Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21

drawn on for some wonderful tableware
and Paris for remarkable dolls apparel,
even to the inlaid chests in which 10
keep It and beautiful dressing tables on
which to place the accoutrements Of social
war-equipment for the whole boudoir in
fact. Russian articles OF similar character
make their appearance upon Omaha coun-
tiers for a FIRST time this year.
The window decorations have been up TO
standard. which IL saying a great deal, for
the Omaha standard is about the limit.
Electricity has been employed with rather
more OF the Ak-Sar-Ben style OF spectacu-
lar effect and has made possible the execu-
ton OF ideas worthy Of the BEST stage
craft.
Booming the Business.
To please the children and catch the
public eye and ear unusual methods have
been employed. The Boston store gave
Santa Claus ONCE room and put in a pri-
vate phone for him that he might be conf
municated with directly from private
homes. Hayden Bros. had Kris Kringle
walking about in the flesh as a reception
committee and children's guide. They
opened a postofice for him and guaranteed
replies to all communications Tit Ben
nett store placed itself in direct communi-
cation with his factory and drew supplies
from him by the sirship line. Blazing
signs were at many corners and one Of
them flashed out in regular order a list
Of the Christmas specialties. Everywhere
there was effort to Guido past effort and to
make this year the year,
Merchants Estimates.
II required an Immense cash outlay, but
the men who furnished the money say they
are not at all alarmed. Three Of the lead
ing proprietors told The Bee yesterday
that they estimated the Christmas business
OF the last two weeks in Omaha at 800. 900,
with the three heaviest days yet to come.
The month is, so far, considerably ahead
Of the first twenty days OF December OF
last year, Notwithstanding yesterdays bad
weather and the consequent slump. The
smaller dealers are getting what they con-
slider their full share and the reports from
the small towns OF this and surrounding
states are that the years average prom
Uses to be better than its predecessors.
OF the three remaining days much is ex-
! pected. Today's papers are filled with
lists Of rich offerings and the advertise
ment writer's worked long and hard over
their dictionaries and joke books yester-
day trying to c%ontrive a new way Of telling
an Ola SlOTys
Concerning the Boomers.
Advertising men are your best and most
energetic friends, little children. They
talk all day in pleasant, cheering tones and
then sit up all night trying to think out
ways OF breaking into your papas' bank
accounts for your benefit. Som ignorant,
naughty men, when they wish to persuade
your papas to give up money, select a dark
alley and a section OF lead pipe, but the
advertising men don't do 1t that way.
Gracious, no! They select a good position
next to live reading matter and write a lot
OF catchy things in black-faced type. Some
time somebody will print a big book con-
tanning pictures Of all the best friends OF
little children and then you can find out,
right in the front OF that book, what ad-
vertlsing men look like. They are not as
g~ray-haired as are editors, nor as long
haired as reporters, but they have a great
deal more to eat and are much j%ollier. In
fact, ~jollying is their profession.