Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-24
WASHINGTON SHOPPING.
Experiences Of an Augusta Girl at the
National Capital.

Experiences Of an Augusta Girl at the
National Capital.
The many Augusta friends Of Mis-.
Eva. L. Shorey will be interested in the
breezy letter regarding her experiences
in Washington shopping which she
writes about in the Bcidgion News o;
which her father is the publisher The
journal republisheS the letter in full
below:
Christmas shopping in a large city
is most interesting whether YOU are a
participant, even to a slight degree, or
combine that pleasant yearly expert
ence with watching the crowds which
throng the spacious stores.
This year the writer seems to be in
Washington during the holiday season.
and has been in and out of the busy
| ''marts of trade" somewhat on Christ
| mas errands bent.
There are many beautiful stores in
| the city, all brave with holiday green's
and bright colors. We do not find here.
| however, that feverish and nerve-ex-
| hauSting rush one encounters in Boston
and many Of our large cities. People
take life more leisurely in the national
capital. There is plenty Of room, every
thing is built on generous proportions
the broad streets and avenues: the
| buildings. both public and business, are
| large. covering a good deal Of space on
| the ground rather than towering in the
| air for almost endless stories. OF course
! this is easily accounted for from the
| fact that every inch Of land in the large
commercial cities is well-nigh priceless.
hence the Flat Iron Building"of New
York and others of its kind. 1t is not to
be supposed. however. that land is
given away in Washington!
| AS III every city, SO, here. there are
various grades of department stores.
Some revel in cheap prices, and many
while in others the Cheap at any price"
seems entirely lacking.
Sitting in the cosy balcony resting
room of Woodward & Lothrop's. the
Boston store, as it is called, brilliant
| picture is presented, which is fascinat-
ing in deed. This immense shopping
center has chosen for its decoration
scheme Of red bells of all sizes, fes-
TONED in various ways all over the big
| place with its seven floors This red
glow of color, particularly when
| the lights are on makes bril-
liant setting for the panorama
of Vanity Fair. as We look on
and note the beautiful and dazzling
effects in electric lamps in all variety
of fairy-like cOlors and designs the
glittaring silver and cut glass the we'll
displayed goods in the various depart
ments, arranged in artistic colOrs. the
attentive and courteous clerks, the
handsomely gownad ladics-and you do
see some dainty creatures here in their
velvets and furs-the numerous small
folk" partiC ularly happy amid the
tovs. where all is tinscl and glamor:
and must not forget the men who oc-
casionally stray in!
One instinctively feels the atmos-
phere of refinement and almost
society" about the place. The latter
feelir,; may possibly be due to the fact
that always. outside the swinging
doors. there are numerous footmen
waiting in line for madam" to COM
pleta her purchases, and when she ap-
pears. she is escorted to the carriage.
and away go the prancing steeds! IL
seem, quite as though reception were
in progress.
felt almost like asking to be "ex-
cused for living" the other day, when.
innocently inquiring about the quality
of an article l was purchasing, 10 De
| told by the clerk: Madam, it is OF the
first quality or we would not keep 1t!
! One sometimes Overhears queer
things at the counter. when there are
an HUNDRED or so around. all eagerly
looking over the wares At the book
counter of another .sshre. a few days
ago. an old darky&oman was looking
at one of the chefp editions of Romeo
and Juliet" She was talking to
friend: How dye spose LorenzS
would like dis yere story? Dunno as
shed stay in nights long huff to read
il anyhow Shed rather walk dc
streets, she would, l spect. Dis yere
seems to be about Teller and girl IN
luv. so p'raps the silly thing would
read dis" and Shakespeare's produce
ton went to fill the stocking OF 10
renzy." whose name was suggestive OF
4 the gentleman who wandered aTouiiu
with -"JessiCa" was it:
Speaking Of Lorenzo" one OF the
. maids is called by that name. ana l
was told her father named her AFTER
the son Of his old ''massa- 1t made no
difference to him that it was a boys
name for what's in a NAME. anyhow
Zones Shakespearian training will ap-
, pear at the slightest provocation.)
While l was chuckling inwardly al
finding one of George Wharton Ed
wards Monhegan books marked
down" and was waiting for my change
a lady who was standing beside me ana
was also looking at the little Thumb
Naifseries. asked me il knew anythins
, / about the stories. l was waxing eio-
o,,ent on them and the beauties of our
rocky coast when she said in an aweo
. tone, fixing me with searching glance
Are they pure?" I gasped. and while
was catching my breath to reply. the
, thought same to me Of my experience
: with the book "Dri and l." Several
wears ago my Sunday-school class al
Augusta. in a burst of generosity. pre-
| scented this book to the church library
II os3vn;f thst perhaps something more