The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1904-01-01
CHRISTMAS IN ocALA.

! Oay III OCdidi anu VIII appear III III"
! ture calendars in red letters.
There were services at the Catholic
and Episcopal churches in the morn
ing and the banks, printing offices,
post Office and some of the stores were
closed.
The Ocala House served more than
800 free lunches in its buffet.
The Kings Daughters, the churches
and the various fraternal Organiza-
tons, through appropriate commit
tees, distributed gifts to the poor and
needy, and the children of the city
we're all made happy by the visit Of
Santa Claus, girt about with toys for
his juvenile friends.
The merchants of Ocala, without
exception, report the best trade, es-
pecially on Christmas eve, that has
ever been recorded in the mercantile
history of the city.
The Ocala Music Company say that
| their trade Was unprecedented; that
the second days sales doubled the
first days, the third day doubled the
second, and SO on throughout the
week. The only reason they did not
do bigger trade was because they
/ had no room for more clerks.
The POstOffice Drug Store reports
the same degree of activity. Last
year their holiday trade was more
! than satisfactory, but the sales this
wear far outstripped the last year's
record. They not only sold more
goods, but much more costly grade
Of goods.
Mr. A. E. Burnett, who deals al
most exclusively in hiPh-grade Jew
slry and silver, says that hiS sales
were fully One-thlri larger than ia
any previous season.
Mr.. F. G. b. Weihe, Ocsla's oldest
jeweler, caught his full share of the
trade and 50 vs. he was remembered in
fine shape.
Mr.. #. B. Snyder, Of the Haberdash-
cry, says that his sales surpassed his
most sSnguine expectations and there
was not an idle moment at any time
in his establishment.
The Boston Store people say that
the week b, fore Christmas broke all
records with them and from early
morning until midnight it was almost
impossible for their clerks to wait
upon the stream Of customers.
Messrs. Rheinauer d Co., say that
their trade was heavy and the balance
sheet for the week made all previous
efforts seem small.
The w. J. Chambers Shoe Co., say
that their trade doubled their sales of
a year ago.
The H. b. Masters store, which at
all times does a remarkably good
business, say that their trade during
the entire holiday week was a heavy
one and the goods sold were of more |
expensive class than is usually bought |
during the holiday season. This firm |
hes been quite conspicuous in the use
of printers ink and is entirely pleas
ed with the results.
Klein & Campbell say that their
clerks were simply worked down and
it would have been impossible to have i
done a bigger business.
The Ocala Bazaar says that a stream |
OF buyers thrOnged their store con-
tinuously and their purpose was not
only to examine but to buy and today
their shelves look like q cyclone has
swept though them.
The Autobiography Drug Store re-
psrts q prosperous trade at its estab-
lishment and says the sales could
have been greater.
The furniture establishments of A.
Pittman & Son, Mr.. E. c. Smith and
McIver and Mckay, presented busy
appearance and report an unusually
week.
Capt. G. A. Nash, who is an old
merchant, says that he remembers
nothing like III in the hiCtoFv oT O0alo