Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-19
SPIRIT ABROAD
PREPARATION AT THE STORES Eon
rHE GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON.
CROWDS YHRONG BROAD STREET
Many Novelties ON Exhfbftfon-Great
Display of Toys and Articles Suit
able for Gifts-The F1ower-Stores-
Passing of the YuIetide Shrub.

The Christmas spirit Is abroad In the |
land. and of all spirits 1t Is the sweetest
and the best.
In the shimmering, gllmmering world
of society Christmas means some unusual
burst of splendor, and the purse must be
slender indeed that will not open to glad
den some tiny heart.
AS the great festival draws nearer and
nearer, the crowds on the main thorough
fares grow larger and larger. Huge.
bustlng, good-natured crowds they are
whose one desire seems to be to Danish
care and revel in the fine delight OF Sc
Letting from among the beautiful and use
full things displayed in the stores tokens
OF love and tributes of esteem Tor those
who are near and dear to them. Already
the people from the country are beginning
10 flock to the city to make their hoii-
day purchases, and Broad street Is crowd
ed each day from morning until night
II is no idle boast on the part OF tho
merchants that their stocks ars larger ana
more attractive this year than ever Inc
shop windows tell their own story, anu
present a gorgeous panorama or seductive
wares and fabrics, irresistible no less 10
the masculine than to the feminine nlha
and purse. T..
AT Christmas time every shopkeeper Is
ON the lookout for novelty for his shop-
window. and there are many men VINO
make a good living in the larger clties
NV suggesting new attractions. MANY
tradesmen act regardless Of expense, as
a good novelty often means hundreds Oh
dollars in the Golfers Of the nrm'
In. nearly every shop-window along tne
busy thoroughfares you Will nouce soino
peculiar device, specially set up 10 uid !"
attention to the window-either me
= chanical working model, monstroslty;
miniature structure, or a startling pa
cord Frequently these things are IN nc
yav connected with the business OF the
| .e+ablishment. but are used solely as al
| advertisement.
MILLIONS OF TOYS.
prohablv the most striking feature OF
| the Cbristrnas dispIay-certainly the mos'
| extensiye-is the bright array or sauuily'
nainted TOYS, and conspicuous In THIS oe
nortment is the vast quantity OK oolis
| THESE are imported from Germany, AUS
| tria and France, for the most part, AM
| range in prices from I cent TO tapuiou'
| sums There Is the usual quota OF mo
chanical toys, and very many no'eltieo.
| THE windows Of the great department
stores and dry-goods houses are ma 'ei
| NJ the decorators art. In the coliipiia
IT., -, coIors in the erection of all sort
os designs. and in the general dlspositioi
of avery kind OF article. they would seen
| 70 leave nothing TO be desired ano
arc , feast to the eyes, and as temptlh
as they are beautl1ui. x,
life" some one has said, is 10 aus
mr. 10 cry" but at this season Oh tne 9ea
II is essentially to buy. There Is an "a
hilaration in the coming OF Cni iSIiiia
.hat must arise from the blessedness Q
e Hi,,r1 because il is unlike any othe
So,,dav II ouickens the heart OF eve
ths most selfish, and loosens the purse
s.,,ros NJ the sagest man or woman.
Tyen thus early, this fact has been mar
,fostad 10 such a degree as to gladden. IN
hsarts NJ the merchants and to TURNS
,rornds for the belief that the preset
eaoeon will be q richer harvest-time ina
tbev have had for several years.
a. %, exceptionally early season., saiu
prominent merchant yesterday anu
I'll, a continues as 1t has begun, we sna
va nv all odds the most successtul se'
SON ir, the history Of the nrm.
SOME SUITABLE Gir ID
There is a very fine display OF furs IN
.,oar-much larger than usual-and th'
are being sold at prices which are ian
4 astounding, considered IN tne Hs"'
| former experiences. oors
Tba craze for silver goods appears
,,ow In extent and the large ury,sO'
Sorses ara carrying very me ilne
them- Leather goods are also claiiilIi
, ,oroer space in the stores, ana W
present a solution to many peMiiu &c,
ecker after neat and appropriate eii'
Ot course. there are the usuai hhes
r,o+erials. and the new evening shaue
) M laid captive many feminine near
ha ri. nil he a rare season for mower
b ,,rnodv the windows of tho florists pt
sant a perfect blaze of color. Chrysa
.ha,onms will be the most conspicuo
. soat,,re OF the decorations. but mes
- much used. Even Horticulture mas
uovaItIes thi. year, and one OF the iat'
| oior,nents is a new Christmas TO
"a. ~ a delicate pink shade, and p'
ssssas a most delicious odor. IL nan pe
na,ced after President Carnot, ana
- cure 10 be- In much demand.
Tn the china and glassware stores I'M
nv. unusually grand displays OF eut-e'I
,,h,cb e much in vogue at this tlme'
sides wares Of all sorts In oalnuss'
most picturesque designs.
Never before, possibly, has there Ok
.ncb a fine array Of articles suitable