The morning times., 1895-12-25
Hundreds Swarmed the Markets
Buying Xmas Dinner.
GOODIES ON EVERY HAND
Rich md Poor Cheek by JOwI Bought
to the Extent of Their rPurSes-Splen-
didly Stocked Markets Gay with
Lights and Greens and Moving
Gaily Dressed Throng.

which has crowded the stores and streets
| made itself manifest. The hurrying throngs
| OF buyers and sight-seers picked their way
among the wilderness of evergreens, and
| crowded between the stalls to view and
sample and purchase of the vendors who
| WED with each other In their cries and
gesticulations.
| Stout old ladies', Juggling generously
| proportuned baskets which were seemingly
filled with allmanner of good things, puffed
| and painted as they struggled TO get
through the crowds. Small boys with horns
| that were big enough To give delight TO
the noisest urchin that celebrated Christ
| mas, and hoarse enough to rouse private
| night watciiman, got into every lady's
way and under cverybody's. feet and
reve.ed in the confusion.
/ Dignified gentleman of portly mein and
| fashionably dressed youths, with dainty
! maids leaning upon their arms. mingled
| in the throng, with urchins ana bcggars
and shamb.ing Dusty Rhodes" and Weary
| Wilkins" whose share in Christmas is 10
| be only the feast OF hungry eyes and the
watering of hungry mouths.
At Center market the busiest of the
tllrongs was found. II was happy natured
throng. too. From the picturesque
negresses, who bent over the rlaring candles
in the square and offered, .wreatlis and
! di:,nified policeman who sauntered up
and down, every FACE worc the hrnadest of
| smiles. and every voi.e The happiest of rings.
WAS A CHERRY THRoNG.
heChristmas fce,ing7 was in everybody $
breast and communicated itself to every
thing around. What red. and yellow, and
green. and golden piles of fruit glistcned
in the light, Bewildering numbers Of fat
and tempting turkeys were thrown iii
nv N the into nirChIs s.
ing. Sides OF oxen and heads pf sheep
hinted of the olden times when these Were
roasted whole; and iiers upon tiers of
wreaths and flowers lent brightness to
the scene.
A lady in ample proportions, staggered
under the weight OF two small babies,
market basket. and II half-doZcn packages
thrown in, for ballast perhaps, yet She
seemed searching for more things To buy.
4 father lust from the stores, with his
arms full of mysterious looking parcels,
Inopped his beaded forehead despairingly.
| and gaZed forlornly about as though he
needed some one Ia take care of him in his,
to him. novel surroundings; and one young
woman. followed by an anxious and excited
shop boy, gave chase to a recreant pug
dog, which had made away with long
string of sausages, aud turned deaf ear
to her calls and threats.
A slender prim old lady, after careful
scrutiny and an argument with the stall
keeper, purchased six carrots, bunch of
parsley and some thyme, and went her way
rejoicing, while jolly old gentleman, jok-
ing and laughing with a throng of litue
folk. filled up their arms with every con-
ccivable sweetmeat and good things of the
season.
AT THE OTHER MARKETS.
And this scene was duplicated at the
market at X and Fifth streets, and the other
market at X and Twenty y-third street.
AT the other markets the people poured in
in steady, unbroken throng until past
midnight and the cries of the dealers, the
noise of the horns, and the chatter of many
voices, walked pandemonium. The displays
at the markets were exceptionally generous
and lavish.
A profusion of flowers was everywhere
apparent, with an abundance of fruit, all
the result of the mild season. With all of
their gaiety and noise. the crowds were eX-
ceedingly well behaved, good humor and
pleasantly being exchanged between strang-
ers. and nobody minded the jostlmg and
crushing.
Nor must the porkers be forgotten. They
were there, as necessary to the Christmas
dinner as even Christmas itself, and out OF
many a basket, an interestingly suggestive
little red nose peeped or snout, holding
a round red apple protruded- Today, they
are sleek and brown, and well done up in
spices and gravies, to tempt the very
dairtiest of palates.
If il has been complained of that this
was a dun Yuletide, trip 10 these mar
kets last night would dispel that Illusion,
and even the very grumpiest "Old Scrooge"
must have felt his heart soften under the in
fluence of the bountiful supply of good
cheer. both substantial and spiritual, which
was there displayed. Whatever the exclu-
sive few may have been doing toward
the enjoyment of the season, the people en-
joyed and are enjoying to the uttcrmost
limit the Christmas of SO.