New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-17
RUSH TO BUY PRESENTS.
BIG CROWDS At STORES.
Throngs IN Front of the Handsome
Displays an Wmdoqgs.

One would have hard task these days to per-
suade the managers and floor walkers of the big
stores in the shopping district that General Pros
perity had not taken up his station here. Each
day nearer Christmas brings out an increasing
crowd of holiday shoppers. and they seem to be
spending money than before this year.
The store managers say there is not so large de-
mand for inexpensive presents usual and that
there is a general indication that the moving spirit
is not one of least cost but rather, of greatest
satisfaction. All this, however, does not prevent
the women shoppers from driving bargains TO the
last cent and crOwdng the coupte where extra
value is given.
The most striking feature of the Christmas crush
this year is the Improvement in handling the
crowds at the many crowded crossings in the de-
partment store district The traffic squad is com
ing in for much praise for the way things are being
managed, and despite the slippery condition or
pavements and the unusual crowds, there have
been few accidents. Captain O'Briens boast that
a dangerous crossing does not exist in the shop-
ping district seems to be well founded
A small army of East Side pushcart men has de-
seconded the district, and lines the SiXth-ave
curb wherever it find ROOM The police are
not strict about enforcing the pushcart ordl-
nance. The street in front of the Church of the
Holy Communion lined with carts yesterday.
and the scene was much like a bit or Hester-st
the home of the pushcart.
Further down SiXth-ave., in front of a saloon, an
enterprising pedler of souvenir postal cards had
erected stationary stand, not within the stoop
line, as the law requires. but on the pavement in
side the curb. 1t took up several feet of sidewalk
and caused the pavement to- become bioekaded
post did not trouble him any more than the police
in Twenty thiTd-st. mterfcred with the vendors OF
great deal of sidewalk space, often having dozen
moving toys running at once, are multiplying as
them. and they kept nearly block apart. Yester-
day there Il dozen.
week Will be larger Than those of this week. but
stores it would hardly possible In all of the
stores which belong to the DrygOods Association
careful watch is being kept for ShoplifterS. AL
though more detectives are watch than ever
iigbf TIL, Te nun 81 [ieStS mas peei
those charged with shoplifting for trial and on
conviction sentencing them to Blackwelrs Island
IS having good effect. according to the members
In the windows of the big department stores the
Christmas shoppers have some of the finest dis
end of the SHOPPING district to the other the Stores
nave surpassed the exhibits of past years.
Enrich Brothers, for instance, between Twenty
second and Twenty-third st5.. show a circus in one
of the big windows. There is continuous process
railway into what they call the Big show There
Is IN front OF this railway bank Of dolls and toys
At Twenty-frst-st. and SiXth-ave. II. O'Neiu &
women's neckwear The window holds everything
from waists to feather boas and that these form
attractive Christmas gifts will doubt who
sees the crowd of women who look in there.
tba ifaIn' IN West FGqrteenth-st has doll window
children among the onlookeTs Who Vote that santa
Claus shall bring them headIess specimens or dolls
that are dressed in sv adding clothes.
.olhpSon-CraWford Company. Iwentieth-st. and
SIxth-aNe nave staged the rooftops of New-York.
lhey nave hired a gigantic Santa Claus, who is
hal1 way down the chimney OF a great apartment
house which many New-York children call
home. In this show window theatre dolls occupy
the boxes and other dolls form the orchestra.
John Wanamaker's windows. Broadway and
Ntnth-st., bear much evidence that the gift time 10
near. They are decorated with holly and mistletoe.
and nothing Is shown that is suitable for a
holiday gift.
The windows of b. Altman & Co., at Nineteenth
st. and Sixth-ave are laid in blue silk The most
prominent display is one of bronze reproductions
of famous statues for the part.
MaCyS. at Thirty-fOurth-St. and Broadway, is
Wnnd6w R6dsa 9 1APh Of fr6e TT5ir 10 tie Srte
head dress of sable. Fur clothes for automobiles
are shown in the same window and add to the at
traction.
saks & Co, at Th;rty-fourth-st and Broadway,
have an exhibit Of silver. a great cut glass punch
bowl, with silver top; forms the centreplece, and
all sorts of artistic silver sets surround it. Red
velvet ribbon has been used to advantage in
the decoration.
In West Twentv-third-st. James McCreery &
Co. have two windows that hold the eye. one is
given over to travellers supplies in leather and
silver and the other holds every scent of perfumery
that could appeal 70 the Christmas shopper.
Stern Brothers. in West Twenty -third-st.. show
windows in Christmas colors, pink and green with
artistic fans and jewelry, as the most attractive
exhibit 1t is simply impossible tell Of all of the
attractive displays in the district, but those cited
will serve 10 show what a prospective customer