The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-13
MERRY CHRTSTMAS.
T.: M0MnhY Begins the Second Week
In Less Than Two Weeks the Joyous Fcsti-
val VIII lie Here.

Two weeks more and we will DO in tn,
midst Of Merry Christmas. Already the bun.
die siege has begun in tho stores, on the
streets, In the cars. Christmas packages arc
| becoming bulkIer and bulker every hour
| and yesterday when the bright weather made
an IDEAL shopping time enough mysterious
| parcels were conveyed secretly home to stock
many Christmas shop.
Broad. Main. Ninth and other streets were
particularly the scene of the army's ravages.
Dainty madens who would view with horror
bundle-carrying at any other season. wendell
their devious course In and out the crowds
laden with packages great and small Young
men. catching tho spirit, cheerfuily bore
yelow-paper burdens until brought 10 grief
by familiar nodding face aud confronted at
tho same time with the problem how TO get
Their hats of In n gallant salute with
botn hands full as fun could be.
Little boys and girls stood with faces glued
20 window panes in wide-eyed delight at the
treasures displayed so layishlY, while they
made mental lists of all the good things ley
would write 90 Santa Claus for so as TO give
him plenty of time to G ready for Christmas
morn. This was especially true Of Broad
street where many of the merchants have
decorated their windows with unique and
pretty holiday decorations.
III was small wonder that the stores were
thronged or that purses became thin and
haoby as the day wore on, for each shopper
represented nc least one. but moro likely n
score. OF gifts TO be chosen for dear ones at
homo and abroad in honor of the wonderful
seas Il OF giving and receiving of peace and
goodwill so near at hand
. Christmas comes earlier every year. was
the inconsistent remark Of many who were
lust beginning TO realize that the grand old
lestiya. was almost upon them before thew
had gwen thought to the preparation that
must be made for the worthy celebration.
Inc note OF preparation is sounding on
every side and its stirring call is meeting
with ready response. Already the day has
proved too short TO crowd IN all that mus. DO
done. and tho night hours are being en-
croached upon more every day. Eight. 9. 10
o. clock sees the crowd still eager. still untir-
IN. As the sunlight fades from the scene a
radiance hardly less bright streams from
every store 10 the glare OF gas and electric
lights.
The store windows are a study in them
selves, containing OBJ ects as varied a. human
pleasures and tastes, or as the expressions Of
the crowd hurryng past. These great ba-
Zaars, which give an index in the ADVERT sing
columns of IHE TINES OF what they con-
tain. hold something for all, he il a suit Of
clothes OF box of candy tin horn or a sill
yer service. Each window gives brilliant
index of the contents within. their arrange
ment exercising the best efforts of skilliul
WOIkmen 10 eaten the eye and mold the at
tentlon Some show hfe-hke groups with
painted scenes and accessories as elaborate
as a modern stage setting Others display a
towering pyramid composed of thousands of
pretty trifes. such as vases. tea-sets. fans,
laces. ribbons, iewelry. bric-a-brac. books.
pictures, and, above all. dolls big and little.
blue-eyed. bleck-eyed, faxen-haired or with
raven tresses, dressed according to the latest
modes or with no clothes at all. and suspended
from window-tops by their nccks. like so
many Christmas turkeys strung up in a mar
ket stall.