The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-25
THE DAYS OF DAYS
In the Christian Calendar, Has Ar
rived, and Indeed It Il
A VERY "MERRY CHRISTMAS"
Business Was Never Before So Good
With the Wheeling Merchants, as
It Has Been This Holiday Season.
Musical Services at the Churches
Yestsrday-A Suspension Of Busi-
ness To-day in Wheeling.

Christmas Day is here on schedule
time, and ere this his high and mighty
excellency. old Santa Claus. at least
according to tradition in certain cir
cles), win have made his rounds
through this portion of his realm and
changed the expectation and antlclpa-
ton of eleven months into the reaiiza-
ton and enjoyment that do not lose
their fine edge for at least week.
Saturday night closed the holiday
buying season. and the Wheeling mer-
chants unite in saying that all previous
good year" records have been smash
ed into smithereens. One well known
retailer said last year had been a re-
cord breaker with him. but this sea-
sons sales of holiday goods had ex-
ceeded 1t by 40 per cent Another said
his sales had Increased SO per cent,
Others said they hadn't had time even
to keep books. but were sure this was
the best season OF holiday buying they
had ever experienced.
Yesterd ~, Christmas Sunday, was
the occasion OF services appropriate to
the holiday. Music was the feature ev-
erywhere, the choirs making their SUI
preme effort OF the entire year. At
the Fourth Street NJ. E., First Presby-
terrain, St. Josephs Cathedral. St.
Luke's and st, Matthews P, E., Sec
ond Presbyterian and Thomson NJ. E.
churches, the music was the predomi-
nant feature. At all of the churches
the congregations were very large.
To-day business will be suspended in
all the Industrial plants. freight depots.
public buildings, banks. wholesale es-
Establishments. and in nearly all Of the
retail stores. There will be Christmas
entertainments galore. much dancing,
more theatre going, and more than all
else, home entertaining. At the post
office, holiday hours will be observed. as
announced last week by Postmaster
Wise. The express offices win be open
for the delivery of Christmas packages.
Both the postofTice and the several ex-
press companies are overwhelmed with
Incoming packages, while the rush on
outgoing matter continued until Satur'
day night,
The only athletic event is the foot
ball game on the Island. for the benefit
Of the Doddridge sword fund. The
young men in charge have sold a num-
Der of tickets, and they will do well to
see to it that the proceeds are not d.
verted to any purpose other than the
one they used with such good effect in
dlsposing of the tickets. This much is
due to the people who purchased tick
cts.
Until Sunday afternoon 1t was gem
orally feared there would be q green
Christmas, but shortly after 3 o'clock
the snow began falling lightly, and con-
tinued about an hour, covering the
ground TO the depth OF nearly an Inch.
Later in the afternoon the temperature
fell decidedly and very soon the side
walks were smooth as glass, Inducing
people to take to the streets for safety.
Early this morning the thermometer Is
doing the sliding-scale act, and the
weather bureau predicts more snow to.
day--a combination that insures
weather OF the good old-fashioned
kind