New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
MUD FOR SHOPPERS.
szLE RECORDS BROKEN.
Christmas Spirit OUercomes Weather
Conditions and Tires ECery One.

:. -,,. ~ the had weather Yesterday the crowd
~ Christmas shoppers was larger than ever. It
.s not however. so much the streets. and
she hazsar-like feature on q clear day. when the
erect venders are hawking their goods. was no.
sceably absent. But the stores themselves were
s,rrned. ana so were the streetcars and the sub
,rsv and the elevated trains. II seemed impossible
- mack another human being into them
though there was still one moro business day be-
,,re Christmas yesterday was practically the end
A. the Christmas shopping season for 1895 That it
was record breaker appears 10 be the unanimous
,rsnion OF the storekeepers. The managers OF the
b,r stores say they never had such crowds before
,nd that the business done was by long odds ahead
- snv previous year. The owners Of small stores
reoefved the overflow, and that the overflow was
generous one was evinced by their smiling faces
snd the depletion OF their stocks. Everybody
seemed TO have plenty Of money and 10 be anxious
70 spend It
IRE express companies and the Postoffice did a
tremendous business Both have had 10 put on
extra men and extra teams 10 handle the Christmas
parcels and the Christmas mail. and even these
have 10 work night and day TO distribute It
There are always thousands OF persons who wait
until the last minute 10 do their Christmas shop
ping Some ot these doubt wait take advan-
tage of the closing day bargains: others have not
made up their minds what to buy. The latter were
much n evidence yesterday and salespeople were
kept busy suggesting suitable presents
Prom visit 10 the piano dealers salesroous II is
evident that there is 10 be music in many homes
the day after Christmas. The lf-playing devices
have made these instruments more popular than
ever. and even in homes where the piano is already
Installed a lf-playing attachment is an acceptable
Christmas gtft
The large number Of women IN the cigar stores
caused many remarks and much sympathy for the
father, brother or fance. Some OF the women would
enter ttrdly and select the most pretty decorated
box. without inquiring as 10 the quality Of the
cigars: others would enter boldly. demand a box Of
the best cigars, take the brand the clerk offered
them and march out again.
The dealers IN greens and Christmas trees We're
6ons a rushing business all day. The stock OF
Christmas trees is already greatly depleted. The
holly and ulistletoe and other green stuff was being
offered IN great punches yesterday for 10 cents q
bunch. and there VIII be few homes without touch
Of green somewhere
The rired-out salespeople last night looked as II
they welcomed the end OF the week. although their
patience seems 70 be inexhaustible Even the dig
nifed floor walkers were less dignihed than usual.
and il seemed 10 be an effort for many Of them 10
throw their chests and look majestic, although
they were quite courteous and obliging ever.
The stocks in the big stores seem to be inexhaust
TIE stores one wonders how there can be anything
Notwithstanding the disagreeable weather. the
croWcs We're as good -natued as they nave been al
or the cars, which would seem likely To crush all
feeling Of humanity out Of the human breast there
II spite Of ali the Christmas hustle and hurry and
l,te tinkl!ng bell were not unheard or forgotten,
and was II such hurry bur that he had
Santa Clauses. with their chirnneys. were rerner-
bered wiz many dine and nickel 10 aid the work
OF -he Volunteers Of America.
The soldiers and sailors have not been forgotten
Christmas is here viii be the boxes Of good things
which are carried free on the transports from New.
poTt News The querrerrnaster's department of
the army ar Whitehall street, in this city has been
esieged hv friends with packages for soldiers serv
Ing IN cuba for the last month