The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-24
GREAT RUSH OF BUYERS
Streets and Stores Fhrenged With
Eager Purchasers.
Curb veaaaer= in Profusion crying
Their wures-Mcn and Women
Hurrying Along Loaded Down With
Christmas Clfts-CroSvsis Gooa-Sa-
tured-Konns America Everywhere

From day that at the beginning looked
most inauspieious, today developed
brightness and saIubrious atmosphere
that brought out the beiated Christmas
shopper in multitudes- Those who for
week OF more had been celebrating be-
tween gifts. found it necessary today to
make decision, and the result was that
the department stores were crowded from
the early hours with I'll sorts and con-
ditions OF men and women
Judging from the rapidity. with which
wares have been disposed of during tne
week past the immense inroads made on
the gift counters during the morning.
there will be comparatively little left on
the shelves rhen the emporiums, having
dismissed the last purchaser, close to-
night.
The streets today presented the usual
ante-Christmas scenes of activity, Penn
syiyania Avenue, Street. and Seventh
Street. as well as many other thorough
fares where shoppers are wont 20 congre-
gate contained . sluggish stream OF people,
with fringe of hUcksters who cried In
loud voices the cEeapneSs Of holly nlistIe-
toe. patent toys, Snow for Christmas trees,
and other articles that are considered IN
dispensable ia the proper celebration of
the Yu1etide
TO run up and down gaiiy painted metallic
sticks; some had packages Of glist91ing
powder WITH which 10 give the ffr tTel the
appearance OF having been transplanted
from an Adirondack wood where there are
many feet # snow: some offered green
wreaths TO nang n the windows, and 9TH
ers offered painted horns with horrible
voices for the individual who believes that
without a certain amount Of din the eve
OF Christnas is not properly celebrated
Still other vendors OF the curb sold 10
the passer-by rubber pigs. the old toy
balloon in q new form, with the usual
screeching apparatus ATTACHED, which,
inflated. looked remarkably like the genu-
inc article and when released from the
aiT-pressuTe. gToaned dolefuliy. The men
who sold these shouted in stentorian
tones Here's yovr pig; buy pig; blow
Il up and watch Il die: cheap for the boy:
buy a pig and watch Il die
Enough blI4dles we're carried through
the business streets of the Capital today
to furnish q cargo for q feet of warsnlps
and several transports besides; at least,
II seemed so from the appearance OF the
hosts who loaded TO the nose with ali
sorts of packages. fought their way
through the surging throng, guarding
their precious freight from the elbows OF
those with whom they came in contact
and preoccupied with thoughts Of the
The shopping crowds were, as usual.
gcod-natured No amount OF pushing and
jostIiRg could destroy their good feeling.
for Christmas comes but once year.
The small boy and the small girl we're
cut in force and peeri1g into the gaudiiy
dressed shop windows with ordinations Of
delight and condolences on the relative de-
STABILITY of the toys displayed delivered
in the usual stage whispers. Many an in
experienced shopper was nearly upset on
Seventh Street this morning, by the hurry
ing youngsters who InsIsted on running
Ieo-ysrd dsshes in the crowds in their -;
forts to get good places at the windows
where the baubIes os the season were dis
played IN great masses
Aside fr6Eu he muddy pavements which
resulte5 from the rain and the warmer
weather. today has been ideal for shc.F-
ping in Washington. A frosty atmosphere
would have rendered * more sessonable,
but so long as there is sunshine, the aF
erage individual Is inclined TO make no
protest against the conditions that might
be improved upon
From all that can be learned and OBJ
served. this has been an extremely profit
able holiday season for the washington
merchant, and the size and number of
the thousands OF bundles delivered during
the few days past seems to indicate that
the financial returns viii be greater than
ever before