Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24
Large Market

"The' holiday trade has been phe-
nomcnol." said a prominent Broad-street
merchant yesterday. IL has smashed
.hc records of former years beyond recog-
lion. and the same merchant who made
.s above remark declared that his busi-
..s this year had been 1918 per cent
more than last year
People have not been spending as
dough they, wcre parting with their last
dollar. and money generally has been
much frcor than for many years past
Tho merchants all speak with a more
.rnddent tone. Tho head of one Of tho
e-eat department stores said last night
mat it was pleasure TO do business I'm
a community where the tone was SO firm
md confident as 30 has been in Rich
ond duiug The past few weeks. Money
has been plentiful and the people have
spent literally
The stocks have been thoroughly de-
r.ct,d. and only the aftermath re-
mains. Speaking Of his stock-and at
tle opening Of the season it was enor-
nues-a merchant said yesterday that it
rs just as he would have had it.
SALE HAS BEEN GENERAL
ere had been no runs on special ar
tes but everything had sold well. Yes
t.say's business was altogether remark
.t'o. despite the rain ia the evening. Go
when you would along Broad street. tho
yes were crowded People seemed
packed into the asies Ike sardines, and
theatrical man would have said that
PHI. capacity OF tho house was tested in
every Instance. 1t really seemed as if
There was not room Tor another person.
ll. tls salesmen and salesladies looked
utterly weary and wornout 10y night
rue Many OF the stores kept open as
la-s aa 1890, ia spite or the falling RAIN
Sd. tl apidly disappearing throng of
buyers .ld iu many Of Tho stores tho
employee Wero given their meals.
The Cl stnlas trade. as a matter Of
IIcf. started up later this year than il
4 Done formery This is attributed
" tae warm weather but the buyers have
made up for lost time. and merchants
u % be asreoaDiy surprised at the
a GREAT JEWELRY YEAR
r, has been a remarkable joweiry year
Vast quantities have been sold, particu-
.rF along the line Of silver novelties.
... j-weller says his trade this year had
l. almost as large as the combined
Gales eli the last three Christmas seasons.
l..r. has also been "a large sale of dia-
uolls.
la. price Of flowers has been oonsid-
cHy in advance of former years. With
re roses &C IS cents each and violets
cents. il IS remarkable that the sale
should have been so great and that the
rpiv should have fallen so far short of
t.. demand.
Whether tho rain of last nirAt made
..F material difference 10 the gross re-
pts of the merchants 10 is difficult TO
.ty. The th0r0ughfare was crowded.
bot there was nothing like the tide of
travel that has been seen on former oc-
,a-i0us when tho weather was more pro-
itioua IL even broke the ranks oil the
Blatant trumpeters. and though there was
..srmuch noise, 10 lacked the old familiar
anne.
s. TI11E-HONORED CUSTOM
r many years indeed. ever since
Ll street became the home of retail
l Richmond--it has been the Gus
'. r everybody, rich and poor, young
... o. 10 cOngrcgate ON Broad street !
stmas-Eye night and make the
hdeous with the noise of tin /
ad hrecracker.
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~"
~ In on az
80 - ,I wv
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~ .t
49, 7
-" ' az ""I ND"
wy" iiol"9 @"u O,"e'
'til. anu envy ~ 90
e,r.rr .r,,.r,
- am
..ihp'Il Foh WIN "lntr christmas
e'i@tioNs' 4a7l night was a spi"ii
- .,..l. ' ,',-l,.l ,' vi
... riodf.d sion' ir The wei banr,
. s..,of,sr,. NM oriy ~, cre,t-
lid. ,... ..i,,lr, ,,.,,.l..., ~ ~,
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ffrp,-, az, ,rr e1lrs
young ."ales hao iheli .Olns' ana
also n'o lheii7' anu ''b''"ei
.o Up ana uo"h 'He s,lee|
'ioa"l ho'e7 "nV 'i'osi.lus