The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-12-22
THE FIRST RUSH
Last Evenings Trade was the
Best 50 Far.
FINE LIGHTS AND CROWDS
The Busy Centers-M organ and His
Auction Dimond's Music.
Fort Street-Bethel.

A number of tradesmen agreed
that the busiest period of the holiday
selling season SO far, was between Z: 45
and S:45 last evening. The streets were
crowded and the stores were packed.
In several sections, incandescent and
arc lights made the thoroughfares
bright as they are at midday. Clerks
were kept in the close service of GUS
toners constantly. Merchants who
have grown gray in the trade came
from the offices to find that they were
bit rusty in handling the buyer and
locating goods, even if they did have
the best possible knowledge of quail
ties.
By or few minutes after the ear
ly closing stores were tight at the
doors for the night. In many cases
their windows were Illuminated and
contained displays that held specta-
tors. The closing of number of
places made the crowds in the other
establishments and on the streets
greater The gatherings were entirely
good natured. There was no work for
the Policeman anywhere in evidence.
All the merchants told the same
story of volume of trade and of the
unexpected attack of patronage so ear
ly in the week. Special features of the
business commented upon, were that
much of it was cash and that there was
a surprising demand for goods of the
finest quality and naturally of good
price.
A month or so ago, Jas. F. Morgan
said that he did not think he would
hold any holiday evening auction sales
this year: He did not believe at that
time that there would be much trade.
Later he concluded to go ahead as US
ual, and no mistake was made. In the
salesroom on Queen street last even
ing, there was standing room only sure
enough, and the way things went must
have gladdened the heart of the veter-
an auctioneer. He was selling articles
at the rate of five and six a minute, for
an hour and a half. All was delivery
and cash on the spot. There were
dressing cases, handkerchief boxes,
work boxes, pictures, books, frames,
toys, and lots of other things. A large
number of ladies were in attendance.
King street between Fort and Bethel
had the crowd. The great attraction
was the original quintette club on the
veranda of w. w. Dimond & Co.'s
store They played and sang and were
applauded by an audience of more than
a thousand Dimond e Co.'s force had
an audience in the store and entertain
ed nicely, disposing of large quantity
Of cut glass and art ware. Schmidt &,
Sons were busy next door to Dimond's S,
and Wall, Nichols Co. had a regular
jam from one end of their place to the
other. They have tremendous stock
on view, and to take care of it is a job
They were till midnight arranging for
today. The Hawaiian News Co., near
the post office, had slashing early ev-
ening trade.
The most light was on Fort street
below Hotel and nearly to King. The
notable places in this locality were
Benson, Smith & Co., Hollister Drug
Co., Temple of Fashion, all early clos
ers. Thrum, Manufacturers Shoe Co.
Sachs, J. J. Egan, Wichman, Fair.
child's and Jordan's No 10. Thrun
had regular crush. He did a heavy
business in books and a fine grade o1
toys. Sachs was very busy. Egan and
the shoe company had a lively even
ing. Jordan's window seems to attract
and hold. He had a good crowd inside
Mrs. Hanna was entertaining buyers
Wichman has pretty place, showing
many new things of the handsomest
and richest design. It's a quiet, ele-
CANT store and when it has a good
crowd, as was the case last evening
one may be sure that business that
counts up is being done.
On Fort below King, there were oper