Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-12-24


but it was the mex thing to it; and "a
rainy cloud possessed the EARTH" be-
yond all mistake, to the discomfort
and disappointment Of some tens of
thousands of Wheeling people.
The early morning of yesterday was
bright and dry, and to those who did
not consult the barometer, the last
shopping day of the season of presents
and gladness promised to be a pleasant
one. Those who consulted the glass,
however, had their misgivings, and
they were we'll provided. Long before
noon the mercury had dropped half
an inch, and the air not only became
damp, but a haze and fog settled down
over everything, and at 2 p. m. it
looked as though it was about Z o'clock
in the morning. AS the afternoon
grew older the condition became worse,
and about 4 o'clock it was impossible
to see more than a single block in the
business part of the city, and later still
it reminded people of English origin
of dear OF Lunnon." By 6 o'clock a
drizzle set in, which seon became a
particularly disagreeable rain, this
continuing for more than two hours,
to the great inconvenience, not to say
evaporation of the multitude of shop
pers, male and female alike.
Notwithstanding these unpropitious
conditions hnuyornr tho nror,Ic IN tho
streets were as large as were ever
seen in Wheeling, and it is entirely
safe to say that the volume of business
transacted was up to any previous rec
ord. This was largely accounted for
by the fact that nearly every business
house, factory, workshop and mill
paid off" during the day, and there
was a consequent abnormal rush from
the belated shoppers thus put in pos
session of funds at the eleventh hour.
That this cash was exchanged for
articles of merchandise there car be
no doubt, if one may form an opinion
from the %congested sidewalks, and the
crowded condition of the stores. AS to
these latter, last evening, it is a safe
statement that thousands of dollars
WSlc uEcADCHuSu IIiOuSH OiCtl III
ability on the part of would-be GUS
toners to catch the eye or ear of sales
men, although every establishment had
largely increased it's force in expecta-
ton Of the rush. Main, Market and
Twelfth streets presented many anus
ing and interesting sights during the
afternoon and evening, and it was 'as
much fun" to watch the struggling
bundle-ladened crowd as it will be to-
morrow to receive an unexpected gift.
One evidence of the immense bust
ness despite the rain was the street
car traffic. Both companies had made
ample provisions, it was thought, the
Wheeling company putting every avail
able car in service, yet the rain made
the traffic enormous, and the cars from
over the river and from Benwood were
almost swamped by the rush, the cars
being filled to their capacity, particu-
larry in the early evening, and people
then had to be left. Some Of the cars
from Martins Ferry had ninety-five to
n hundred and four people on going
up, and the Benwood cars were nearly
as bad. 1t is safe to say single cars
carried as high as twelve hundred
passengers during the day. The rail-
roads also did a handsome business
from nearby towns.
IL was their busy day at the p~ostoflce
and the amount Of mail matter handled
has probably never been exceeded. 1t
was simply impossible for carriers to
distribute anything like the number Of
packages addressed to city people, and
the card system asking people to call
at the office, had to be used. The ex-
press companies were also nearly
swamped, and both these means for the
interchange of gifts will have all the
business they can do to-day and to-mor-
row.
To-day will be devoted to especial
Christmas services at the numerous
churches, the musical programmes for
which have heretofore been printed in
the Register. Large congregations are
to be expected, particularly at the
morning services.
Tomorrow will be a day marked by
a complete cessation of business, both
public and private, and everybody will
rejoice and cease from labor-except
newspaper men. These latter, perforce,
cannot participate to any appreciable
extent in the happiness and recreation
incident to the season, but the Regis
ter gang hereby extends compli-
ments of the season to all, and wish
every individual in Wheeling and its
suburbs a