New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-25
READY FOR CHRISTMAS.
WEEK 4 RECORD BREAKER.
Rich and Poor to Fare Vel To-day
Shops Croscded.

when the cheerful shout OF Merry Christmas
ushers IA this morning another Yuietide it viii
ring with the conviction that New-Nork is about
70 celebrate one OF the merriest holidays that has
ever fallen on a December % Merry Christmas
SAYS he OF wall Street his family he looks
with satisfaction the costly array OF gifts that
celebrate the occasion. Merry Christmas! echoes
the tsttered little newsboy he starts out from
the Mulberry-st- tenement house And the same
cheerful greeting IS heard IN the almshouses and
refugees OF the unfortunate for unusual prep
arations have been made this year toward giving
a glad holiday those who cannot make ii for
themselves. The greeting comes 10 the lips OF tho
merchant he rejects with satisfaction on the
largest Christmas trade record.
Yesterday, the last day for preparation for MI
sng the stockings and loading the Christmas trees.
the tide OF humanity IN the shopping districts was
its food. On Sixth-ave-, Fourteenth-st. Twenty
third-st- Fifty-ninth-st, Third-ave- and parts Of
Broadway had walk in the middle OF the
street enter free for all fight
There TO be found the mother, who had been
400 busy until yesterday TO think Of getting pres
ents. the youngsters who had just succeeded IN
making the tin bank collection meet the demands
OF Yulettde, ana the bachelor uncle who had at
the last moment awakened 70 the fact that q com
pany OF nepheWs and nieces was looking with eager
ness IN his direction.
Nassau-st afforded good opportunity to study
n growing phase OF holiday trade. The east curb
was lined with carts from Park Row 10 Broad-st..
from which being sold nearly everything from
automobiles 10 weather beaten chocolate drops.
All along the line heard the cry: only 10
cents to-day. Close EN- out" Now and then a
wagon forcing Its reckless way through the surg
ing crowd would strike cart and strew the street
with battleships hot frltters distressed looking
rin soldiers.
sixth-ave. was lined with the carts and tenn
porary booths, along both curbs. from Fourteenth
Twenty-third-st. Here were fancy baskets.
Christmas cards. toys of every description. gor-
geous 5ewelry, the real thing for ss cents" and
Christmas greens IN every shape.
The express Offices report this the busiest season
on record Main and branch Offices alike, con-
tanned long lines OF impatient humanity. loaded
with everything, from the tiny box suggestive OF
seventeen-cent scsrfpns 10 young Christmas trees.
Every year q normal increase OF express business
IS expected. but this season shows considerable
advance beyond the ordinary.
The Postofice not behind in business. either.
The CLERKS at the stamp windows and registry and
money order departments have done much toward
earning their years salaries in the last days.
More than TWO million pieces Of mail matter
handed yesterday IN the hrst fifteen days Of this
month approximately 100000 more pieces Of mail
were sent to Europe from the foreign branch at
West and Morton SITS than IN the same period last
year.
One striking fact is the great increase in the
number OF packages sent between points within the
city. While the amount OF general mail handled
here has increased 10 per cent, the number OF pack
sent and received the last week is 30 per
more than IN Christmas week last season. The
superintendent OF the registry division adds that
the packages this year larger. and more Valu-
able on the average, also than those OF last year.
The ferries. elevated trains and surface cars
showed. too that yesterday record-breaker.
in spite Of increased accommodations. al travelling
facilities were taxed 70 the limit AT the Grand
Central Station the outgoing and incoming vaca-
ton crowds met and al day long happy, good
saatured throng fought the gates amid a general
chorus OF ''Goodby' and Merry ChristmasI'
Owing 10 the torn-up condition of the yards this
49,, E-n-- rl..~ 81
congestion has been than usual
The rush at the stations early. but II
was nearly midnight before the crowd left the
shopping districts and retired to give old Saint
Nick" chance 10 put finishing touches the
work that has gone On so strenuously for the hast
week.
In the general distribution Of Christmas cheer
the poor have IN for larger share than IN
any previous year The New-York Association for
Improving the Condition OF the Poor Is caring for
eleven hundred families and has provided dinners
Cor eight hundred The inmates OF the city insti-
tutions Baekwes Island viii be remembered
and entertainments were given yesterday for the
soldiers n the forts along the harbor.
At Ellis Island thousand Immigrants were en-
tertslned by speeches in various languages ana a
Christmas for the children
There viii be Christmas trees in the hospitals
and the Chldren's Aid Society is looking after its
numerous proteges The children IN the Home for
1hs Friendless. Woodycrest-aye. had Christ
mas celebration Wednesday and yesterday Christ
mas dinner was provided by Miss Helen Gould,
who also gave the toys for the festival on the
preceding day.
The Young Mems and Young Women's Christian
associations, the Womsn's Christian Temperance
Union. the Charity Organization Society. the New
YORK Flower Mission the University Extension
society and many other societies have al con-
trlouted their share the seasons Joy. Even
such places the Night Refuge for FIiendless
Women are oecked with holly and the inmates
will have Christmas dinners.
The sailors OF the port win be entertained at din
her this evening by the ssamen's Christian Asso-
citation. The Bowery Mission entertained thou
sand men al dinner last night, and began serving
breakfast at O'Clock this morning to homeless
men All week the mission Win keep open house
Gno serve dinners every night TO homeless men
The neWsboys viii have their Christmas dinner at
the Brace Memorial Building this evening. An
other Christmas dinner viii be given by big Tim"
ssulisyRa.
The programme for to-day at the BOwery Mission
opens with breakfast The mission. beginning at 8
O'Clock IN the nogBing, Ruc continuing indefinitely.
IN the atterneon a Christmas tree viii entertain
1pout sixteen hundred poor children the East
slee4 snd al nigh, supper viii be served. Daily
GntA Monday there viii be three meals q day
served "a the homeless men en- the B0weTy.
~ The Home for the Aged. conducted by the Little
Sisters OF the Poor. at No 2l8 East seventieti-st
-Ghn u; C.aInnlirs viii give his annual Christmas
A. the Grand Central Palace the Salvation Army
The charides Department hss abpropriafed 100 t6
POUNDS q IgIteys 500 pounds Of chickens nine
quarts OF milk and SO punches OF celery The Depart
pork twenty-one barrels Of apples, io7 quarts OF
be EiTea out by me Depsrtaent Of cSFTee @a aSO
s1 o8neF o VIII On 6SS e gysa 10 those on the city
year the men IN tbs Almsh9pse VIII receive pipes
and packages or smoking tQbascO, and in the Va
grants Home. on Harris Island. the inmates VIII
Acoommodstions have been made for the recep-
non of 6ai;G q missionary workers and those
Islands