The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-22

But a few days remain until Christ
mas shopping Is banIshed from man-
ldnd's list Of tribulntions for another
year, and It Is interesting to know that
more hearts will be gladdened this
CHRISTMAS season. Il business indlca-
lions are to decide the point. than for
several years. This is particularly true
Of wheeling, for the streets have been
thronged with holiday buyers for over
two weeks.
Christmas buying commenced earlier
this year than usual. Money was more
plentiful, too, fact which permitted
the early purchases. and better class
Of goods was bought IN all the depart
ments haunted by the Christmas gtver.
The prosperity evidenced by the steady
run OF the mills threatened TO be
married by an extended stop Of the tin
plants. but their resumption last Mon-
day gave further impetus to the rush
on the stores. This week the maj
grand rush Is being made. The weather
was a handicap on Tuesday. but the
absence OF rain yesterday resulted IN
record break king crowds.
Two things are essential to purchases
Of Christmas presents selection OF an
appropriate article and the cost for that
sane. Naturally. the condition OF the
treasury figures In the selection of the
Eift. so that when the purse "a full a
more costly article Is taken care Of by
Santa Claus or his German prototype.
Kfis Rringle. Il was with the inten-
4iOn OF discovering the financial quail
fcations Of the purchasing populace
that an Intelligencer reporter visited
the leading stores yesterday and en-
toyed the novelty Of being 1ostled from
counter to counter by the eager-eyed
crowds OF buyers.
The consensus Of opinion was aptly
set forth By the senior member OF the
biggest department store in the city,
who stated that the people this year
had more money to buy and bought
more than at any other corresponding
period in his recollection. AS to his own
customers, he had noticed that the de-
mand was more for the staples-thoSe
articles which do not come strictly un-
der the head OF holiday GOODS, being
furs, cloaks, ready-made goods and La
dies silk shirt waists In his store the
sale Of shirt waists exceeded the sales
IN the spring. that glorious season when
the shirt waist revels in all Its glory
Nevertheless. the novelty trade was
also greater than ever before. But Il
includes more substantial stun than
what Is associated in the mind In
Speaking Of novelties The Intelligent
GERS informant noticed among the bet-
ter class OF novelties having an UMPIRE
cedented sale. bric-a-brac. pictures and
medaillons. Favprites with buyers in
this and other big dry goods stores were
umbrellas, handkerchlefs. gloves, reef
ers. etc.
What has been said OF the dry goods
stores Is equally true of the jewelry,
stationery, glassware md mems fur
nishing stores. A rush Of customers
with wen filled purses. DESTROYS Of bet-
ter goods than was asked for in pre-
yious holiday seasons. All merchants
IN every class Of trade unite in saying
thst 1855 Christmas trade was the
best they ever enjoyed. Some Of them
claim that their profits per article was
less, but 6hat the sales in the aggregate
Melted surplus equal to the Christmas
saIes Of SO and 81 The most sanguine
admit that their sales exceeded their
fogdest expectations.
Il was not unfrequent yesterday TO
hear patrons told that we've sold
every one of them" in answer 10 a re-
quest for some particular article. This
fact exemplified the truth Of the adage
about the early bird getting the worm.
and holiday buyers from now on will
see its force much TO their regret.