Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-13
Snow Has Been Falling Steadily
 Nearly All Day.
CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS ARE OUT

And the Stores Are All Bedecked in
 Holiday Attire Farmers Coming to
 Town With Loads of Produce for
 the Holiday Trade No Matter ii
 Coal Is Short and Times Hard, Peo-
 pie Will Celebrate Christmas.
 Snow started to fall early this morn ing and by the time people got out of bed the paths that had been beaten down after the storm of a few days ago were filled in so that rubber boots came in handy. 1t kept drizzling all day and at times gusts of wind came up and swept the fine, mealy stuff about with considerable force, making walking quite unpleasant. But the weather was not cold and while many had to stop now and then to see which way they were going still everybody, appeared happy and nobody took of- Tense at being jostled by his neighbor.' Everything goes in snow storm.
 Owners of fast horses are in their glory and liverymen say that business in their line is rushing. The demand
 
 met, while automobiles and all such vehicles are slowed away and the own- CTS wonder when some smart fellow will fix them so that they will go about on runners and save them the cost of cutters during the winter sea-. son. They can all boast about modern methods of conveyance. but while these things are well enough in their way, still they are not in it with the horse for all around use.
 The stores are beginning to get things ill shape for the Christmas trade and 1t is thought business will be good during the holidays. Everybody is working and there being little chance for people to spend money on coal or wood, they will have all the more to put up for Christmas presents, so that the person who does not receive a present this Christmas must be very pad, indeed. A few loads of green boughs have come into the center the past day or two and men have been around town taking orders for Christ mas trees, but it seems the demand for them is not very brisk.
 50 far as can be learned there are not many real cases of want among the poor, but by all accounts large numbers of people are in n quandary to know what to do for fuel. Most Of the dealers have orders which if will take them week or more to fill. Some or them have no stove coal and don't know when they will get any. This puts the man with money on the same level with his neighbor wAo hasn't a copper. In some respects he is worse off, because he cannot turn to the board of charities and ask for assist anee, though one man stated to-day that If he failed to get coal before night ne intended to call upon MT Doran ana state his case. He said the board If charities was bound to relieve all cases oT want and that man who is able to pay for coal but can find none to buy is as much to be pitied as anybody. ana ne believed the authorities should give their cases some attention. He sald he knew the coal dealers are piaylng a sharp game upon the people and suggested that the aldermen ap- point committee next Monday night 70 see what could be done toward se- curing coal for citizens who are well able to pay for it, but see no chance of geftlng any until after January |.
 The farmers are doing a thriving business selling green wood, and they could do better if they would come in oftener. People did not care to bother with wood while there was any hope of getting coal. but now things have reached point where they are glad to use anything that will burn. They draw the line at soft coal. though, but unless enough of the other kind comes in soon they will have to make the best hand they can of it.