The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-19
IcorYn1our 1892, ny CHRISTINE TnuuNE HER.
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time Of hustle. It is hustle that be-
gins weeks in advance. The Christmas.
goods are most Of them In place in No
yember, but people do not get their pur-i
chases done then, when the shops
would DO less crowded than later on.
oh, no! They wait till every one else
suddenly recollects that the holidays
are close at hand, aud then they begin.
under the most unfavorable circum-
stances, the delicate task Of choosing
appropriate gifts for people of widely
varying tastes. The woman who would
deliberate tor half an hour over her se-
lection OF a birthday present for fas-
tidious friend, did the birthday come
in the middle OF the year, will rashly
buy right and left, taking what she can
pet rather than what she wishes, aud
thank Heavenif she escapes with lie
preserved and garments intact from the
crowd who are submitting to the same
voluntary martyrdom.
These foolish ones, who have neg.
lected to buy oil for their lamps until
the last moment, have their uses as
parts OF o spectacle. Possibly they
would not relish the suggestion that
they are to be regarded as the shifting
fragments Of Kaleidoscope, but'that is
the aspect In which they present them
selves TO any one who has the time to
draw aside from the procession into a
sheltered corner and to watch the hur-
ryfnp lido OF humanity.
How business-like they all lookl and
vet how different from the ordinary
business crowd on common shopping
thoughts intent! These people almost
all have an air Of suppressed excitement
about them, and the scraps Of conversa-
ton one catches as they pass all turn
upon the ono great subject.
"Well, I've Just bought him the love-
lest smoking-jacket."
'sI'm sure 1 hope she'll like tho pin.
Icouldn't think Of anything else she
Saiary, for the love of mercy, tell me
what to get for Aunt Annel She has
everything in the world already"
AS THE DAY DRAWS NEARER.
All this and much more may be noted
onthe shopping streets for threeor four
weeks before the 25th. AS the day
draws nearer, the crowds become denser,
4 the aspects OF its members more pre-
occupied. The streets are lined with
fakirs who sell mechanical toys war
ranted to get out of order within twenty
four hours, rubber balls, screaming
balloons, hideous little figures that are
inflated by the breath, and whose col
lapse is as sudden as their distension,
warbling whistles, iumpingjacks, gold,
silver, and bronze tinsel for Christmas
trees and green's, OF English holly and
mistletoe shout. their wares, and the
steps arc besieged by importunate
fower.boys.
In the midst of all the gayety are the
blind, lame, and palsied peddlers of
shoe laces, lead pencils and hair pins,
who are evidently moved with the hope
that while the angel of generosity is
troubling the human flood they may be
able to step in and win share of tho
blessing. And always on the outskirts
ofthe crowd Is to be heard the wheeling
wall of an accordion or the asthmatic
pipe OF superannuated and democrat
lied hand organ, played by an old. very
old, man or by woman with baby on
her knees.
ALL GLASSES REPRESENTED.
On Christmas, in the uptown shop
ping districts, the streets grow quieter
after while. Here the well-to.do make
their purchases, and they have gone
l.,...> a. 4hair dtooarn nnu,T- torya In
the poorer quarter, 1t is different. Not
until the children wore in bed could the
mother, who is her own nurse, cook
and general servant, get out to do her
fnal-or, perhaps, her only Christmas
shopping, and to buy the morrow's din
ner. Often. too, she Is moved by
money considerations to wait until the
last moment to make her purchases, in
the hope that she may thus snatch q
bargain.
So, she may DO seen late at night
working her way home, bearing her
basket, sometimes attended by her hus-
band, who, If he be an adopted citizen,
usually stalks ahead, his pipe in his
mouth, his hands in his pocket. 1t is
not unlikely that she will be accompa-
MED by train Of small children who
have positively refused to DO tucked
all snug in their beds" in orthodox
fashion, like the typical young Ameri-
can who rules his elders, in coming out
10 see the sights.
Until twelve o'clock and after the
crowds surge to and fro about the
markets and in the neighborhood OF
the shops, and before the quiet that is
supposed to accompany night has fair
" settled over tho city, 1t is again
Srudely Jared by the hoarse footing OF
fish horns, the snap of fre-crackers, or
the louder notes OF horse pistols.
CHRISTMAS MORNING 1s HERE!
When Christmas morning fairly
dawns, 1t is upon a town that is the
greatest possible contrast to the city OF
the day before. The shops are closed,
the streets deserted, except for the
scattered church.goers or the chance
pedestrian on his way to a Christmas
breakfast. The horns, fire.crackers,
and horse.pistols are wearied out for
tho present. Asabbath stiffness reigns
over everything. The note Of an oc.
casional church.bell breaks the quiet,
perhaps, or the rattle Of laden express
wagon, delivering belated parcels, or
the jangle OF q street cars bells inter.
rupts the calm.
Christmas has come! The impassive
house fronts give no sign Of the joy
that reigns within, except where thisis
indicated by q glimpse Of happy face
at the wreath.hung windows or by q
mar, fhrnnnh a hnnsh.dnnr lnnhnhd 10