The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-24
The Shoppers Will Take
the City To-Day
STORES BUSY SCENES
They Looked Like Fairy Land Last
Night and Were Crowded.
THE BRoAD-sTREET PARADE
1t Will Take Place Tonight ID All It's
Blaze of Glory If the Weather is
Fiue-shopplnz viii Be at
It's Height To-Day
and Also To-
Night.
THE BRoAD-sTREET PARADE

This IS Christmas Eve. Tomorrow Is
ths real aay- The two days will pass
III 4 whirl of pleasure, and will be gone
before any one realizes it.
This is the last day OF shopping. The
Iasgards in getting their Christmas prcs-
ents viii nave To- move around to-day
The shopping propensity will reach tho
crisis of it's fever heat to-day. To-day
the stores will be crowded from early
morning till IL O'Clock tonight. To-mor-
row all will be closed. and Broad Street
will present very different scenes.
Yesterday morning was fine for shops
ping. and it was done apparently by all
most every one. so crowded were tho
streets. Every store on the street did a
fine business. and money flowed into the
Golfers plentifufly. People in Richmond,
as a rule, have money. and there is less
dickerng for bargains this year than fnr
a. long time. The price asked is paid
RAIN THAT DIDN'T DAMPEN.
The evening brought rain 1t WASH
expected. The shoppers had umbrellas.
it is true, and armed with these they did
not hesitate to come immediately after
dinner. The heavy rain did not come un-
til about 5 o'clock. Then it almost poured.
But the folks We're out, and being out.
they continued to shop. 1t was nice in
the stores surrounded by pretty things
which were just waiting to be bought.
Early in the afternoon the lights were
turned on. and the great stores, with
their glitterinS wares and half worried.
half amused people. looked more fairy
like than real. But 1t was painfully real
when once the doors OF these pretty
places were passed. going outward. Out
side the cold rain was coming earthward.
the air was chilly and penetrat tlnS 4
was a kind of evening that makes q fei-
low appreciate anybody's fireside.
PRICES MAY .GosiTa DOWN
The stores are filled with pretty things
to buy. But for a thing to be dainty and
nice money in plenty is asked. But prices
will be better to-day. Many ot the arti-
cles that appear SO bravely in the shop
windows are Christmas material. pura
and simple. To-day is the last day that
| demand for them will be great For that
! reason it would not be surprising if ths
! bargain hunter does not come in for an
I inning to-day, and particularly this even
! ing late. There may be method in tho
madness of those who put oft shopping
till the last minute after all.
| After tomorrow. then it's Christmas,
and from the boy. the girl. young MAJ
| and maiden, and all. the cry goes up:
Christmas doesn't come but once year,
| hurrah for Christmas,
The usual parade on Broad Street,
| which is one of the customs peculiar to
| Richmond, occurs this evening. If tho
weather is fine thousands will march tho
| street in carnival style. and right royal
| Christmas paudemonium will reign.
| THE POOR ARE REMEMBERED.
| In all tho preparations for Christmas
| in Richmond. it seems that none are being
! forgotten.
| Santa Claus. in the persons of Mr.. j.
| F. Mayer and Mr.. J. S. Moore. appeared
! at the Masonic Home Saturday. and Int
| the name of Acca Temple, Mystic Shrin-
! ers, presented four bright silver quarters
| to each child in the institution. The
superintendent. matron. assistant ma tror,,
| teacher and all We're remembered. Tho
| joy and gratitude of the children was
enough to make the hearts of the two
/ gentlemen who bore the gifts glad
The poor of the city are being reulem-
bered also Sunday evening many con-
tributions were made by the congregation
of the Emmanuel Baptist Church to its
poor To-day the CIay-Street Methodist
Church will give to the poor. The hours
are from to 2. NJ. and tomorrow
morning from to 900. And so 1t is
with the other churches ard charitable
] organizations.
All are trying to make this the glad
time that all want it To be.