The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-19
TRADE QUICKE|NSAS
XMAS DRAWS NEAR.
Retail Merchants Now Experience
Busiest Season.
BROAD STREET A GAY SCENE
Christmas Shopp .rs Crowd the Thor.
oughfare at All Hours-Espress
and Postoffice Employees
Work Overtime.

vSOTk ASSEllIIles
AS each day that passes brings Christ
mas closer and closer certain lines Of
trade and business grow more and more
active. so that 1t looks as II things will
run away with themselves by the time
the holidays do arrive.
Broad Street yesterday was more
crowded than ever. Everybody seems to
visit the place at come time during the
day. and particularly during the after
noon from three o'clock until n:ghtfall.
An immense amount Of trading and
shopping is going on and much money is
changing hands. 1t seems that less
afternoon is given This year to show win
dows. Some OF the stores have magnl-
ficent dispia ys-one or two are notably
beautiful-but the real show IS on the
inside. and it is to the inside that most
of the people go. The aisles in several
of the large department houses are
crowded and blocked from morning untll
noon and from noon until late at night.
II is impossible for one usiSiIed in the
art OF shopping to stand around ana
Judge what is being bought Hicst' what
is III. most popular article OF trace
Everything seems to be moving along
pretty rapidly. One thing. however
seems to re certain It will be we'll
dressed Richmond which will turn out
Christmas morning. Much of the shop
ping that IS going on now is IN the oress
goods department. where abound tallor-
made suits. beautiful furs and handsome
etceteras. charming to feminine eyes
and ears. but unintelligible to those OF
reporter. Bric-a-brac and handy
knick-kna cks for presents. where one
doesn't wish to spend much. are mucn
In evidence and are selling raploly.
Books and calendars are extremely pop-
ular. particularly the latter.
Tovs are. Of course. Il. great demand
Many mam1nas are worrying over the
TOW counter in earnes: consideration with
santa Claus about this and that DOH
haby or magic lantern or express wagon
and so on. Many mysterious package.
with Christmas written all over IT, IS
being snuggled into the house ano stoieu
away where big eyes in little bodies may
not peep into it.
''' t THE MARKETS.
The markets have not yet begun 70 take
on that bus.ness-like air whlch always
marks the approach OF the honoay sea-
co, It is a little early yet to lay IN
snnnlies. but the beginning OF next week
viii show a great stirring up In this Oh
rection. Holly. mistletoe and various
STYLES of bright flowers are 2 pleasing
feature Of the stalls just now.
The produce market continues quiet.
h,,+ exnects to break loose soon. Up to
this time dealers have held OF laying
in supplies for Christmas In oav o.
two however this holiday trade Will pc
ein and then the produce men will see
living time Of it, At this time prices
continue about the same. as follows:
Poultry Oive)-Chickens. 10 to lie per
mound: hens. to 1Oc. per pound: ducks.
TO lie. per pound: turkeys to 1oc. per
,oun5. geese. 80 to CSC. each: ROSTERS. %
ia soc. each; guneas. zoe each.
Poultry (dressed)-Turkeys.l II to II l-2c
ner ;oo,,nd: ducks. u to ltc; chickens. 10
to 81; geese to 10c
Fruits and etab!es-App'es. s. to $
per barrel: amaica oranges, s2..o to IS
per boz: Florida oranges. s2l5 TO 50 pee
box: lemons. $3.50 to S. per box: keffer
pears, So to 81 SC: Malaga grapes. 81 to 81
per barrel: pineapples. 81 to $50 per
barrel: cranberries $40 to 81 per barrel:
notaIoes. so to CSC. per bushei; sweet po-
tatoes. s,.75 per barrel; onions. 81 to $50
DER barrel: cabbage. SO to sl2 per ton
s125 to $3.50 re" -ugar barrel. to
81, per head; celery, 20 to 50 C. per dozen;
blackeye peas. s1.4o to sl.5o per bushel;
CLAW peas, 81 per bushel; mixed peas SIC
TO 81 per bushel: beans. s1.00 to $50 per
bushel.
Gane-Rabbits. Il to lac each: part
ridges. Il to 15c.: pheasants. 20 to soc-;
squirrels. 3 to SC: wild turkeys, foc. per
pound; whole deer. 10 to lie. per pound;
veniscn saddles. Is to 16c. per pound
Live stock-Veals. 5 to 1-2c. per pound;
n a NH < y
41-2c.; hogs. to 1-2c.: cattle. 2 ga to &c
Observation-Disclosures q to CSC. r2r
dozen: butter. Is to 2ic. per pound. accord
ing TO quality; Smithfield hams. IS to G0c.;
hams. II to 1sc.: smoked sides, II to 1Sc.:
smoked shoulders. II to 12c.: country
sausage. 0 to 1lc.: pigs feet, 10 to 12c. per
dozen; lard to lac.
RUSH OF BUSINESS.
Among the busy places In Richmond
at this time probably two hold the palm
the postoflce and the express office. The
volume of mail is swelled al OUT OF pro
norton. and it will swell still more dur
ing the DAYS to come. Any package under
four pounds in weight Is accepted. and
a vast number Of little boxes. big fiat
packages, three cornered bundles. etc.
etc. are being poured III.
What II is impossible to squeeze inside
the four pound postofflce regulations Is
turned over to the expires Office. which is
overladen with Christmas bundles. The
EXPRESS clerk sees no resi- these days and
his prospe IT'S for the is,mediate future
are altogether cheeIless. AS the days and
the hours between now and Christmas
grow fewer. this Individual will see
hard time Of it. If he can come out
christmas morning with q c'ear head and
a steady nerve. he will have accomplished
much.
The various denominations are prenar-
,ne, to celebrate Christmas in their own
way. Among the Catholics and the Epis-
copalians services are held during the
dav in each church. special proera nr1es
or music will be rendered in the b ptist
Presbyterian and Christian Churches on
Sunday next Otherwise. there will be
no particular Christmas celebra ton The
Nethodsts will hold one or two union
services on Christmas day
The Sunday-schools are getting In shane
for the annual festivities. In the vast ma
iori+v7 OF cases however. details have not
-<rI-o All ey,I az hoy rnf