Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-07
XMAS CLOSE AT HAND.
so,apAY SHOPPING HAS BEGUN IN
REAL EARNEST.
WINDOW DISPLAY is SUPERB.
r,cn Thing. Good 10 Emf Arc In
holiday Dress. and tho Air OF
Chccrfulncss Abroad Makes Up for
Climatic Dencicncics-A Young So
csct. Girs'. Gift. suEzc.tson..
WINDOW DISPLAY is SUPERB.

christmas is close at hand in all his
Hmm and hearty honesty. Already we
s,sud upon The threshold OF the season
q. hospitality. n1errirncnt and open
hcartcdness. The old year is preparing
ike an ancient philosopher. 10 cali his
friends around him. and amidst the
so.ud Of feasting and revclry. to pass
gently and calmly away.
There seems a magic in the very name
al Christmas Petty jealousies and dis
r,4. arc FORGOTTEN. social feelings are
awakened in bosorns TO which they have
,6ng been strangers: and encircled by the
social thoughts of Christmas time, the
hor{rnant figure Of childhood staaas an
chafraEgd and in every cheerful image
and suggestion that the season brings
fEa bright star that rested above the
r5ar reef Is the star Of all the Chris
IAN world
There has been nothing very cheerful
~, M climate or in the city of late. and
,rt there is an air of cheerfulness abroad
mar Tie cie8rest summer air and bright
os, s,mmcr sun might have endeavored
~ sfyr So in vain. The shops are all re-
6.s-t in their glory. while the groceries,
tba rraglsicn dealers. and the bakers
STORES suggest apopletic opulence.
The great harvest OF the provision deal
c~s is Fe; 10 come. hut there are Christ
mas axes and plum puddings. and mince
Mas to be thought Of and provided for
and eFeTyt hing good 10 eat Is already in
Ch-ts-,uas dress. The maiden. who is as
-.stfre ID the preparations. is reminded of
~, erat-ach Of Christmas when she de-
-ra-ets dances at the hUng-up 1nistleIu-
II s. mar alone that the scales descend
tr!- en- The counter make weary sound
or that the twine and roller part com
ra.s- 50 hriskly, or that the canisters are
r.t--a5 MP and down like iuEslcr tricks.
-e. raisinS are so Plentiful. or almonds
s. oytrcmely white. the sticks of CHINA
rag SO long and straight. the other
f.sees so delicious: the candied fruits so
aaaf and spotted with molten sugar.
b. IN make the coolest lookers-on feel
faint ana subsequently bilious: 1t is that
its. customers are all so hurried and St.
Ceaar in III" hopeful promise of the pre-
mary preparations.
Even he fruit stores are in holiday
s-av and suggest Christmas week
viii j. is still quite a long way off as the
arv'crs child recllons the time. Here
SIRE pears and apples in blooming. holly
decorated pyramids. piles Of nuts. recall
ag Fin their fragrance ancient walks
g7f0uS the woods and pleasant shufffings
i~zfe deep through withered leaves. and
than there is the glorious yellow OF the
oranges and lemons.
Already mere are strange lCT03S III lllc
Hcreets ard few other faces. half
strange and half familiar, once the faces
II Richmond children who come bac,,
from the outer world al intervals TO find
TIE city little or a great deal changed
Happy happy Christmas that can win
IT'S back 10 the deluSiOn Of our childish
DAYS that can recall to the old man the
treasures Of his youth: that can trans
uart the sailor and the traveller thou
sauds OF miles away. back 10 his own fire
5e and his quiet home.
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IS THERE.
The crowds that daily throng the retail
tHorouchfares seem i:nbued with the
Christmas spirit. for Christmas is the
c-lv time in the long calendar Of the
cay when men and women seem by one
consent To open their shut-up carts free
h and think Of others less fortunate than
themselves. as If they really We're fellow
passcneers 10 the grave and not another
rare OF creatures bound on other jour
There are wonderful sights TO sec these
Christmas days before stocks are depict
% and show windows undone to satisfy
lmnortuuate customers. Year after year,
tia window dressers' art seems to have
reached its acme but still year after
wear there is some fresh surprise and
further revelation that makes the old way
seem the wrong way, ana lIle he" way
rrc right Up to this time, the store
keepers have refrained from those Win
cow exhibitions and structures that are
always sure to catch a crowd Instead
there are samples taken from the stocks.
within in a maze of color and hrilliancy.
Tha great show windows Of the large de-
pertinent stores. are like some huge
Misunderstanding in me variety. the COR
Eeousness, the color and the contrast.
There are jewellers shops with all the
treasures Of Garth displayed therein. Book
stores whence a pleasant smell OF paper
iseshlv pressed, comes forth mingled
with the Whit of Russia leather, and
rows on rows OF volumes all neatly rang
81. suggesting all sorts Of happiness.
Ana in the window the spic and span new
works with the title pages, and some
t.rnes even the first page OF the first
chapter laid wide open. tempting the un-
wary ro begin 10 read the book and then.
IN the impessibilIty OF turning over. to
rHsa mlindly in and buy it.
There are wonderful arrays Of clothing.
ana The stores devoted to mems furnish
tnes are fun Of the tlnery that the
saa son and Santa Claus suggest.
SHE ESCAPED THE KNIFE.