Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-12-23
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
WAS At IT'S REIGHr YESTERDAY AND LAST
MIGHT.
The Streets Alive With People Wills the Retail
Stores Had Ali the Business They Could We'll
Attend TO-Scsnss About
the City.

The tide Of Christmas shoppers was at
its full height. yesterday and last night.
and between early morning and midnight
the current of earnest men and women,
and of excited children which eddied and
swirlsd about the retail establishments,
big and little alike, never ceased for
moment
The rush began early and continued late,
and many were the clerks and proprietors
who went without the usual number OF
meals, while few of the stores which were
really In the swim were closed before mid
night, and not few were open until some
time after that hour. The days business
was dig one, in almost every line OF trade,
and numbers of competent persons thought
the total for the day compared very favor
ABLY with other saturdays before Christ
masr in recent years Certain it is that
the volume Of trade was far in excess OF the
corresponding day Of last year.
Last night the scenes along the streets
devoted TO retail trade were full OF 0otn IN
terest and excitement. The crowds were
terrific, and every person seemed by MS or
| ner actions TO be possessed OF bundle OF
money which be was under contract 10
spend in the shortest possible time. Not
ONLY were city folks out almost TO the
last man, woman and child but the
nominations of the suburbs came into
town almost en- masse. and the Street
Railway Company must have taken In
a bushel of nickels. Tne crowds coming
from across the river last evening were
particularly a study. The cars crossing
the steel bridge were filled 10 their utmost
in fsac ne
TO even obtain space for one foot on the
rear platform and steps, and as soon as
Main street was reached there would be a
general exodus from the cars and charge
upon the stores in the vicinity. The up
town cars, bringing passengers from
Benwood. McMechen and Bellalre
were almost equally crowded, but the
passengers getting of at various
points north o. the @Ssek made the effect
less noticeable. Returning home later IN
the evening, these suburban shoppers
were laden with bundles and packages OF
all imaginable shapes and sizes, and there
was frequently borne to the observers
ears shr!eks Of dismay or imprecation as
fragile purchases were damaged or totally
wr cked in the crush. The railroads also
did quite a business during the day
handling shoppers to and from the city.
So great was the rush Of customers at
some Of the Main and Market street stores,
last night, that policemen or others armed
with authority had 10 be stationed at the
doors TO regulate or attempt 10 regulate
the throngs, aud il was not uncommon to
see dense mass about the front OF popu-
lar establishment extending clear out TO
the line Of the euro and effectually block
ading the sidewalks. At such places peo-
pie who had succeeded in getting into the
stores had great trouble In get
ting out again, while many
outside found the outlook for getting
in so uncertain that they refused TO IN
dergo the delay and wear and tear, defer
ring their shopping until tomorrow.
Every body was good-natured, however,
and took all crOwding, jostllng, delay ana
other small vexations in good part and as
inseparable from the season.
Yesterday was big day for the post
Office authorities and Express Companies,
but the bulk Of business done, large as 1T
was will probably be fully duplicated to.
morrow. The rush also began yesterday
in the delivery departments Of the big re-
tail stores, but tomorrow they will have
much more business TO contend with, as
nearly all presents purchased are marked
TO be sent Monday afternoon or evening.
Business men anticipate another big day
tomorrow The confectiOners especially
will then be called upon to fill orders, and
many ton of candy will change hands
during the day and evening.