Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-19
CHRISTMAS TRADE STARTS.
Excitement Over the Freshet Giving
Way to Shopping.
All tie Stores o. tie Capital City Are Well
Stocked.

The excitement caused by the mex.
pected coming of the freshet has sub
sided, but the people of the CAPITAL city
have not settled down to the even teno,
of their ways. On the contrary they
are getting carried away in the annua
rush of Christmas shopping. 1t has
been predicted that for certain reasons
this was to be an off Year in Christmas
trade, but yesterdays experience did
not seem to bear out this prophecy. One
could not help seeing this as one pass
ed along the street and glanced into
| the stores. Wherever there was any,
thing appropriate for a Christmas
gift-and what does not come into this
category yhen the whole lot of Christ
mas buyers is considered-there you
would find a crowd. In fact it was the
best day our merchants have had in a
long time.
A picnic is strange thing at this
season, but that is what the bows and
girls are having these days. As soon as
school is out they hurry to the toy and
candy stores on Water street. where
they invest their pennies and if these
are lacking they feast their eyes upon
the many attractive things in the win
dows and try to decide just what they
VIII purchase whenever any pennies
come their way.
They are the most good-natured of
all the Christmas shoppers; that is. un-
less they happen to be with the grown
folks and then it is sometimes to the
children's interest to seem unhappv. II
a boy is with his mother and is very
q fnt III l.
is unwilling to buy for him. he some
times nndS tears useful. With some
mothers such a plan does not work
Tears wash away all chance of the gift.
with other soft-hearted parents the
weepy boy is the lucky one.
SO far all the shoppers are cOmpara -
lively amiable. There is vet nearly a
week before all the presents must posi-
lively be ready. and so all think they
nave plenty of time to buy them. and
besides they are not tired of the search
and irritable with uneasness. That
state VIII come about Christmas Eve
ana a day or two before and then woe
unto anybody who crosses the Christ
mas shopper in his desires or his acts,
There are loads of pretty things on
display to tempt anybody. whatever !
their taste may be. and if ones purse |
is equal to ones wishes, one can be
in any line from diamonds to j
tire crackers. For the boys and girls /
especially there are hundreds of at |
fractions splendid enough to make a I
whole years happiness or unhappiness |
The toy stores are the most alluring |
places on earth just now for the chill |
= h. ..ly, n g-fn
come in for an equally devoted atten-
ton.
All the standard toys are to be seen
and some that are new and more mar
velIous than was ever before dreamed
Of From IA full fire wagon set with
hook and ladder truck, hose wagon.
chemical engine, etc. modern in plan
and big enough for two boys or more
to ride upon. down to a tin horn or a
raS doll there is everything in the way
IT TOYS to please.
The tool sets. that prove to many
boys theiT carpenters vocation and to
he rest that there is no use trying to
30 things with their hands, are men
toned in many boys letter to Santa
laus.
Guns and pistols are. Of course. as
fascinating to the boys as dolls are to
he girls: SO. of course, there are thou
sands of these things to gladden. the
iearts Of the children. Guns and pis
.ols. that are to be loaded with any :
hing from water to caps that seem
almost real and dolls of every type
and kind of costume and lack of cos
ume, are probably what the children
most generally yearn for. and Santa
Nlaus is always generous in this line.
For girls who are domestic in their
astes there are the daintiest kitchen
sets. stoves. utensils, everything even
o q churn. and similarly there is ev-
Try article necessary for a miniature
aundry Blackboards and desks and
III the paraphernalia of the school
,oom gain the most attention from
,hidren who like to play school