "In the last three
weeks, said he, II have sold more of
them than | ever did in any preceding
three weeks, no matter at what season.
ToY COWS THAT GIVE MILK.
The most unique toy and the one that
sill doubtless be the most popular with
the children this wear is a COW that gives
nilk. This animal Dor 1t is so natural
that It deserves that namel is furnished
with the lRctine fluid by some disinter-
ostod party through small hole in her
SKIN and allows herself TO he MIXED with
perfect grace. without the assistance,
too of any hydrants OF gurgling brooks
that are generally found III the vicinity
of such cattle As the salesman and the
reporter left this group of splendid toys
the former gently chucked one a the
COWS under her fabby chin and 10 from
those seemingly mute lips there came
forth O soft, bovine remonstrance. Intact,
every one of these realistic images was
also supplied with vocal organs and by
Iatting them on their necks they all gave
ilrth exceedingly cow-like responses.
Tho largest COW responded in a credit
able alto. while the others, according 20
thGr size. vented their replies III So
prsnO-like tones. One, however. was
noted for her heavy baritone, and when
.he murmured pleasant image of some
rustic barn yard fioated before tho re-
pOrters eyes
A sheep, with snowy feeco and eme-
raid eyes. was another striking toy cal
e1lated 10 please the heart OF any child.
This animal possessed the power TO
bleat in a very realistic manner.
INA PRETTY CHINA STORE.
Leaving the dry-goods and toy stores,
Toe newspapeTman visited large whole |
sale cTockory house. Here there was a |
gorgeous scene. and beautiful bric-a-
trac presented itself on every side, A
yogng man 10 perplexity rs TO what TO
give his sweetheart, can have his doubts /
dlspelled by looking over the goods in |
these places. for there is everything that
suits the taste Of lady. The leading |
presents in this line nowadays are the
piano and banquet-lamps, which are be-
coming more and more popular Every I
glrl feels that her paior is lacking III
The most essential thing if she does not
lave one OF these lamps, and young |
nan Was heard to remark only few days |
ago. that after the moon. nothing was
no conducive OF sentimentality as these
same lamps
BEAUTIFUL STYLES or LAMP-sHADEs.
The touch Of art il not only bestowed
upon the bronze and nickel from which !
Tie lamps are made, tot also upon the
shades,- which are worked out OF the
most elaborate siIks and lacea The re-