The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-20

locality.
To stand on the streets of Wichita dur
ing these blithefnl days when Christmas
l. st.eut to throw its urfading halos OF
bliss and peace and ieye in q perennial
cycle of consrramate life around the
dancing, stirring fresides. and watch for
a little while the unusually pert and ac-
tive movement OF the people, it may be
readily understood why Kansas Is such
notable commonwealth. From one end
Of the business streets TO the other may
be seen these days men, women, children.
young. old, poor and rich; in fact, people
of every class and color. crowding. JAM
ming, jostling and rushing But this is
not all One has but to take survey
of the inside Of the stores to see and
understand what all this extraordinary
crowd signifies. AT every counter may
be noticed the busy. courteous clerks
showing their goods. and on every coun-
ter may be heard the joyful tinkie and
ring of money.
What does all this mean? Look. Yon-
der goes a poorly dressed old gentleman
with the weight of years pressing down
upon him, carrying an armful OF things
to enthriH the anxious bOsoms of some
waiting one at home. Here go little girls
with smiles as sweet as the very spring
time rose itself, a handful of nickeis and
dimes juggling in their little homemade
purses, to buy many, papy. or the
baby" a Christmas present.
Over there are toddling along crowd Of
ten-year-old lads, each digging down into
his pocket to rattle his few cherished PEN
MES and hoping that the candy man win
make a mistake in weighing up their pro-
portion, and give them an over-measure.
Down another thoroughfare are striding
a bevy of young maidens. their eyes giis-
tening with visions of how they hope to
surprise their sweethearts on Christmas
morn by presenting them with an ele-
CANT token of their sentiments and wish
es Across the corner are enthusiastic
affectionate husbands. bounding along at
quick-step time, to get into line at some
bargain counter. where he can purchase
Christmas pleasantries and convert some
unsuspecting heart into a receptacle of
peace. happiness, love ard hope. In an
other place may be noticed the angel
faces of angel wives and mothers choosing
gifts from the vast store-house of old
Santa Claus. in the hope that the visiting
son or daughter, the provoked, impas-
stoned husband and the lonely. silvery-
haired grandmothers and grandfathers
may once more realize that peace and
GOODWILL pervades the earth.
The toy-shops are the glad resorts Of
hundreds of frolicsome boys and girls.
fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers.
uneles and aunts. sweethearts and dear
ones, and a goodly supply Of valuables
are being put into their stock. The conf
cal playthings among which the mouse
colored pigs, the snowy-white horses. the
climbing rats, the automatic cows. ana
the various others with actual hfe-iife
movements, attract the elderly eyes as
well as the childish ones.
Fruit-stands and popcorn-venders are
passing through their areas of highest
prosperity. Apples. grapes. oranges, ba-
nanas. figs and many kinds of nuts. are
the principal purchases and from the way
this line of goods is selling there is not
the least doubt to be entertained as to
the assurance OF plenty for the yearn-
ing, hungry mouths Of the thousands OF
boys and girls.
The bookstores. arranged with beautiful
and interesting books. and glarins with
choice shelves and gigantic heaps of spe-
Gals in every class of literature are the
lingering places of countless gift-ssekers.
The finely illustrated magazines and
sparkling pictorial journals Of wit and
wisdom, only add to the magnificent ex-
hibition OF Christmas goods The at
Effectiveness of Harpers Bazaar. Ladies
Home Journal, Deliheator, and. Woman's
Companion win the admiration and the
lasting respect of the fair sex. while Har-
per's, Century, Scribner's and McCiures'.
hold the attention of all. Every publishing
house has made a special effort to bring
before the public grand and unsur-
passed number, and TO look over the long
piles of these excellent issues one can
not but acme to the conclusion that they
have simply outdone any former age IN
the perfect making of magazines
Dry goods stores are in their gayest
frocks, and this year present a neater,
cozier appearance than in any preceding
time The large front windows are flied
with handsome things, and in evenings.
intermingled with the dazzling brillianey
of electric bulbs. they seem almost TOO
beautiful to describe. Gazing into these
picturesque windows the the eager eyes OF
those who will give and those who viii
receive. Fancy neckties. shirts. suits, furs
and hats and shoes, make up the leading
articles TO be chosen for gifts.
Jewelry stores are also the quite-fre-
auented spots of the multitude. Here in
all the grandeur luxuriance and exuber-
ance. may ne found the shining diamond,
the ruby, the emerald. the uger-eye. the
cameo. all appropriately set in glitterng
rings: bracelets. necklaces. fine silver
ware and golden trinkets, watches and
chains. GO to make up the unevcelled dis
- "a rIrioLitn,. utnrnS ard the trade