The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-23
THE HOLIDAY BUYERS RUSH.
The Streets and Stores Thronged
With Shoppers.


To-day is the last day for holiday shop
pers to spend their money. The streets
overfiowed with them yesterday but to-
day viii bring the great crush that al
ways comes on Christmas eve.
Broughton streets stores were like
beehives yesterday, thronged to the
doors, but, like the historic omnibus,
there was always room for one more.
Along the sidewalks the toy vendors and
street fakirs have established their
stands, and they let no opportunity slip
10 call attention to their wares. which
range all the way from a toy balloon, a
masked face or a tin horn 10 the most
elaborate chinaware. The holiday time
is the street dealers opportunity, and
they make the most of it. Cheapness and
not SUBSTANTIALLY is the prime factor in
their transactions.
Few people have any conception OF the
large amount of work it requires to
handle the Christmas business at the
postoffice and at the Southern Express
Offices. The amount of money orders is
sued at the postoffice is exactly double
what it is at other seasons, while the
number of packages of all sorts and
descriptions can scarcely be estimated.
The rush this year commenced on the
18th, whereas, in former years the Christ
The registry and mailing departments
have their hands full, but manage, with
extra help, to get all the mail matter off
on time.
The employees of the Southern Express
Company have been working day and
night handling the great rush of business.
The force of clerks has been somewhat
reduced on account of the grip, but
the men have doubled up, so to
speak, and no delays have occurred.
The Jug trade is something enormous,
and to see the quantity of liquor shipped
to the interior would lead one to suppose
it was supply for the whole state.
Thous ands of boxes of oranges are also
handled, and this, besides the merchan-
disc in every conceivable shape, makes
enough work to keep the force busy all
day and all night When one thinks
that the majority of the packages
forwarded are intended for Christmas
presents the thought of hard times is at
once dispelled, and the people all seem to
be happy and contented and intend to
make others so,
The markets and grocery stores were
rushed yesterday, but the rush was moth
ing to what it will be to-day with two days
Sunday and Christmas-purchase to
make. The market stalls have put on
their holiday dress of green, and the
holly bush is everywhere. All the little
stores on the suburbs have been doing a
rushing business for the last day or two
and tonight will be their harvest
Saturday night and Christmas eve do not
come together every year, but when they
do it means business.
The general insurance offices of this
city will suspend business to-day at 2
o'clock, closing their offices until Tuesday
morning in order to give their clerks an
opportunity to thoroughly enjoy the
Christmas holiday.
The Savannah Cotton Exchange will be
closed to-day and Monday, on account of
Christmas No telegraphie reports of the
market will be received. The New York
and Liverpool exchanges will also be
closed, and no business will be transacted
in the local market.