Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-27

address. commended the Duke of Abruzzi.
a cousin of the King Of Italy, for his enter
prise and zeal in behalf of geographical
science, and declared that his triumphs
were much more worthy the ampltion OF
men than winning automobile races or TAX
ing prizes at a horse or dog show. In MS
remarks later Secretary Bonaparte OBJ
served that the suggestion ought to receive
the serious attention of every multl-mliiion-
aire; that 1t contained a world OF wisdom,
for that no better occupation for the sons
of plutocrats could be found than searching
for the north pole, while the old man paid
the expenses.
There are several rich men engaged In
geographical explorations besides the Duke
of Abruzzi Mr.. Mcmillan of st. Louis, a
young man of great wealth, has maze sew
eral important explorations in Africa. and
the sons Of FtZhugh Whitehouse OF New
port are equally enterprising, although, UNI
fortunately, they are allied with British
rather than American scientific societies
The Christmas shops never looked sc
bright or so beautiful as they do this year.
There were never so many novel and taste
full articles offered for holiday gifts, and
the variety was never so large The amount
of money spent for Christmas remem-
brances is estimated by local merchants to
be so per cent greater than was ever known
before and they assert that the volume OF
trade for the year 1906 will surpass all his
tory.
We are accustomed to hear great deal
in Paris, but they do not compare in at
tractiveness in tastefulness of arrangement
or in the brilliancy of display with those oil
our American cities Most or the Paris
shops are very small and the stocks OF
goods are limited to what you see in the
windows. The French have exquisite taste
about making designs and In the arrange
ment of colors, but the art of dressing a
show window has reached state of perfec-
ton among the merchants OF the United
states that has never been attained by the
retail trade of any other country. The
London shopping streets cannot be men
toned in the same breath with those OF
New York. Chicago, Philadelphia, Wash
ington or any other city am familiar with.
Regent. Bond and Oxford streets. which are
not in 1t for minute with 9Th avenue or
Broadway, States street in Chicago. Chest
nut street in Philadelphia or F street In
. Washington.
The Show Window Craze.
Last summer there was a curious contro-
versy in the London newspapers over the
advantages of show windows for the dis
play Of samples of goods. Mr.. Norman
Great Britain, was engaged In remodeling
several business blocks belonging to the
Duke Of Westminster, who Is the largest
real estate owner in London, and refused
to comply with the demands of several re-
.ail merchants for bigger show windows.
The shop keepers. according to the custom
# the country. appealed for public SYM
pathy and support. by addressing their COM
plants to tile newspapers: This drew out
he opinions of the other side, and the con-
troyersy became quite active and interest
ng Mr.. Shaw received bushels of letters
IN support of his conservative attitude, AID
In one of them the writer said:
Il am very sorry to see the Regent street