Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-17
SHOPS SHOW THEIR WARES
Tradesmsn Fill Their Windows with At
traotivs Christmas Goods,
BUSINESS HAS DOUBLED OVER LAST YEAR
Holiday season Gives Rise to Un-
wonted Activity Among the Mer-
chRnts-Artisticn and Lavish Dis
plays Tempt the Purchaser.

Such a prosperous holiday season as
| Omaha merchants have not seen in years
is under full headway, and the shop win
| dows are abaze with Christmas gayety.
Double shifts are working in nearly all the
retail stores and the trades people are cheer
! fully gathering in the large "unearned in
! crement" for which the foremost festival of
| Christendom Is responsible. A prominent
! jeweler said yesterday that a comparison
of the receipts this year with the holidays
of 1898 showed that they had more than
| doubled, day for day. The season opened
two weeks ago, when thrifty shoppers APP
peared to take the first pick of the counters.
Since that time business has steadily in
creased and clerks have been added daily
until trade has already reached the pace
usually attained only in the final rush.
| forest of Christmas trees extends over
the commission districts. Drays loaded with
| trees, evergreen wreaths. crosses and
horse shoes, holly branches, mistletoe and
| long needle pines pass between freight
depots and wholesale dealers and thence
throughout the city. The trees are spruce
and pine and come from the forests of Wis
consin and Michigan. Last year 5000 trees
were shipped into the city, and this year
that number is increased by 2000
Holly and MistIetoe.
The holly is brought almost entirely from
Delaware, as the leaves wear gloss and
the berries reach a fulness in that state
unrivaled elsewhere. Mistletoe is imported
from all parts of the south principally from
Alabama and Texas, where the coveted
parasite hangs in abundance from the oaks,
often trailing the ground from the lower
limbs. The florists are also forcing on a
holiday supply of roses, lilies, chrysanthe-
md nj
windows are heaped high with Christmas
greens.
The window displays already in place are
elaborate and artistic and many more will
appear within few days to invite the in
spection of holiday shoppers. One of the
most attractive windows is that of Douglas
street shoe dealer. which presents the
spectacle of a snow covered church sur
mounted by very respectable spire. The
light from the interior streaming through
window panes Of vari-colored paper takes
on the brilliance and multiplicity of shade
impaired by art glass. The churchyard is
ankle deep in snow of spotless cotton, with
half-covered headstones of sample shoes.
ChrOmos Cor the Crowd.
In front of a local department store a full
grown Santa Claus is already stationed deal
ing out chromos to the crowd. When one
blows sharply on his whistle and a cash
boy appears with another armful. Mr..
Kringle is discriminating person, however,
and distributes his favors only to the women,
with smaller size for children. He is
strikingly clad in scarlet breeches and a
long toboggan cap and his ruddy cheeks and
faxen hair prove that he is fresh from the
far north. In further proof of his Arctic
origin the saint speaks with marked
Swedish accent. Above his head there is an
immense horseshoe, surmountng the door,
inscribed with the words: Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year" In the window is
an artistically designed and gaudily painted
Santa Claus emerging from chimney with
an armful of treasures for good boys.
Mail for Santa Claus.
In front of another large retail store is a
Christmas mail box, which will be emptied
and the contents carefully persued on Christ
mas eve. Already young people with claims
to presents explorations to offer have
covered the bottom of the box with their
letters.
The jewelers. windows naturally contain
the most effective displays, as their goods
are primarily ornamental. The glitter OF
silver and the sparkle cf jewels bring the
passerby to an invoutary pause. There are
numerous novelties in the jewelers. dis
plays never introduced in Omaha before and
a host of other high, priced trinkets which
tempt the purchaser beyond his wiser judg-
ment One of the most interesting curios in
the jewelers. line is in the window of a
Douglas street dealer. 1t is an electric
candle operated by a dry battery capable of
running eight hours. In appearance the
article resembles an ordinary wax taper in
a silver candestick. In the place of the
wick is tiny globe containing platinum
wire When lever is adjusted at the foot
of the candle the current is turned on, throw
ing the rays of a siX-candle power light
through the room. The trinket is found use
full for a sick room or any sort OF
emergencies at night.
In the windows of the art stores treasures
significant of the season are arranged with
excellent effect. Engravings and paintings
of the Madonna, cherubs and tho sc2ne at
Bethlehem are given prominence in the dis
play.
windows of Toy Shops.
The windows of the toy shops are the
usual visions of wonderland for the sma l
boy. There are stockings stuffed with
swords, candy canes and jumpingjacks;
there are regiments of marvellous soldiers
marching to the front through binding
snowstorms OF cotton suspended on wires
The confectioners displays are also the OBJ
jcct of unlimited juvenile admiration. Candy
oysters lie temptngly on sugar half-shel's
and brownie policemen, clowns and sailors
stand guard over pyramids of chocoa. e
creams
From all of these stores people emerge
with bundles CT significant size and shape,
indicating that if Santa Claus is not really
person he is what is even more-a man
fold spirit. Under his kindly influence
earth jewellers deal more char!tably with
their neighbors and peace reigns on earth
at least in this particular section of it.