The evening times., 1895-12-06
PEEPS INTO THE STORES
Christmas Novelties Line the
Counters and Shelves.
PRESENTS FOR EVERYBODY
New Woman Can Shit Her Taste.
wond derful Toys for Little Ones.
Prices Fit Every PocketbOok-The
Crush of shoppers Has Begun-The
Wise VIII Buy Now.

The Christmas shopping of women has
begun with rush that must be delightful to
| the shop-keepers. Talk of hard times seems
| to dwindle to nothingness when the fule-
| tide approaches, and every one apparently
| has "silyer to spare
In the toy stores the hustle is at its
| height. Everybody wants novelties, and
to judge of the quantities on hand, Santa
Claus has spent a very busy year and must
have utterly exhausted his store of inven-
tive genius.
There are mechanical toys galore. and
some of them show wonderful insight into
the mysteries OF the child mind. Nothing
pleases little ones, be they boys or girls,
quite SO much as q goodly array of animals.
This year, II Noah could peep into our large
stores, he would consider that his ark per-
forniance was III every particular a second
hand show.
Some OF these beasts are almost life size
and according 10 their valuation they as
sume' heroic proportions. An elephant be-
jcweied in Eastern paraphernalia, Is The
small sum of $50. A camel fitted out Tor
his land voyage is S2o. There Is COW
that gives real milk tthat Ia, If she is well
fetl), lows In the most approved style, and
mods her head continually, and she costs
almost as much as pure blood Alderney.
LESS EXPENSIVE NOVELTIES.
But there are some animal novelties that
are much less expensive. a bow-wow OF
the poodle species wags his small tail and
answers questions by a plaintive nod of
his curly head, all for S4.49. Among the
iron, or so-caiied iDdestructible toys,
miniature coal cart and an ice wagon.
filled with the real ware, make their debut
among patrols, fire engines, and flour
and feed vehicles.
An old friend TO erown-up folks that
makes n new appearance this season is the
Zoetrope. or wheel OF life. The Zoetrope
is said to be improved, but it is appa renuy
the same familiar toy of twenty years ago;
and the dog Jumps through the hoop just
nin,bIy now as then. and the acrobat per-
forms the self-sane feats.
The brownies are now in the height OF
their popularity, SO one is not surprised TO
find brownie ten-pins, brownie dishes, and
bats and balls, all decorated with the quaint
little pictures OF Palmer Cox's heroes.
A funny little toy that Is cheap and anus
ing is the Irish jig-dancer. 1t costs only
quarter, and performs enough OF antics
to furnish laugh for n week.
Little tots that like Santa Claus to put
lights in their Christmas trees VIII rejoice
to know that this year he has invented
patent lanterns that Will answer the pur-
pose of brilliancy and beauty, and are not at
all in danger of causing a conflagration.
= But the dolls-tbe dollsi There is viii.
deruess of dolls. All prices, all ages; bru-
nettes, blondes, higli-class Partisan danes,
dainty white children and wolly-headed
Topsies. The best of the doll question is
that everywhere. the clerks say, '.Dolls are
cheaper this year than we have ever known
them before.r
WHAT MONEY WILL BUY.
Tweuty-five dollars buys such an exqui-
site production of French art that 1t isdiffi-
cult to believe that it is a counterfeit of
nature One dollar buys just as pretty
baby, hut 1t is not so large; for when 1t
comes to buying dolls quantity counts as
well as quality.
But the children are not the only ones
for whom genius has prepared novelties.
In the jewelry stores one thinks that in.
deed this is the age Of utilitariauism. Util-
ity is everywhere barnouiously united with
beauty. Silver ia mostly conspicuous by
its absence. All the new things are made of
gold, fine gilt or carved ivory.
ny Lady's curling irons are now gold
handled, and powder boxes and jewel cases
are cut glass, with FURNISHED trimmings.