The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-09
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.

Christmas presents are already be-
ginning to agitate the minds Of both
young and old. Every person who can
possibly do so wishes to give presents.
to loved ones and friends. The giving
of gifts at Christmas tide is a beauti-
full custom, and one which deserves to
survive. 1t teaches thoughtfulness for
the pleasure of others, generosity,
charity and unselfishness. The purest,
sincerest pleasure consists in making
others happy; and of all seasons,
Christmas is the time when good cheer,
good fellowship and generosity govern
the Christian world. And no feature
contributes more to the universal hap
piness than this giving of tokens of es-
TEEN and affection. 1t is not the money
value of the gifts that makes them
priced but the spirit in which they are
rendered A simple gift often carries
with it more of joy and gladness than
an elaborate one. because it is an earn
est of the loyalty, fidelity and affection
of the donor.
The season of Christmas shopping
for gifts has now fairly opened The
time until the arrival of the holiday is
short, and discriminating purchasers
are making their selections with care,
in order that there may be no disap-
pointment. During the rush" days
and hours that will come later. there
will be neither time nor opportunity for
that careful choosing which assures
the most perfect satisfaction
What we desire to direct especial at
tention to in connection with this mat
ter is the fact that local shoppers ought
to give local dealers the opportunity to
supply their Christmas wants. Ex-
cept in the most extraordinary emer-
gency, there is no good reason for
sending away from Savannah for
Christmas articles. The Savannah
merchants have anticipated all wants
of the people of the section, and have
provided stocks from which most eX-
cellent selections can be made. 1t could
be said that they deserve the patron
age of the home-folks because they are
large contributors to the prosperity of
the city and are never found wanting
when a public enterprise is proposed.
But they do not base their claims to
recognition upon any sentimentalism.
They recognize that sentiment must be
discounted when ii comes to dollars
and cents. Therefore they are prepared
to do Christmas business upon strictly
business principles, just as they do
business upon other occasions. But
they do desire and they have per-
feet right to ask, that Savannah peo-
pie first find out what they can do at
home before sending their money to
other cities for Christmas supplies. 1t
is false notion to imagine that a New
York or Philadelphia or Paris label on
a box makes the contests of that box
better than II 1t were purchased in Sa-
vannah. 1t is intrinsic merit, and not
a label, that makes value. The Morn
ing News from day to day is direc-
tory Of the business houses of the city
and a catalogue OF the articles which
they offer for sale. Let these offerings
be investigated; let quality and price
be taken into consideration, and then.
~ the prospective purchaser is not
pleased, why, he can send elsewhere,
and there will be none to criticise the
action. But civic pride and self-inter-
est both demand that the Savannah
merchants be given the FIRST call"