Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-22
THE CHRISTMAS RUSH
THE YULETIDE BRINGS THE USUAL
BUSINESS INCREASE.
The HOLIDAY TRADE IS VERY BRISK.
The Buyers Numerous and Liberal
Many Out-of-Town shOppcrs-Brond
Great Centres.
Great Centres

The bright sun Of yesterday. following
clouds and showers. as well as the one
Days nearer approach of Christmas,
brought out Christmas shoppers in far
greater numbers than on any day Of the
week.
Broad street was more or less crowded
with buyers all day. and late in she af-
,aruoon, and for several hours last night,
t1e sidewalks from First TO Ninth streets
were so thronged that passage was hard
.v possible. Trade was unusually brisl,
m al lines. Buying is said to be heavier
than usual at most of the stores. The
trade in distinctively Christmas goods is,
" course. the heaviest. but there is rather
more Of a disposition to purchase useful
presents than usual-that Is, articles from
ines of staple goods.
OUT-OF-TOWN SHOPPERS.
A great many country shoppers drove
into town yesterday, and spent the day
making Christmas purchases. Many also
came in by rail, even citizens Of Freder-
lcksburg coming down 10 buy their Christ
mas supplies.
a gentleman from Fredericksburg, when
90
asked why the people from his town came
20 Richmond 10 buy instead Of going 10
Washington, replied that habit ana good
Judgment were responsible. 1--WE have al
ways been used 10 buying in Richmond, ~
he said. I'VE know the merchants and
they know US. We know where TO go IN
Richmond for the things we want, and
merchants know what TO show us. Be
sides. IL IS a fact that we can buy 10 bet
Ter advantage in Richmond than any
where else. You don have to take that
with a grain of salt
The holly and the mistletoe nave made
their appearance on Broad street, ven
doris offering them at every corner. There
is scarcely a window seen in which 10th
are not profusely used for decorative pur-
poses.
CHRISTMAS THIEVES.
The good cheer Of everybody is notice
able. though but little commented upon.
as good nature is a marked character
istic of every Christmas crowd. But all
kinds Of people are on Broad street these
laws. and thieves are not lacking. SIEVE
raj sharp thefts have occurred
4 night or two ago a half dozen men
entered the homeopathic Pharmacy, al
ss east Broad, and going TO the cigar
counter at the rear OF the store. one OF
the number called Tor cigars. one OF
Two NA NN' NuAA4H An'M $500 "
door. when ms party had gone the clerk
observed that ar least six boxes Of cigars
had disappeared from the s~hOW-WlndoW'
There is, of course, no clue.
Sl0ftliftiug IS comparatively common
bot q close watch Is kept in an the stores,
and 10 may be stated, for the benefit OF
llht-tngered pseudo purchasers Oney are
nearly always women, that IL Is rare
that an attempt 20 carry off an article
f..-. . ...-. .rftl,gfrf nrnfnp for il is not
detected, though arrests are seldom maze
IN THE MARKETS.
10 rs not pleasant 10 dwell upon this
feature Of the Yuictide season. and one
turns. aside with pleasure from Broad
street 10 the other great centre OF at
traction in Richmond at this season-the
markets.
on Broad street one sees the glitter ana
the show OF Christmas. the gold ana sll-
Yer. the purple and fine linen. In me
markets are shown sights to make the
inner man glad. and 10 make the celeDia-
ZION Of Christmas complete.
civilized man cannot i've without
cooks"
40 more can cooks DO business without
the whercwithal upon which 10 practice
their art. They can find u in plenty IN
the markets. A wcll-knOwn marketman
said Yesterday that the markets OF 1lch-
mond could supply IN greatest abundance
al that the most epicurean stomach couiu
crave. a.,
The farmer and producer Is happy anu
Santa Claus Is certain 20 visit them th's
year. Everything 10 eat is selling well
DEMAND AND PRICES.
The demand for eggs this year. AWAY
large. has been unusually so. but the
supply has met the requirements. ana
they can be bought In any quantity az
Y 20 3 cents per dozen retail. Ihere -
also plenty Of game. A large. line mare
will only bring. or. viewed from the other
side. can be had, for 10 10 IL cents. Chlch,
ems are plentiful. but this Is the chickens
or time. The turkey is the lad now
Strange 10 say that Richmond receives
most OF her turkeys from southwest
West Virginia. and even Tennessee. Ohiy
a small percentage OF the supply come
from nearby counties. from where they
could be carted 10 the city az a mere
nominal expense.
Walnut kernels. SO much I'm demand for
making candies, come almost altogether
from Tennessee. and the wonder Is mat
the Tennessee kids" can AFFORD 10 holl
their hands hulling and hulling walnuts
- - - -. zLalla aud aan1inR The