The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-20
TWELVE-CENT COTTON MAKES CHRISTMAS
 SHOPPING A THING OF MOMENT TO ALL
have been more out of town visitors, but the crowds were sufficiently large.
 Crowds Eddied fin Streets.

have been more out of town visitors, but the crowds were sufficiently large.
 Crowds Eddied in Streets.
 They addied in and out the stores and streamed up and down the street. It was a good natured crowd and the Christmas spirit was in the atmosphere.
 A Christmas crowd is 8 varied collec- ton of humanity. The purchasing time for the holidays draws to the business district representatives of all classes.
 The fur-clad occupant of q carriage as she steps across the sidewalk to the store door touches the woman in the thin shirt waist. The man who furnishes money to A large and generous family, a family whose Christmas gifts would alone sup- port two or three families for a year, Josties in, the crowd the man with the up- turned collar whose next meal is matter of grave uncertainty.
 The negro who has dollar whsedled and cajoled from his packer is not whit less happy than the man whose expenses may run into the thousands before the holidays are over. The out of town visitor betrays him. self by his deep interest in the show win dow. These out of town visitors are among the best customers. They come on business. They are in the city to buy and they lose no time about it.. With 
 they have a rather strenuous time in rushing from store to store with occa- sional stops to see the show windowR,
 1t is after all the wealthy or fairly wealthy shopper upon whom falls the heaviest burden of care and worry in the holidays. How many gray hairs, how many crow-feet for which the momentous question, what shall I giveY' is respon- sible may not be estimated. Some of these snk.o N.waA An.AA have actually grown haggard under the strain.
 A Tantalizing Task.
 With many friends to remember. with ample means to remember them, the pur- chase of Christmas presents has become tantalizing, agGravating task. The wo- man who gives her husband a rug for the sitting room. or e pair of poFtiers for the hall has only partially solved the great problem. There are so many others to remember and the others cannot be so easily or satisfactorily disposed of.
 That all absorbing question, How old is Ann?' has been supplanted by the arbitrary insistent demand. What Ghail I Give?'
 To the real poor, the unfortunates of fate, the question has no signIdcance. There is for them nothing to spend. theFe- fore there can be nothing to give. The WoHan WlCn no money may DO deeply concerned for the pressing needs of her loved ones. but she has no common worry with the woman who is able but knows not how to give. The Christmas season adds but few cares to the woman who has but few cents to spend to brighten her home for her children. Her only care lS to make thoae few cents go to their flir~ therest possible extant.
 The woman with money in the bank is one of the most aCuta sufferers from the exigencies of the holiday season.
 The difficulties the average woman en. counters in the process of dFawlng money from the bank are not to be lightly eati- mated. The woman who can FnanaRe a large household with tact. diplomacy and success becomes helpless when she is con- frontad with the necessity of flliine out a few blanks to set her money. The wo- man who can plan and achieve a signal social success ig impotent and hslplesa in bank with a pen and a check pad.
 It is trying time. this holiday eeaaon for some of Montsemery's feminine rest dents.
 But it is happy. glad. gay period.
 With cotton at F cents!