The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-25
EVE SCENES
Butte Was the Busiest Spot in
the State.
POOR NOT OVERLOOKED
Charity Made Many a Home q Happy
One-A Week OF Brisk Business.
Brilliant Window Dis
plays.

hill doing business by gas and electric
light. On the eve of Christmas the city
was without doubt the busiest spot in
the state, maybe OF the great North
west. More han o 1000 human beings
were moving to and fro. in and out.
over and across, back and forth, COM
ing and going, presenting an animated
Scene, all trying to excel in making
merry on the eve of the grandest day
in the Christian calendar.
The busy scene included. besides
Butte proper. walkerville, C~enterviIle.
Meaderville, Williamsburg. Rocker and
less remote suburbs of the great city.
The interest of the occasion was not
by any means confined particularly to
the growing generations. for Did and
young alike entered into the doings of
the day and evening. This morning
Butte awoke with a happy heart: evil
dences of Santa's presence were strik-
ing and many; fortunately there were
very few dreams which failed of ma
retaliation, and 1t is very probable
that none were not In a measure realiz-
ed. for be 1t said to the credit of the
more fortunate the poor of the city
were not overlooked Dy their good
neighbors, whose Christian duty was
not forgotten in the midst of pleasant
home surroundings. Charity is a .iom-
inant trait of the people of Butte. IT is
a part of the daily routine of the peo-
pie of this city, IT is a boast which has
assisted in making Butte famous the
world over; therefore. the citizens of
this city do not wonder at the happi-
ness which is to be seen on all sides
and in every household, great and
small.
All of last week, in fact ever
since the mass meeting of citizens lifted
the smoke so hat citizens could
breathe. busines has been brisk and
sales of holiday goods large. Like a
river whose volume Increases as 1t
winds its course to the delta. receiv-
ing its contributions from each succeed
ing %rivulet. so IL was with last week as
the days added their quotas to the vol
ume of business. until 1t took on the
proportions of a deluge last night. Fig
ures are not obtainable, but conserva-
tive business men say that the clles
last week foot well up into the six fig
uree.
1t is due the merchants of Butte to
state without reserve that the window
displays during these holidays are more
brilliant and richer than any before
seen in this city. Articles of great
worth are to be seen. and their arrange
ment is excelled nowhere on earth.
There is also a dash of ~uniqueness and
novelty in many of the windows, a de-
parture from the usual custom Of deco
ration. In some stores last week the
real young folks saw Santa Claus make
his appearance through the Fireplace
chimney and distribute his gifts with
his generous hand Near him. peepiag
through a lace-curtained window could
| no Saan tho NfOflant Hftla child vratnh-
ing the antics OF rudy old Kris Krin-
gle. In another store the grand old
nan from the north pole was playing
with two bright little boys. He had
presented them each with a pair of box
ing gloves. To amuse the old man
hey would don the ''mits' and spar,
and while Santa enjoyed IL hugely, the
great crowds in the streets likewise had
their fun watching the Of
the little "~scrappers." Other stores
furnished their patrons with music in
various ways. The jewelry store win
lows were gems of art; huge pyramids
of jewelry and art work dazzled the eve
Of the spectator. No less did the no.
tion displays attract great attention,
and the ladies Just raved" over the
exhibits seen in the dry goods and mil
linery stores. Visitors from abroad
marveled at the grandness of the dis
plays, declaring hat they never saw
TIE 'Iudl any ltIt. Ht ENpl lHlfES
found in grocery stores were so arrang-
ed in the windows that a man just out
of the dining room would feel like Cr-
dering another dinner. so keenly would
his appetite be whetted up by the signt.
And the dolls-a veritable dreamland.
milk and honey for the little girls. The
restaurants, markets. confectionery
stands. and every place where goods
are sold. present a holiday appearance.
Even the blacksmith shops put out
bids. one genius posting a card in front
of his shop reading: sharp shoes for
your cayuse in the winter time-warm
shoes for the old plug for Xmas"
The curfew bell wasn't heard last
night by the droves of little boys and
girls who took a farewell look at Santa
Claus i'm the several show windows.
Most of them. however, were accom-
panied by their parents. All the stores
were visited and in every place were
enlarged clerical forces for the occa-
sion. The turkey and chicken markets
were scenes of unusual liveliness. n
by IL o'clock were pretty well cleaned
out. The delivery wagons rolled over
the pavements with increased speed and
messenger boys hurried here and there
with parcels to surprise the donees. FIX
ira forces were employed by the ex-
press companies of the city and pack
ages were delivered as late as l o'clock
this morning. The companies report
heavy business this season, particularly
matter for foreign parts from Butte.
Much money has been expressed TO the
"old folks at home" and a great deal
went through the banks n the post
Office.
In one OF the meat markets of the
city there have been hanging for two
lays -four dressed porkers whose COM
bined weight is two tons. They are the
heaviest quartette OF hogs that ever
graced a butchers rack in Butte. so we
old timers say.
Large geese and turkeys are not an
exception. this yea witnessing some of
the heaviest specimens ever shipped
here. But as a rule the medium sized
turkey has the call: however. the large
ones are being snapped up. Price from