Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-14
CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS
By the Thousands Throng the Streets
and Stores Of the City.
PRESENTS TO BE FOUND FOR ALL.
Merchants Say That the Holiday Business
is Unprecedented.
NOVELTIES CATCH THE DRIFT OF TRADE

though that joyful event is yet IL days
away, the turkey gobbles with a mournful
gobble and the quack of the duck sounds as
though he was about to be visited by the
doctor whose name he speaks.
The danes of the poultry yard are pre-
pairing their mourning garb for the eventful
day when all the world Is happy except the
inhabitants OF that sequestered spot where
the executioners ak rings out in the crisp
morning air and the dying struggle OF
headless fowl is all that remains Of the once
proud king of the flock.
Yesterday was the last Saturday but one
before the wants of old Santa must be sup
piled, and the people of Pittsburg took the
opportunity of seeing what there is to see
and also of purchasing many dainty articles
which will convey their good wishes and
hearty godspeed to their friends. The
streets were crowded all the afternoon, but
the shops where holiday goods were dis
played were ready to put out the standing
room only" sign, as it was almost impossible
to do anything else but stand, or follow the
tidal wave of the crowd and take chances
of striking the right counter at last.
IN THE TOY SHOPS.
In the toy shops old Santa delighted the
crowds of youngsters who were glad to meet
the kind-looking, whlte-haired grandpa, not
withstanding the fact that they would prob
ably have been frightened had he taken his
artificial face off to get little air. They
poured their wants into his ever willing
ears, and seemed satisfied that he could pro-
duce anything from dog cart to house and
lot at a moments notice.
The merchants seem satisfied at the condi-
tion of the holiday trade, and not one was
found to say that it Is not above the stand
ard of preceding years. About the first
thing the holiday youth Is supposed to do is
to look for an outfit in which to spend the
holidays, though some go in for something
elegant for the young lady before think
ing of themselves. At Gusky's it was
declared that business was never
better, Notwithstanding the stringency
of the money market. However, they
say their best trade does not come in until
nearer the HOLIDAYS. The store was crowded
Yesterday, and their clerks had all it was
possible for them to attend to. In other
clothing stores it was the same, and business
seemed to be fourishing. At KautmRnns'
dozens of sleighs are being presented to their
boy customers to sort OF coax out little
snow. Gusky's are trying to get ahead of
the question by giving away little wagons
which don't have to await the caprice of
nature to make them go. Other firms have
similar bait out to attract the eyes of the
boys.
MANY NEW GAMES.
Dozens of new games are set out to attract
the holiday shoppers at the toy stores.
Fleishman s. Co. can show "Stanley in
Africa" send "Citizen Train Around the
World" "Give Casey a Base on Balls" or
almost anything else in the way of indoor
amusements. "Pigs in Glover" have grown
to be porkers, and are not heard OF now,
while "Tiddlewink Tennis" leads the van.
Dozens of baseball games, with more or less
merit, are to be found to while away the
weary hours. These games are kept at all
the stores OF this character. The elevator
into the toy rooms was kept busy yesterday,
and there was constant stream of people
leaving, loaded down with bundles.
Silver Lake and other skating resorts are
coated with ice, and that is what makes AL.
G. Pratt's business in skates boom. A pair
OF club skates are now worth IS cents. Two
years ago they cost 81 25, and not many
years ago the same make of skate cost
several dollars. Magic lanterns, steam en-
gines, etc., are rapidly disposed of. Mr..
Pratt says that snow is the panacea for hol-
iday business of every kind, and that last
Monday while the storm was in progress,
more goods were sold than on any other day
this winter. In such weather mothers always
want something to keep the boys indoors.
TOO BUSY TO TALK ABOUT IT.
Drygoods men were found to be too busy
to tell how busy they really were. They
say they never had better business, and last
season is not to be compared to it. Stores of
all character have out big holiday displays,
and the woods have been robbed of their
evergreen to beautify the shop windows of
the city.
The higher classes of jewelry, silverware
watches, etc., catch the buyers of Christmas
presents this season more than heretofore,
and the cheaper grades are found to be in the
road rather than finding sales. s. F.
Roberts says that this season more than any
other have they found that PIttsburgers are
buyers of high class goods. All the jewellers
were kept busy yesterday, and one store that
usually employs 16 clerks found that 80 was
not an oversupply. The candy shops have
also begun to reap the benefits of the holi-
day season. Not that presents of confec-
tionery are being bought SO soon, but young
ladies out shopping are compelled to keep
the "sHeet tooth" doctored up.
The shop keepers will, OF course, be sorry
when the holidays are over, but there will
be loud rejoicing on the part of those who
found 1t necessary to spend their hard
earned money for presents for their friends.
They can then rejoice that Christmas comes
but once year and begin to save money for