The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-17
HOLIDAY TRADE
is VERY BRISK
SAVANNAH STORES CROWDED
WITH BUSY SHOPPERS FROM
EARLY AFTERNOON TILL NIGHT.

TrOlIey-Cars Increased Traffic Bears
Witness-EarIy Closing Hour win
Probably BE Dropped During all
of Next Week-Wide and Varied is
Display of Articles offered By
ACCOMPLISHMENTS This Year
are in Great Demand.
The crowded stores and the satisfied
smiles of the merchants are certain
indications that Christmas is close at
hand.
From Dec. Is until Christmas the
Retail Merchants Association permits
its members to remain open at night
as long as they see fit and some of
the stores are already taking advant-
age of this rule. Next week all of
the stores will probably be running in
full blast after o'clock, the winter
closing hour. The jewelry stores are
now open after that hour.
The trolley-cars each night are
crowded with shoppers hurrying home.
In all available places huge bundles
of varying shapes and proportions are
placed and conductors and passengers
stumble over them in moving from one
section of the car to another. The
cash registers on the cars, especially
those leaving the business section of
the city between and Z o'clock at
night, show that the number of pas
sengers is far in excess of that car
ried on ordinary occasions.
Wide Display of Gifts.
The variety of gifts that are dis
played by the Savannah merchants
this year is larger than ever before.
Shoppers are constantly puzzled as to
just which one of the many offered to
select. Manufacturers seem to have
outdone themselves this year, especial
ly in the novelty line. II
Just what particular line of gifts
are most in demand it would be hard
to say. Stickpins, hatpins, watches,
chains, bracelets and rings are in great
demand and there is a wide variety
for the purchaser to select from. The
display in cut glass ware is also large
and many unusually beautiful pieces
are displayed to catch the eyes of the
glass-lovers.
The standard gifts, classed as the
useful things of life, are as much
sought after as ever and anticipating
the demand the manufacturers have
made them unusually attractive. Bath
robes for gentlemen are displayed in
rich Oriental colorings. Slippers of all
descriptions, neckties, scarfs and other
similar articles are arrayed in almost
bewildering confusion.
Novelties are Many.
The novelties offered this year are
many and varied. For the masculine
,1-A sav.o sxN.,- 41I@a
cigarette cases, cigar holders of all
descriptions, and watch charms en-
graved with secret society emblems or
with symbols significant of favorite
sports.
For the ladies there are pins of all
descriptions, engraved with the en-
blems of the secret societies, patriotic
orders and with unique carvings that
mean nothing in particular save that
the manufacturer has an eye for
beauty. Lockets, chains and ether
similar articles are also to be found
in large numbers and as varied al
most as the wishes of the different
shoppers.
For the children the usual toys are
on hand and some new ones. The au-
tomato toys are in greatest demand
as gifts for the small ones. while the
dolls and doll houses reign supreme
III the SuuSn hearts. small nre en-
gines, small autos, siege guns, drums,
and bugles are displayed, and opposite
are the dolls, doll houses, miniature
furnishings and small dishes of all de-
scription.
Christmas Trade Brisk.
Almost without exception, the Savan-
nah merchants report that the Christ
mas trade this year has been very
brisk. 1t was somewhat later than
usual in getting started, but once I'M
der way, orders came fast. The better
classes of articles are almost always
purchased, an indication that the shop
pers have had a prosperous year.
Yesterday was the banner day of the
week, though even the cold, rainy
weather of Wednesday and Thursday
did not keep all the shoppers from the
stores. Preparations are being made
to handle the business that is certain
to come with to-day and to continue
throughout next week. Extra clerks
have been put in many of the stores
and if the volume of business increases
even the present forces will have to be
increased.
GROVES TASTELEss CHILL TONIC.