Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-04
EASTER TRADE RUSH
When the Shops Overflow
With Frantic Women
SEARCHING FOR FINERY
TYPES OF THE LAST-MINUTE
BUYERS.
Can Buy Suits and Hats on Installment
Plan and Rent
Them.
SEARCHING FOR FINERY
Els OF THE LAST-MINUTE
BUYERS.
Written for The Evening Star.

written Tor Inc Evening star.
Barring the Christmas trade, of course,
the last few days before Easter bring us
the heaviest business of the year" re-
marked the department store manager. Il
might add that we dread the aftermath of
the Easter trade more than the unpleasant
results of the holiday rush. A shopkeeper
may placate the woman whose Christmas
gift has gone as,ray. but not her whose
Easter frock or hat failed to reach her in
time
One of the sights in a big city on the
Saturday before Easter Sunday is the sour
ry of belated shoppers, each wearing a wor-
ried look and studiously berating the clerks
who never seemed so slow at other times.
The woman whose dressmaker has gone
down under nervous prostration and sends
word that the Easter raiment will be delv-
cred a week late, dashes into the suit de-
'partment of a fashionable shop at :, O. clock
Saturday afternoon and Historically paws
over the array of readymade gowns. When
she learns that the alteration department
has orders to keep it running into the wee
small hours of Sunday morning. and the eX-
ira three inches cannot be taken off the
skirt, or the fullness removed between the
shoulders, she is in depair and vows she
will never enter the shop of such unaccom-
modating people again.
If she is wise, she will select simple cos
tune whose alterations can be made by a
home dressmaker and then finish up her
afternoon at training school for young
women who can handle such modest alter
alton as she may need. and who are not en-
gagged in the mad scramble over unfinished
work, which confronts every large and
fashionable establishment.
When the Trade is Heaviest.
Another class includes the women who
do not save money for emergencies-if
Easter frocks may be termed an emer-
gency-but who do their shopping in
happy go-lucky fashion, which they are apt
to dub Bohemian. These women are pretty
sure to forget that Easter is at hand, until
they receive an invitation to attend some
especially interesting church service or an
Easter night supper whereupon they study
their finances, look gloomy and select
ready-made finery which they afterward
deteSt.
The departments which enjoy the heavies'
trade during this rush period are the suit
millinery, glove and candy departments. AS
rule, the tardy millinery shoppers may be
divided into two classes-the reckless buy
ers, who pay eXorbitant prices, and the
very poor, whose purchases are delayed be-
cause funds are lacking. Thus. the most
expensive and the cheapest grades Of hats
are sold on this day, while the conservative
thoughtful buyer has long since made her
selection after mature elaboration.
No matter how heavily the glove depart
ment may be stocked. disgruntled custom
ers are numerous, because the most popu-
lar shades are bound to give out in the
common sizes. Then. too, many Easter
costumes require gloves of tint that must
be especially ordered. and this cannot be
done on twentyfour hours notice Many
woman compromises on white gloves ana
feels that the essence of her Easter raiment
has been sacrificed on the altar of the
shops poor assortment That the gloves
hnt hny va oil tod until S1,o
does not enter into her thoughts.
Things Hum in the Candy Stores
In the candy stores things fairly hum Tor
forty-eight hours preceding Easter Sunday.
Here, too, are sold the favors for Easter
dinners and luncheons.
ut is something I have never been able
to understand" said a clerk in a we'll
known candy store. For weeks before
Easter our windows are filled with novel
ties and our advertising is practically de.
voted to Easter goods, yet the real rush
does not set in until the last moment
fresher goods by waiting, but our fancy
packages are put up long in advance, and
very little new stock comes in at this late
hour.
I'VE have the Easter buyers pretty well
classified. First. there is the anxious
mother who asks to see all the novelties
and then winds up by buying the good old
fashioned sugar eggs in pink white yell
low and chocolate ones.
Then there is the bachelor uncle, who
wants the old style clear eggs. that look
like rock candy and have on one end n
tiny piece of glass through which you can
see paper scenes of peasant life abroad.