The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-23
MERRY SHOPPERS
THRQNG BROAD.
CONTINUED from First Pagc.)

ness. Later in the afternoon, the crowds
5tlinned out notice.Ybl Y. v.
are Rattrachveiy decorated with scolors and
materials significant OF the season. Ell
,fig,cs Of Santa Claus, tho mythical bene-
factor Of confidlng childhood, adorn
several windows, and others have huge
Christmas BELLS as tho centerpiecs Of a t.
9tractive window dressings. FestoOhs and
wreaths Of cedar, interviewed with holly
and mistletoe, or wreaths and Stars of red
or white lrnmortelles, effectively ar
ranged. made tho shop windows impress
sive pictures. .gss
Without .inyidious distinctions however,
the windows OF the florists establish
Inents outshone all and presented tho;
greatest wealth and variety or color
Banked with blossoming azaleas. roses,
,carnatlons,5 orchids narcissus and other
Towering plants, with n background Of
tho towering foliage OF palms and ferns
and perennlals. the floristsswindows could
not fail Ito attract. Within tho shops
were crowded 4 with prospective pur-5
&cilaSers, and the atmosphere was heavy
.withttile mingled fragrance OF the bloom,
The clerks ndfenployes We're all busy
answering. inquiries and taking orders.
The markets and the fancy groceries
and the green groceries were all thronged
with seekers for tho best. At this sea-
son almost every ono INDUCES IN 70 few
sthither- In their swirling tide, the side
lords is TO be had.
While the bargain seekers and the
+ sightseers surge I; onward, hither and
thither In their swirlng tide tho side
walks are lined with those less fortu-
4 nate. There are the small vendors seek,
& ing q b market for their wares, and q
Intervals along Broad Street, the aims
seekers stand or sit holding their out
4 stretched hands patiently for the occa-5
sional nickel or dino or quarter. Some
have accordeons, some hand-organs& and ma!
some merely their sightlcss orbs or nm a
4putated limbs as mute appeals Tor @ pit
+ tango out5iof the abundance thai Is pc.
Ing poured into the stores and shops
Then$there are the poor children, rmea ger
k1yt clad. gazing wistfully into the toy win
dows and wishing for this or that, OF,
wondering il the Santa Claus, OF whose
goodness they have heard SO much. is
going to answer their appeals Tor inc
treasures that win their hungry eyes.
On Main Street.
@ Down town along Main Street there is
unwonted hurry and hustle and bearing
az bundles and packages, for here are
|slocated the exprcss and ces, the
Immediate destinations Of many ~ On rlst--
S,nns u p,lrchasc Tho absent friend Or the
| distant loved one is not forgotten, as
one may he assured by a peep INTO 5th a
nos toftice or tho express offices, AZ 20 q =
1 places there is no sign OF q holiday. IS Z
4 IS hard work and plenty OF " Wltn|h co,lT
4 gcstion. Of parcels and boxes a az pacNf-
ages with which the employees are re- con
gtantly wrestling. thousands OF pach =,
.,.,,es y nre being expressed 4 or posted 70
yarlous parts of this broad land, ninety
nino sper cent. OF them being GIFTS from ON
ne,.sens in this city to distant friends OF
, @ I,nver down town, in the commission Z
a,r1, nroyison8 district, where shoppers l
i scldom co. there are busy SCENES h!s e.
\ No other street III the city Is ssos cpil.
gestcd with vehicles as E.as ChI -
rerth To- Fifteenth during al.lo ~ =
i|entire day. lis dlflcult to cross ior ,l,s
\ 49, ,,,.snhs ~ carts and drays 1t IS ~ TINS
ci,a II 81 Of the town that the provasloI,ms
,foY, II e shopping thousands ana OF ny = ),
!, ~ thousands more are gathereu, 5ht.u
4 sTrom here they are distributed ,tMru .1. =
n the retailer to the consume y. =, - !,
4 hams chickens. partridses, sa,sts
4 of all kinds. and eggs, ana vesesap ~,
u fruits. domestic and tropica are =, :,
/, IN inthe stores along Cary street. -.
sa n Al in bulk Christmas gives an impetu :
to this line OF business. ~ less a.hr
u that of the toy shop and tho uel'aftn'S'''
N store. 85l 81 .,5i u. {oI,5 5,,inds.
. rn,,,,s \, fsf, and game, vegetables a On =
s..,t Va sold at retail to throngs that
1raa,, T. places Besides all these,
eyergreens holly mstletoe, ferns 4 a e !
bright berries and everything ,,e
Tor house or table decopnllG han AID these
j, found Tho hucDSsters q az ''s'i'u'o 80
Al a the city Is swept ny ", 1ne
!, r.h,,,sfma spirit, still running hlgn, ~
daw' viii lie n duplication OF yesterday
I, only on an enlarged scale.
Att ENJOYED 1T,