The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-25


For several days past the Christmas
shoppers have been the most prevalent
class OF people upon the streets of this
city. Monday and Tuesday the weather
was exceptionally fine and the many
bright and happy faced children TO be
seen looking al the many pretty things
in the store windows were exceedingly
teresting at all times. were as happy a
class of children as one would care to
See Their eyes shone with the eager
ress of joyful anticipation of the COM
ing day; and il must be said that the
brightest faces were those of the poorer
children. The little ones Of the well-to-
do realized fully that they would not be
forgotten, while with the poorer children
il was wholly a matter OF conjecture.
The little rosy cheeks glowed with the
enthusiastic excitement. as the went
from store 10 store gazing at the many
pretty and attractive things displayed
therein.
About thhe Boston store there was a
crowd nearly all Of the time. The man.
ayers of the establishment had looked
forward to the desires of their custom
ers, and had provided themselves with
large variety of holiday goods. Pretty
| china and porcelain. brio a brac Of all
kinds were 10 be found there and toys
beyond counting. The store was crowd
ed from morning till night. An extra
! number of clerks were on hand TO wait
upon their customers and they were
kept busy, all of them. Outside the store
upon the pavement were piled great
numbers OF the more bulky toys such as
wagons, hobby horses. juvenile sleighs.
etc. An immense watering trough stood
| just outside the curb which was kept
| hllsd with the wherewithal for the good
and faithful total abstainers among the
four-footed friends OF mankind. Old
Santa Claus himself was TO be found
within the store, receiving his many 1T
tie admirers who focked about him 10
automatically allow themselves 10 be in
terviewed as to what they desired for
Christmas.
Over at the Emo furniture store the
, crowd was not so dense, but there were
| found customers in plenty VINO kept the
clerks on the go constantly, and II was
nearly midnight last night before their
| delivery wagon was allowed 10 rest ana
still some things will be delivered yet
/ this morning.
At Cash Henderson's the clerks were
also kept busy until late in the night
Mr.. Hendersons window decorations
were especially fine, and the peculiar
fountain in one os the windows was OF
| especial interest, and great were the
| speculations concerning how II worked.
Messrs Erp and Wickersham had as a
window decoration santa Claus up to
| date" The old gentleman was mounted
upon bicycle. and carried his pack up
: on his back. IL made very pretty and
unique window decoration.
| One of the most unique window decor
atoms was that of the Biting Bros. An
elk was displayed hitched to sleigh in
which old Santa himself was seated. The
WINDOW was made to represent truly
| icelandic scene. cotton batting represent
| ing the snow and large scene behind it,
| c. r.. Fulton did an extra amount OF
business. as he always does, while the
stores of the Goldsmith Book and Sta
| tionery company, Chapman & Walker
and Munson & Mcnamara were well tC
the front. The dry goods stores especial
! ly did surprising amount OF business
The china stores on North Main had
large amount OF pretty holiday goods
on hand and the stores were full most Of
! the time. But above all, the toy en-
! poriums were the most crowded. From
| morning until night, the crowds filed in
until AT times il as necessary 10 refuse
| admittance until some of the people
within were able to pass out heavily
/ laden with their packages. containing
| the remem brances for their children
i friends ard older relatives
| The crowds did not disappear until
| nearly midnight last night This morn
! ing as old Sol advances his golden circle
| from the Atlantic across to the Pacific
he awakens the happy children as he
| goes, 10 enjoy the happiest day to them
in all the year, and the old motto ex-
press the sentiment of the day better
! than anything else: Peace on earth,
| good will toward men,"