The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-23
ARE BRILLIANT SHOWS
Christmas Displays by the
Stores Of Missoula.
SOME ORIGINAL EFFECTS
Windows Are Crowded With Hosts OF
Tempting Holiday Goods-A Fine
Business IL Reported in
All Lines.

Missoula. Dec. eat Is a poor store
that has not some Christmas bravery
about its display this week and, as
there are no poor stores here. IL fol-
lows tina all of the stores have brilliant
holiday shows. The last of the Christ
mas windows were trimmed Sunday
and the displays all over the city are
this year the best that have ever been
made. There are the regular conven-
tional Santa Claus and Christmas tree
windows that always please the chill
dren and. in addition. there are this
year some strIkingly original designs
that attract the attention of the older
people. One of these windows has a
landscape background thar represents a
snow scene In a village with
the houses and the church COW
cred with a sparkling mantle and
the foreground is so arranged that the
looker-on sees the pretty picture
through a inter forest, the bare limbs
and branches Of the trees being edged
with a trimming of snow. Another ar
rangement that has attracted large
crowds during the busy afternoons Is
one that represents the patron saint OF
the coming holiday climbing TO the roof
of a house on a ladder while his team
waits below. The interior OF the sleep
ing room of the house is shown with
the children tucked away I'm bed and
the stockings hung on the mantel SHELF
In front of the open fireplace.
The dry goods and toy stores are not
alone in the b~rilliancy OF their shoH
this year. The grocery stores and the
meat markets have taken a new lease
of life this season and ave made a dis
play that Is enticing. There are, in the
grocery windows. houses and churches
that are built of good things to eat and
there are arrangements OF tempting
luxuries for the Christmas table. All OF
these goodies naturally make the pas
serby stop and loo longingly at h
Is shown. In the meat markets the
butchers and purveyors have crowded
all Of the best things that they can get
together. There is a show OF beef and
pork and mutton that would cause the
markets OF the large eastern cities to be
ashamed OF themselves. Beside his fine
showing. the markets show game ana
fish and oysters I'm profusion. There are
deer and game birds and there are all
the good things that go to make life
worth living. The show Of poultry Is
the best that has ever been made here
and the local raisers Of turkeys and
ducks and chickens may well feel proud
of all hat they have furnished. The
gardeners, too. have "A share in the
brave show and their celery and &
tables all combine TO make the aspect a
delightful one.
In all lines of trade the merchants re-
port a fine business. better I'm fact than
they have enjoyed for many seasons.
one of the principal dealers OF the city
said to-day: There has never been a
year before when our customers have
wanted such good things. They want
the hest that they "a get. as n rule
and we have very few inquiries for the
cheaper grades Of goods. IL Is a good
sign. and n that shows that this part
of the state Ii prosperous
The railway employees have received
fat pay checks this month. for the Mo-
vember business Of the road was so
large tina all trainmen and enginemen
got in plenty of mileage. The disburse-
ment Is especially satisfactory To the
boys at this time, as II means money IN
the pocket for Christmas and the mer-
chants are feeling the good effects of IL.
In all of the churches preparations
are i'm progress for the holiday exer-
cises OF the Sunday schools and some OF
the entertainments will be elaborate.
The rehearsals have been In progress
for several weeks in some instances and
the music and recitations will be I'M
usually good this year.
The school children were released
from study to-day and will have vaca-
ton till next Tuesday. The state uni
versity closed this noon for the holiday
recess and most of the students have
left for their homes tonight. to remain
till next week. some OF them. how
ever. whose homes are too distant viii
remain in town during the vacation.