The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-12-27
THE HOLIDAY TRADE.
LINES OF BUSINESS THAT ARE CON-
SIDERED NOT IN 1T.
But They Get Their Share Just the
Same-Talks With Lawyer, a Real
Estate Dealer, an Auctioneer, and an
Undertaker-A Timely Hint.


One would naturally think that the amount
of attention given by all sorts of people to
the purchase of holiday gifts at this time of
year would seriously interfere with trade in
the more substantial lines of business. This
was what HERALD man thought the other
day when he started out to ascertain the facts
in the case. The results of his investigation
are interesting.
First prominent attorney was consulted.
Surely here was business checked by the
spirit OF good will prevailing at this period of
the year. AT this time at least wrangling
and legal warfare wage not. Yet, just the
opposite was learned. The legal gentleman,
smiled when the inquiry was made, and re-
piled: "Whie l cannot say that the extent of
our transactions is greater at this time, i can say
that there is no cessation of hostilities. There
is popular impression that people go to law,
as the saying is, more often when money is
scarce than when it is plentiful, but my ex-
perience is, and, dare say, the experience of
every lawyer is, that lawsuits are more fire.
quent in prosperous times than in any other.
Lawyers must be paid, you know, and there
are many other necessary expenses which
make the luxury of lawsuit rather costly
Oue. lueTelOTe lie VINO sues must nave
money. The more money afloat, the more
frequent is litigation, and not even the innu-
merabe attractions offered at this season to
those who have money prevent an expendit-
ure of IA part Of 1t in instituting litigations.
No, young man; the Christmas season has no
horrors for the lawyer"
wel-known auctioneer was next qucs-
toned. "Is the auctoneers business affected
Inv hal nj cty,oac |,
ing the question asked him. ''Yes, it is" he
replied, 'but not to a very large extent for
the reason that he reinforces his business dur
ing the Christmas season by the sale of such
merchandise that at other seasons of the year
he would not handle. About the first of De-
cember our regular business falls off, and
does not rise again until well after the hol-
days. To counteract this decline we secure
consignments of such goods as will in a meas
ure attract the average Christmas buyer, such
as silverware, paintings, books ETC. In that
way we protect ourselves against any real loss,
which we would otherwise experience OF
course, we are not always successful, but we
are generally"
An extensive hardware dealer was next
visited. EYES," he said, ''this is dull sea-
son of the year in our business. But, cannot
say that its dullness is due to the holiday
season, for each year even in our line
a greater number of novelties are intro
duced especially designed for the holiday
trade, the sales of which 90 in a great
way to prevent the Christmas season from
being our dullest. OF course, the hard
ware trade depends In great measure upon,
and is Influenced by, the state OF the building
trade, and as this is about the dullest season
in that business, our business is SO influenced
by 1t. Yet, because OF the reasons l have
given you it is becoming each year less dull"
One of Washington's many real estate
dealers was next questioned. 'This is our
very dullest season, but L cannot say that it is
due to the Christmas season. 1t is true that
most people at this time of the year are more
Interested In the purchase of less substantial
things than real estate, but the dullness in our
business is due more to desire on the part of
people to study the market and make prepara-
lions for the coming season. Then, too, at
This time purchasers of real estate are busily
engaged in the settlement of their business
accounts, and for that reason really have OF
the opportunity to engage In buying or sell
ing. In other words, they are too busy with
other matters The business is not at a
standstill by any means, the true real estate
mans business never is SO. Sales are being
made every day, and some of them at least,
know, to have been promoted by the holiday
season. So, 1t cannot be said that the real
estate business is depressed because of the
holiday season."
"No," said prominent builder, sit cannot
be said that the dullness in building just now
is due to the holiday trade and have yet to,
learn that 1t ever was so. But one reason can
be assigned and that is the lateness of the
season and the fear that work would be
interrupted by cold weather If begun now. If
we could be assured that the weather would
cause us no inconvenience orders for build
ing would be plentiful. But such an assurance
cannot, of course, be had, and for that reason,
and not because of the holiday trade. the bust
ness of building is dull. 1t will remain SO
until spring, and then look out for one of the
most active seasons ever known here.n
An undertaker's sign met The HERALD
mans eye, and saying to himself that there
was business certain TO be rendered dull by
the desire and the determination of people to
live through the holiday season, the pro-
prietor was duly accosted. "My dear young
fellow" said the undertaken, ''our holiday
business as general rule is very good indeed"
"How is that 90 THE HERALD man asked,
rather startled by the answer. ''Well, i" he con
tinued, sit is just this way. People eat more
during the holidays than they do at any other
one season of the year, and consequently they
eat more of that which Injuries them. An in
creased death rate follows, and as an increased
death rate means an increased business for us,
the undertaker's business is promoted by the
holidays
the point made could not be oyerruled, and
1t is hoped that the readers of The HERALD
will govern themselves accordingly