The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-22
Shopping for Christmas

II the unselfshness of yesterday and
these next few days as seen on the great
PETAL thoroughfares OF Houston could be
spread out over the year, there would be
mighty little use for policemen and turn.
keys. As an integral part Of Chrstendom
the population OF this city was engaged,
for the most part. in the very refined and
soulsatisfying occupation of thinking about
somebody else. Christmas Is still three days
away, but Saturday is shopping day for
many. no matter what the occasion, and
several thousand men, women and chill
dren observed the rule in Houston. Along
the wonderfully gurnlshed store fronts, up
200 Gown the long aisles of the great mer-
esntile establishments. in the candy shops,
at the overaden blocks and benches in
the markets. people were looking. choosing.
buying and receiving, and the end and aim
81 " nll was the happiness Of somebody
else. Every relation In life was sweet.
ened, and to many the thoughts that
crowded forward were delightfully."- novel.
Stern, practical fathers, who had stroked
complacent chins and rubbed wellTounded
diAphragms for a year. saying over and
ever to themselves, "Mell. here Is one fell
low who looks out for his family without
making any fuss about it, suddenly found
Themselves In solitary confinement or their
self-love and seli-pridc, and were forced
60 capltulste to the spirit Of self-sacrhce
that dominated the rest Of the community.
and to learn-and that quickly+---sa their
position on the morrow would be strange
one indeed IL they did not catch the con-
taglon of unselhsh love, so, while loung-
ing through the aises with wife and daugh-
tiers and BARNS. they were under the neces-
Bity Of forsaking their business bluntness,
that sat them Ike 4 well-wrought gar
Iusnt, to try some of those little arts OF
strategy Mt which all men of business arc
such desperate failures But what mat
tered 1t If they gave away their secrets
as fast as conceived and tempted sharp
witted tradeSwomen into making OF them
purveyors general of all sorts OF unpopular
wares they were trying to conform 10 the
regnant spirit and should be judged
lenlently The plots and secrets Of the
Christmas shoppers are the most Innocent
of the twelvemonth.
The merchants have been urging Christ
mas shoppers to make their purchases carly
In the season In order TO avert the usual
crush during the last few days which makes
things SO uncomfortable for every one. md
there are indications that the agitation has
borne some fruit The streets in the shop
ping district and the murts Of trade crowd
ed with the holiday shoppers, who in Pre-
vious years have been won't to Wuit uutN
the last thing before making out tlelr llsts
OF gifts. # is pointed out by the mcr
chants that II Is just as easy to purchase
gifts two weeks IN advance of Christmas
airy. Therefore there Is nothing gained by
waiting until the last moment. with u
limited number OF stores to cater to con
ttantly and enormously increasing patron
Bgc, 1t is physically impossible for as mucn
trading 20 be done In the last week before
the great day as could be done three or
four years ago.
Many people realize this fact, It would sp-
pear. from the crowded condition OF the
stores. ana being anxious to save them
selves from the annoyance of holiday
crowds they have Inangurated the Christ
mas shopping this year fully n fortnight
before the usual rush is expected. state
street these days Is sight to behold. The
earliest arriving street cars in the business
district after the stores are opened briug
that time Until darkness falls and the cleo
tric lights dash UP the procession steadily
increases in Size aud strength.
They plunge In and ont Of the stores, dash
across the crossings careless OF wagons ant
cars, push their way through the denses
crowds and keep one object In yleW-th
least possible time and getting hom
with II.
There is none OF the lclsurely strollln
which ch1ractcrIZos many shoppers at othA
seasons OF the wear. Ii Is strictly bushes
with the purchaser Of holiday gifts Sh
stores nre crowded and that she may no
ret a chance To come downtown again unit
the last week, when the crush may be ever
her shopping until abe is through with u
and when 1900 OF 1000 women are attend'll
ia one thing within space OF mile ~
one or two streets they arc liable 10 carr!
verythlng before them.
~
Like the sea before storm, the com
plexion Of the Christmas througs upon tn
streets changed almost momentarly. From
early business hours until noon 1t wa
made up Of the ieisurely matrons who hay
plots upon plots for wellconsldcred execu
tion, and who are most successful in thei
attempts to prevent their left hands find
Ing out what their right hands do. The
for the most part went straight 10 tn
places which promised the quickest rea
ization OF their plans, and made their seleC
lions not hastily, but with real and neet
ful expedition for all that. They directed
with the precision and authority OF ger
erals, the disposition OF their parcels, an
In thousand ways showed command {
the entire situation. by noon they wer
followed by their daughters. dimpled con
pAcent or smiling -uncertaln. They II
spired the trades people with less awe tina
their mothers, but they caused them NOR
trouble, besides which they were not sue
liberal purchasers. TlTe daughters hrl
their place in the column during most OF IN
day, but by midafternoon they were in III
minority. For then a number OF the ne
arms OF the service came upon the field an
their numbers could not be overlooked.