The Washington times., 1902-12-24
MERCHANTS REPORT
HEAVY XMAS TRADE
Fever of Buying Presents
Reaches Its Height.

A crisis was reached today in the cpl
demic OF Christmas shopping. From
early morning the fever Of buying has
been at its height Everyone has been
attacked with the desire to purchase.
purchase, purchase, and. likewise. every
one Il taking pains to satisfy the craving
today. Il is the last opportunity the pub
dc viii have to "shop" before Christmas
and turkey.
The streets Of Washington present an
appearance today that can only be seen
once a year. With great throngs. the
thOroughfares are jammed. and the entire
city is agog with the spirit Of Yuletide.
Ia the stores there is a wild. unearthly
babble Of voices which sounds like a
multitude in ancient times clamoring for
the blood Of some bastard. But. fortu-
pately. IL is not this. Oh, no; it is mere
" the voices Of men and women. STAN
peding each other I'm their efforts 10 buy.
Some time during the evening the ep-
fdemic viii die a natural death. It VIII
pas away like everything else. and retire
quietly TO its grave. which Father Time
has been preparing for it. And thus viii
end one OF the most prosperous Christ
mas SEASONS in the history Of Washing
ton.
Jewelry and Diamonds.
Among the jewelry firms tbora has
been particularly heavy amount of
business. Indeed, the preparations for
the expected rush we're not sufficient to
meet The demand. At Calf & Bro. 8
Callisher's. and r. Harris. the crowds
have been so great that many have been
turned away because the capacItv OF
these stores-as many others-is limited.
The stock Of jewelry placed before the
public this year has been an exception
ally fine one. Il was the object Of the
firms 70 answer the old cry. what can
! get"
The food Of business OF the furniture
stores Is practically over. But while al
lasted. st was indeed. a flood. which
threatened az times to swamp the firms
with orders. Most Of these establish
ments will close early this evening in
order that the goods already purchased
may be delivered without hIndrance.
Among the houses that have had an
especially heavy run Of business are
House Hermann. stumph g. Lyford.
Rudden. Moses. Mayer & Co.. and the
Hub Furniture Company All OF these
concerns have had on sale a number oil
new designs in chairs. tables. cabinets.
mirrors, desks. and furniture novelties.
For Morris chairs there has been an ex-
tremely heavy call.
The association Of music with Christ
mas almost makes the two words seem
synomous. II would seem strange. in
deed, 10 let Christmas go by without
having the day frightened with music
OF some sort. II is probably for this
reason that the local music concerns
have had so successful season. Be-
sides the regular stock al Droops and
Knabe's there is novel display OF
musical toys and Instruments This
feature Of their Christmas preparations
has been extremely attractive
Along Seventh Street are located the
Ron Marche. the Hudson Variety store.
and the Reinhardt Silk House. At an
these places it Is said the season has
been exceptionally prosperous. The own
ers Of the Hudson Variety Store have
learned from past experiences that
Christmas shoppers swoop IN like so
many bees. and to meet the demand
they engaged the hail over the store
10 exhibit the toys. At Roinhardt's is
found a more substantial line Of articles
suitable for presents. The windows OF
ihe Bon Marche store are among the
most attractive along that busy thor
pughfare.