The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-03
LEAP YEAR.

Preparing for Matrimonial Siege Af-
 ter Eight Long Years of Wait. New York News.
 Az midnight December 31, the stroke of 12 will usher in a new year that Will be welcomed by a certain class as no year since '96 has been welcomed. For lSV4 has the distinction of being the first leap wear in eight years. The eve of the nine teenth century and the dawn of the twen- tieth, wrapped as they were in clouds or obscurity, did more than start endless discussions as to the exact moment or transition. It deprived many charming women of the opportunity of lifetime.
 In the unwieldy business of changing centuries, the leap year, which in the natural order of events would have fallen about that time, was lost Women who could have used that period of indepen dence with telling effect have now sunk back in apathy to their single state, But their places have beon filled, and more, by those determined to take no chances for the future. and make this a glad har- vest season. -
 Vital statistics for the year 1895 show that 27 per cent of the unmarried women of the country between tho ages of twen- ty and forty-flve entered the holy state of vedlock during that year. In lSoV. a leap year, 30 per cent of the available maids swore to love, honor and obey the man of their choice. The following year the percentage dropped to 30 and with slight variation this figure was duplicated until the present year.
 What a considerable portion of the pop ulation of these United States is affected bv these figures can be seen from the last census figures. which show in the State of New York alcne there are 4S4,- 0e5 maidens between the interesting ages of twenty and forty-five. Nor was di- rect testimony relied upon for the figures between thirty and forty -fVe-family records were carefully searched.
 Tn view of these astonishing figures is there any wonder that the ribbon, lace and cosmetic. counters in all the large department stores arc reporting in creased sales over past years that the glad Christmas season cannot alone ex- plain?
 A sweeping statement by Forty-third Street druggist. who does a thriving business in cosmetics, will show the trend of things.
 "If." he said T sold proportionately throughout the year as many rabbits paws as I have sold the past few weeks the cat tribe would speedily be threatened with extermination. Then. too, I car hardly keep myself supplied with rice powde cold cream. eyebrow pencils. liI rouge, blenders and other articles of the kind sU great is the sale. Wholesale houses from whom I buy say that they have difficulty in filling the orders Most of my women customers buy great deal more of these articles than Is necessary for immediate use, as though they were preparing for a long siege of some kind
 Been working pretty hard this week a pretty girl at the ribbon counter in one of the big Sixth avenue stores was asked yesterday.
 Nothing like it." was the reply, Never get q minute to myself any more. I'm showing stuff from morning ull night. and selling it. too"
 But you expect to be busy at this time of year don't you?'
 Yes: but I've been here four, years now. and it's never been anything like as bad as this I believe I've sold as many ribbons in the last week as sold in the month before Christmas last year The narrow ones for neck bands ana bows for the hair are the big sellers this year" she continued. Never saw any thing like the way they go"
 50 it is the young girls who are your best customers?"
 No: that's the funny part of it. Usu- ally that way, of course, but this year tlue older women are making me work overtime"
 What Is the cause of this exceptional rush?" she was asked.
 Don't have any time tO wonder about why things are" was the fsply. Keeps