The daily Republican., 1902-12-20
THOUSANDS IN
HOLIDAY GIFTS
Enormous Outlay Being Made
This Year by Wilmington's
Christmas Shoppers.
COUNTRY C0USINSIN TOWN
Come Here to Make Their Pur-
chases. Tree and Other
Evergreen Merchants
Busy Also.

The merchants of the city are
doing record breaking business
this Christmas and after the rush
is over wheu they come to foot up
the totals they will reach far into
the thousands.
SO great have been the thron gs
OF buyers that somo of tho stores
vera unable to handle all of the
customers. Of course they took
speedy steps to remedy the difficulty
and one house increased its force ~
per cent.
From early in tho morning until
lOand / O'Clock at night the streets
arc teeming with Christmas shop
pers. Nearly every one of them
carries bundle Of some sort, whslh-
er it be gloves or handkerchief in
a neat envelope, Il nicely wrapped
box or small baby carriage with
more than half sticking out of the
wrapper. People that ordinarily
would have q spool Of cotton sent
home go around Christmas time
with their arms filled with packages
and the more they have the happier
the expressions on their faces.
Because people carry packages it
does not mean anv less worit for the
delivery wagons. for they are pushed
right UP to the limit, and most Of the
stores have put on extra teamsters
and wagons.
tHNNTHY COUSINS IN TOWN.
The city Is flooded with shoppers
from The neishboring towns who are
here TO buy their presents and lay In
Stock. of otEer things that 90 TO
Inake merry the Christmas sea-
son.
Each year more expensive goods
are bought at the holiday season. In
the years gone by Christmas gifts
were usually things Of little practi-
Cal Use. Now this custom has chang
ed, and the presents pre- both use
ful and expensive. With the charge
IN the character of the presents
came Il disposition to pay higher
prices. Furniture. carpets, jeWelry
and things Of that sort are now
eagerly sought. So pronounced is
this tendency toward practical gilt.
that buyers are even gong into lin
ems and domestlcs to find presents
for their lrienls.
The demand tor toys continues
abou, The same. Whether the coun.
try is prosperous Or not, children
still want toys. and their parents
seem disposed to crafty them,
CIR sTMtS TREES AND ETEEGREEHs.
Judging from the appearance of
West Fourth street there viii De
no famine in the eycrgrecns m ar.
ket. Although Christmaa is near
ly week off, this vicinity is liter
ally lined with Christmas trees,
holly, cedar strings and mistletoe.
OF i!he latter there seems 10 be an
abundance, The holly crop this
season has proven adisappointment
Waiis the leaves present their
usual appearance, there Is an iab.
sence of the red berry which adds
so much to the beauty OF lhe ever
green.
The cedar and crIwfoot garlanls
are not up to the stanparl being
affected greatly by the unreasonable
weather The beautiful bright |
green color is missing, and instead
they have the appearance of being
partially withcred, The same can
be said nf the Christmas trees.
The price asked for trees range
from 81 to 81 A good tree can be
obtained for about ~. 50 The prin
cipal market for cycrgreens is on
Fourth street. From Tatnall to
King tho rurns are simply lined
with them. Considering the fact
thai it is yet a little early for the
OF this class Of goods,
business has been remarkably brisk
T;EKEY5 81 AHCH AND NliH
Turkeys scarce and prices
Ugh at Thanksgiving, but they vii;
DC much more 50 Christmas. Tho
supply throughout the country is
'ald to bc very short, owing in some
sections to early heavy rains, which
drowned great many Of the young
mes ia their nests. Those available
ire easily obtained for Northcrn
markets by reason OF the higher
'riccs which prevail there.
STRTIHK nv TpA!N