The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-22

1TN HE long looked-for change In the
weather came at O'Clock yester-
- day morning. but the sun did not
have the courage to show itself above the
horizon until TAI o'clock. As IL anxious
to make up for the recent depressing
siege of wind and drenching rain, 1t
brought a big stock of bright, cheering
rays, which 1t scattered with lavish
hand until 4:12 o'clock in the afternoon.
1t was the shortest day in the whole
year; but coming as it did, with glow OF
light and warmth after darkness and
chill, its brevity was forgotten. Even
the unfortunate weather man was con-
graduated, and the unlucky street depart
ment escaped sarcastic remarks. The old
timer came out of his shell early in the
morning, and when he saw the bright
sun blinking at him he whistled softly
to himself and remarked: well. that
beats all. / guess old Santa Claus viii
have a time of II today
1t was really the first good chance the
holiday throng has had to come out and
shop to its hearts content. Even with
a steady downpour Of rain the Christmas
trade has been heavy throughout the city,
because there are many who will UNDER
20 the Inconvenience of soiled skirts, wet
feet and wrecked hats to avoid the crowd
which was certain TO appear with the
first ray Of sunshine As one merchant
day they mean business, but when every
thing is all right for dress parade, many
come to look and compare prices, but for
get to buy.
A Cosmopolitan Throng.
composite picture of Seattles prin-
clpal streets and leading stores yesterday
when the throng was greatest would have
been thing Of wonder. Seattle is al
ways cosmopolitan. but when the holiday
to.f.<
with the newest and choicest goods, char
acters and types forgotten or unheard OF
appear 1t seems as II they came from
hidden hooks to catch little OF the spirit
OF the present and then retired for an
other twelve months.
Lost children were in evidence. Their
fond mamas may have tod them that they
could go down town and see the pretty
things but not touch them, that is the
general admonition, but IL amounts to
little Willie and Mamie have ideas of
their own. They pick up everything they
can get their tiny little hands on and II
they do not drop them on the floor they
put them down where the nerve-strained
clerk cannot find them. Then Willie gets
lost. The whole store Is in commotion.
The police are stirred up. And then VIII
lie is found with two big tears trickling
down his cheeks telling his troubles to
some kind-hearted lady, who has filed
his pockets with candy and his hands With
fruit Willie is. having good time. and
he is already anticipating the next
Christmas.
Women and children had a large share
OF the space in the stores. If a man ven-
tured INTO ,he maeis.rph ne SUN sly ~
up IN uespair anu lousne ms way ,.s',, I'D
phraseology that he would never get
caught in anything like that again. on
the street he Jared little better The crowd
swept up and down First and Second ave-
nues carrying him first one way and
then another. mere w"s pieny ~ ne
seen. OUT man Is hot q snoppe, ~ W ~ -
nary occasions, anu NJ a,,na,s. a,to-
Christmas ne Is out Oh ms eie'ie"' ai'o-
gether. ,.
Many handsome women ana Some s'riN-
ing costumes were observer o ,Ut Oh a.o
streets and IN the stores. ne ne crus a.
however, was SO great ,r'a' s snsIg
more Inconvenience than sausiacuoh
from being eiaoorateiy so"heu'
Not So Eany IN Speud Money.
=. 80.
II was not as easy mater az II wouia
seem 70 spend money. ins sta.e W al :
fairs did not come apout 'nfoush sly ~, ~,
clination on the part OF lne meISnants
10 turn trade away; ~ was simply oe
y Nv ma, ma, ,,,or,ant and each fet bur, 10
think the clerk could not wait on her
very seldom him--instanily 1t Is not
all fun working in a store during the
Christmas holidays.
The men who have to work hard To
earn money only to have IL taken away
from them by their wives and daughters.
find some consolation In seeing how hard
their wives and daughters have to work
teresting family row has occurred In the
midst OF the glad season over the whole
sale attack on the rainy-day fund
Shoppers will have another chance to
flock down town today unless the weather
maker is mistaken in his calculations.
"You can calculate on good weather I'M
I'll O'Clock Saturday afternoon, at least"
a q - Saf fsf he cal