The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-23
CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS.
THE STREET THRONGED WITH AN
IMMENSE PROCESSION.
Uncle Sam and the Express People over
run-uow the Day VIII Be 0bsetSsd In
Eichmond-Newspspe Take Rest.

II Is fortunate for holiday shoppers ana
storekeepers that one more business ia!
intcryenes before Christmas
The throng on Broad street all day yes
terday was a surging human mass from
early morning until the shops closed at
midnight Saturday, many think uhi0r-
tunateIy so. is the pay uay TOR large
proportion OF the wdSe-wOrKeTs or Ken
mOHd. and the effect was largely let III
the retail stores last evening.
1hc merchants generally nave taken un-
usual pans ana care % make an attrdc-
tive Christmas exhibit, and the snow
windows never made such a brilliant dis
play before.
a walk up the south side OF Broad
street presents a panoramic view OF beau
tlful ana artistically arranged Christmas
goods in every imaginable variety.
The sidewalks yesterday were almost
sOlidly filled with purchasers, sightseers
and prOmenaders, while the stores were
crowded and the clerks pressed TO the
last degree.
Pretty women were out by scores. and
the curling was lined with admiring
males. VINO stood for hours and watched
the passing show.
IHE CRUSH Al THE EXPRESS CFFIcE.
The reflex Of all these hundreds OF shop
pers was tremendously felt al the post
ONCE and the express office. where boxes
ana packages OF every Imaginable SIZE
were piled up.
uf NDulIfiU i4AlftNS Office Ndo n ldlll
all day with people sending away Christ
mas presents and IL is "A strong tribute
10 the wonderful patience and business
system OF Manager Welsh and his CLERKS
That everything went like clock work, ana
that the immense business was handled
without DELAY.
At the post-o1ice the registry depart
ment was overrun and packages piled
around the clerks I'm banks. The clerks
worked hard all day and long after regu-
lar hours 10 get off the great surplus OF
holiday gifts.
THE SCHOOLS CLosTD.
When tie public schools closed Friday
1t was for ten days, and the boys and
OF Christmas until Wednesday, the ~
Of January.
The premonitions Of Christmas exuber-
auce was evidenced yesterday and last
evening by the occasional explosion OF
cannOn-cracker or the defamation Of a
torpedo. bat the orders from the Chief
of-ioiic" strictly prohibiting the use Of
fireworks or the blowing of tin horns be-
fore thristmas-bay has kept down all
HaSrant violations Of the ordinance on
this subject and the city has been re-
Spited from the noises which make night
hldeOuS at this season of the year.
on Christm is-Day, as usual the post
oi!i"" viii observe Sunday hours and the
banks. ne railroad freight IepOts the
municipal and Governments offices and
many, of the business houses will lie
closed.
THE NrWSPAPERs TAKE HOLIDAY.
Ia order that the small army of news
paper laborcrs may have day Of rest
and rejoicing The daily uapors Of Rich
mond have by common consent deter
mined upon observing Christma--D aV.
The afternoon papers will not appear on
the afternoon OF that dag. ana IN morn
ing Journals Will not appear on We1ues-
day the day following Christmas.
\ Early every vehicle coming i'm from
lh" country Friday and Saturday were
loaded with eyoTgrecns for Christmas
trees and church decorations. and large
quantities for home consumption were sold
IN The market. The running cedar and the
holly seemed TO be the favorte ever
greens.
The beautiful hslmy weather has been
unusually pr0pritious for Christmas fes-
uViucs, and many parties Of children. led
hF their parents or teachers. might have
with knife ard natchct gathering cedar,
pine and holly for Christmas decorations.