Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-08
CANDY is In DEMAND.
Taking the Place of Fruit Which Did
Not Materialize.
ORDERS CROWD .CONFECTIONERS.
At Work Day and Night to Keep Up With
the Great Cry for Sweets.
SOME LUXURIES THAT MUST BE HAD

"What would the world be without lux
uries?" was asked of well-known candy
manufacturer in this city yesterday.
SIT would not be-" was the reply. eff
We cannot get luxuries in one way we will
in another, and when we fail to get what we
have been accustomed to we will supply the
deficiency and make it up on something
else. People crave something inviting, and
they must get it, no matter in what shape.
81 suppose you do not know that candy
has taken the place of fruit this year, and
the dealers can hardly supply the demand, 4"
continued the speaker. ''You know there
has been no fruit of any account this sum-
mer, and what has been brought to market
stayed there until somebody with pocket
book longer than a piece of sticky tafy
came along and bought it. Poor people and
those in moderate circum stances could not
afford to buy fruit. and, as a result, they
bought something else. They had been ac-
customed to indulge in fruit, and when they
could not obtain the latter they sought to
appease their appetites with candy. 1t
made a good substitute and thousands of
dollars for the manufacturers
GREAT DEMAND FOR THE BEST CANDY.
A tour of the candy stores was made for
the purpose of ascertaining what truth there
was in this statement. George Mcdonald.
the Sixth street manufacturer, said:
Americans want luxuries, and will obtain
them. despite the elements and everything
else. The failure of the fruit crop is mainly
responsible for the heavy demand for our goods
and candy has taken the place of peaches,
plums, apples, etc. The prices have not ad-
vanced any. but the people want better grade
of candy than they have been consuming in the
past. Every dealer is axerting himself getting
ready for the holiday trade, and 1 do not
see how orders will be filed with any degree
of satisfaction. The outlook for the Christmas
trade exceeds anything ever known in the busi-
ness before. and the rush will be worse than
last year. Good mixed candies are now retail
ing from 20 cents to 81 and over, and many new
novelties are being introduced. No. there is no
demand for the cheap stuff which ostrich
cannot digest. Those painted candies are only
sold by adventures that come into the city
and after staying two or three months depart.
People have learned lately that it is cheaper to
buy something wholesome and which can be
eaten without making one sick"
RUSH FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
At Reymer's one of the wholesale sellers
said: I'VE have been exceedingly busy since
July last and the rush for candies will continue
until after the holidays The failure of the
fruit crop has undoubtedly been the chief
cause of the universal demand. Our business
has been exceedingly good this summer and
fall, and it shows that where people. cannot sup
ply cultivated taste for luxuries with one
thing they will do it with another. A better
class of goods will be sold this year, and the
increased demand will amount to great many
tons"
One of McClurg's candy sellers said: 81
think one of the causes leading to the demand
is increased consumption by school children.
The latter have been in the habit of getting a
penny or two each from their parents TO buy
fruit. but as there was very little fruit sold in
the shops, the young folks purchased candy in
stead. This looks very small, but when you
consider that there are over $4,000 school chill
dren in this city alone. it will amount to some-
thing. Then, again. as great many men, who
have been in the habit of taking home baskets
of fruit, did not feel like paying the price this
year. and took home candy instead. The out
look in our trade is big. and there will be more
good candy consumed this year than ever be-
fore"