The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-25

Remarkable Demonstration of Scran-
toms Recuperative Powers--store-
keepers Report a Bigger Trade
Than That of Last Year, Which
Was the Biggest the Electric City
Ever Knew--stores We're Crowded
Until Late in the Night and Troll
ley Cars Were Combinations of
Passenger Coaches and Express
Cars.
Probably never before in the city's
history was there such a holiday busi-
ness recorded as that of the past three
days. Where the money comes from
the business men are at Il loss to Know.
The mine strike, to the superficial OBJ
server would make the present holiday
season u dull one in q business way,
but it was not only not dull, but on the
contrary the liveliest Scranton eyer ex-
perienced.
One big department store was actual
iy sold out. A big dry goods store re-
ported business fifty per cent. great
er than that of last year, and that OF
last year was the largest in its many
years Of existence. The proprietor of
one of the city's biggest novelty stores
said that last year he did an unprece-
dented business, and this year he was
only prevented from increasing it fif-
ty per cent. because Of the inability OF
his clerical force to wait on the trade.
1t is all a most gratifying exposition
of the recuperative powers Of the Elec-
trio City and corroboration of the be-
lief every year becoming more gener-
al that Scranton does not owe its life
by any means to the coal industry.
All Were Kept Busy.
Every store in the central city handl-
ing holiday goods was kept busy last
night until an unusually late hour
meeting the demands of the Christmas
trade. From 1880 till 1O:30 o'clock 1t
was just barely possible to get into one
of these stores, and after getting in
there was ordinarily confronting the
intending purchaser a long and tedious
wait for attention from largely aug
mented force of clerks.
Any other time but last night, there
would have been no end of quiet cuss-
ing by the street car conductors. But
it was Christmas eve and even street
car conductors felt called upon to be
CHEEKY. The outgoing cars We're par
ticularly provocative of cussing--if
cussing We're not unreasonable. 1t
seemed as if everybody had come to
town and that on the homeward jour-
OF, L I'M
body brought along the most cumber-
some impedimenta the law could possi-
bly, allow. One car bound for Provi-
dence had aboard no less than three exc
press wagons, a baby carriage and four
sleds.
Poultry Was Scarce.
Usually on Christmas eve, the prin-
cipal corners in the central city are
occupied by venders of poultry, espec-
tally turkeys. This year they We're
wanting. There wasn't a curb-stone
turkey merchant visible anywhere in
the city. The scarcity Of the charac-
teristic Yuletide fowl, made it unneces-
sary for the neighboring farmers to act
as his own retailer. He could get practi-
cally what he demanded from the mar
ketmen for all the turkeys he could de-
liver, and rather than stand about in
the cold merchandising from his wagon,
he disposed Of his stock in bulk at fig
ures eminently satisfactory and Went
home rejoicing. What few turkeys
We're sold to dilatory buyers last even-
ing brought twenty-five cents pound.
Scranton's charity will not suffer any
in reputation this year by reason Of
lack of forethought and preparation for
the poor. The city. can boast-if the
premises permit a boast-that no one
within it's four corners need be without
the provender for a Christmas dinner.
The board Of Associated Charities, the
church societies, the Salvation army
and many individuals who make the
giving of Christmas dinners a special
care have seen to it that no worthy
family will want a, christmas pot"
Work of Charity Board.
The Board of Associated Charities,
thanks to the philanthropy OF a number
of our wealthy citizens, has been given
carte blanch to not only provide
Christmas dinners for poor families,
but Christmas toys. sweetmeats and
useful presents for the children of such
enabled to do similar work and the SAL
walton army, by its collection from
"Christmas pots" placed at the princi-
pal corners in the central city is en-
abed to give Il Christmas dinner to
five hundred of the poor and q Christ
mas tree for the children of the poor
families. II any stocking OF all of the
100000 stockings in the Electric City
l,np h,E 10
that stocking was not hung at all or
else hung where Santa Claus could not
find it,
There was Il lively time at the Lack
awanna hospital last night when the
annual Christmas festivities We're con-
Quoted to the intense enjoyment of the
hundred and more patients in that in
stitution.
There We're two large Christmas trees
resplendent with lights ana tinsel dec
orations, one in the mems surgical ward
and one in the children's ward. A. ii.
Christy, cashier of the County Savings
bank, and man who takes u keen in
terest in the work of the hospital, Of
fciated as Santa Claus and distributed
the gifts which had been prepared for
all of the patients.
Each of the adults got stocking full
of candies and other Christmas goodies,
which had been purchased and prepared
by Mrs. f, N. Willard, who has not al
lowed her interest in the hospital to
cool since 1t became state institution.
The children. OF whom there are up
wards of twenty in the hospital at the
present time, each got varied assort-
ment Of toys and candy. So loud the
drum playing and horn blowing became