Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1904-12-10
IN METROPOLIS.
THE BUYING ALREADY AT
FLOOD TIDE.
Good Humored Crowds Throne
The Streets-No Stint Is
Shown In The
Purchases.
Special Dispatch to Evenins Capi,.l


New York, Dec. 10. 0.-Throushout
the metropolis all indications point TO
an abounding Merry Christmas. The
good humored, jostling throngs in
the streets aud avenues give little sign
OF any necessity TO stint in their pur.
chases. In many of the best shous the
buying is already at flood tide, though
Christmas is still two weeks off None
seems TOO poor 10 purchase some ex.
preston OF good will.
In front of the great Sixth avenue
ana broadway shops where the mil
honalres trade carriages block the
way. In the cheaper quarters pedes.
trians swarm so thickly that il seams
at times as If the mass would be nm
able to disentangle itself. One week
ago the familiar pots and tripods of
the Salvation Army placed at the
busy street corners and during the
week the pots have boiled merrily.
In the financial district it has been no
uncommon sight TO see we'll known
bankers and brokers stay their steps
long enough to shove a crisp bill If
large denomination through the wire
covering of the pots.
In other quarters the pots have been
kept Jingling with the pennies and
nickles dropped in by poorer but
equally generous givers. AS result
OF these and other contributions the
army's Christmas dinner parties prom.
lse TO be q great success. Commits
sloner Eva Booth, who has Just as
sumed charge at the general headquar.
ters of the Salvation Army, in Four
teenth street, states that fully 250. 600
men, women and children will obtain
their Christians cheer this year through
the efforts of that organization in the
United States. In this city the Grand
Central Palace has been leased tor
the big dinner, for which about 300
tables are to be laid.
The work of arranging the celebra.
tlon in the city is divided into two
divisions, one for collecting funds and
| supplies, and the other for distribu-
ting the good things after they are in
hand. Each division is organized sys-
| tematically, with its head officers and
| sub officers, each having his particu-
lar duties mapped out for him before.
hand. The collectors of supplies are
| to lay in 2, 900 pounds of coffee. {. OOC
loayes of bread, l,S00 pounds of sugar
and thousands of turkeys and chickens,
not TO mention a barrel or so of Gran
berry sauce and proportionate quaint.
| ties OF the other things that 20 &c
make up the proper sort of a Christ.
mas feast. There is to be no artificial
| limit on the hunger of the Salvation
Army's guests. Those who go to the
dinner may eat just as long and just
as ravenously as they like.
If the guests want five cups of coffee
and three plates of turkey, they will
be satisfied. After the tables have
been set the waiting multitude will
march to their seats at given signal,
and the feast will be on. Glad IN
white aprons, the army men ano
women who have been selected to wait
on the tables will serve steaming tur.
key and coffee, and then the sweets,
as fast as the guests demand new por.
tions. The arrangements are so sys.
tematic. it is said, that no E.atter how
fast or how hungry the feasters may
be they will not have to wait more
than few seconds between helpIngs
Though the Salvation Army dinner il
the largest of its kind, it is not the
only free spread TO which the homeless
and unfortunate of New York are
treated at Christmas time Free din
ners to many hundreds are furnished
annually by the Bowery Mission anc
numerous other missions and charity
organizations and by churches of al
denominations