New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-12-24
CHARGE OF SHOPPERS.
Their Army Grumbles at Christmas
Buying, bah Keeps Happy.
PLANS FOR THURSDAY oBSERVANcES.


The shopping army made its last Christmas
charge of the year but one yesterday from iili
fourth-st to Eighth-st and If they did not sweep
the shops clear of all things desirable Tor Cnrist
mas presents it was only because fresh supplies
came from the storerooms almost every hour 10
take the place of the hundreds of thousands OF
dollars worth carried away by eager hands Inc
shopping crush began with the early morhiiis
downtown rush, and kept up until the thedfe9
discharged their throngs into the crisp night air
at II O'Clock Lights glttered. carriages ruiroleu
hack and forth and crowds damned the sidewalk
in sections of the city which at other times OF le
wear are practically deserted after nightfall, SO
that the shopping district as busy IN the even
ing or nearly busy, as 1t was at noon.
The ferryhouses and railroad stations early
showed the effect of the holiday crowds. for the
morning rush never seemed to stop at all NJ
sooner had the regular commuters all arrived thoh
the suburban shoppers began to appear 1hey
kept coming all day, and when the earnest oHes
turned homeward they met belated ones just get
ting across the river on their way to the heao-
quarters of Santa Claus. Conditions on the Driose
were all day practically what they usually are st
morning and night ,
Not little of the confusion that prevails in the
district where most the big retail stores are IS
caused by the army of fakirs and hucksters Oh one
kind and another which always gathers at the ap
proach OF Christmas. They are of many KINDS put
all of them noisy and nsistent the TOY bearers
are the most numerous. They guide miniature hre
engines locomotives. drummer boys ana trottns
horses over the sidewalk at the imminent rlsh VI
destruction but apparently to the dealers ultimate
profit The holly and mistletoe men do rushhs
business Most Of them carry their stock IN 'faue
sIurr over their shoulders about their nechs'
though occasionally one is so lucky as 10 gel per
mission stand. The besgars' NUMEROUS
enough at any time more numerous imam eVet'
desnite the police and they find much proht' also'
in the holiday spirit which possesses most Oh inc
shoppers The latter really 10 be en3oylhs
themselves. The shopping crowd is reaHS sooo
natured one and does its work with zest oesp'le d
lot of grlmbIing about the nuisance OF the thlHe'
To-day will mark the elimination Oh the iioliuhy
-,sb IN the stores Thousands will remember at
the last moment some friend previously neglected.
in the purchases made and another Iusn ' ~
inexhaustibIe supplies Of the shops VIII result II
has been an unusually trying holiday shopping sea
son both for merchants and for shoppers on ac-
corDt of the unexampled difficulties OF transit from
one point to another in the city TENS OF Inou
sands will heave signs Of relief when IL Is an oHe
The plans for the doings OF Christmas lay III
this CITY are all completed The celebrations are
oIr,os+ nc varied as the character of the many
races who make up the citys population Nearly
all Of the Protestant Episcopal roman Oa'iioio
and Reformed churches will have special services
at about II a m, and Of them VIII hoid even
ing services as we'll The musical programmes
have for the most part, been already announced
in The Tribune. At Calvary Church Four1h-ases
and Twenty-frst-st-. an ancient custom VIII DO
revived It is the yuletide custom OF SINGING IA
Christ
choir will enter the Fourth-ave. entrance 10 the
church. singing in procession Adams Noel ana
on reaching the chancel will sing selection OF
early English carols. The service will be uhoer
the direction of Lacey Baker. and VIII commence
At Grace Church the day will be observed by
service at which Bishop Potter VIII preach the
accession being the formal reopenins OF lIle CIluICH
Following extensive repairs, involving the lthsteil
ing of the chaacel and the installation OF TOUR lie"
Tbe annual dinner given by William NJ. Fliess 70
the newsboys will take place as usual al the brace
Memorial Lodging House, No. > puane-st' AT Z
FaIlington Booth and Maud Booth. OF the Nolun-
teers of America, announced yesterday thAI Ihey
were prepared TO give aid to the poor on Chnsf-
mas I)ay on a large scale, contributions 10 lheH
cause having been plentiful this year ,,a
They said that three thousand poor chlidEth
would receive clothing and other neeGtu! thlhBs;
two thousand families of prisoners would be hetpsu
given at the Broadway (Brooklyn) branch -,
The Salvation Army will celebrate the day WIN
its customary Christmas dinner 10 the poor at the
Grand Central Palace -, -.,
Frank T1lford. in accordance with his annual
custom, has invited six hundred ne"spoys 10 olle
with him on Christmas at Lyric Hall. Forty-sec-
ond-st and Sixth-ave. There will be music ana
other festivities.
pig Tim" Sullivan. OF Tammany notoriety. says
he will feed ten thousand East Side poor to-mor-
row. No tickets will be needed. and any hungry
person who goes Christmas Day to the rooms OF
the T y. Sullivan Association. No 20I Bowery'
Will get a dinner The guests will dine IN squads
of four hundred. and each one will get a cap and
a pair of socks Christmas present