The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-09
ALL PREPARING
FOR CHRIS TMAS
Shoppers Throug the Streets,
Making Purchases for the
Holidays.
WINDOWS SPLENDID DISPLAY
ShoPgirls Beginning TO Grow
Weary of the Days Long
Travail.

Christmas is In the air. and visions Of
Santa Claus are already floating Before
the mind OF the young boy and girl.
whose childish faith IN that world-fs-
moush parsonage has not yet been dc
stroyed by the scepucism OF age. There
is nothing like IT, this simple faith OF
childhood ia the beings OF fairyland.
among whom Old Santa, with his flowing
white beard and his fur clothes, stands as
the supreme entity. For near two thou
sand years, ever since the Saviour Was
Graded In a stall az Bethlehem. he has
been the dream and delight OF the child
OF every race and creed. and he viii be
as long as Christianity is the great faith
of the world.
All the little folk OF Richmond. as in
every other part Of the world. are be
ginning the wait with uusubdued anxiety
Shopping. in preparation for this great
event, began yesterday. and all the even
ing continuous stream I buyers crowd
ed the streets and shops, all makias
choice of the gift they wanted for rela-
tive. sweetheart or friend.
The shops were ready for them. and all
the windows were tricked out IN ever
green and red and with the cheap tinsol
and glory of Christmas. 1t is an uttrac-
tive sight, these shop windows and 80
wide is the variety 81 purchasabIe articles
that the shopper Is utterly bevvlIderod
and staggered ,,,itt ti,, hoa,,,,. - &. ~,
ana with the exr.ose Nrona,. 49,,
In little driblets ever since the sunny
DAYS Of June seems SO small and insig-
nificant IN comparison with tho need
that tho shopper rrows faint-hearted at
the prospect before him.
Stores ThrOnged.
In and out tie doors OF the great de-
partment stNes people thronged inces-
sanity Some had already made their
purchases and wanted 10 get out and
home, while Others. belated by their
days work. were equally anxious to get
I'm to rlvage the counters for bargains
Smartly dressed women brushed oihovvs
with gFls from Tho factory ,,,v- ,,4
then some one -iean-3 o., sorno or,o,s 10,
bringing forth AN angry exclamation and
q hurried apology a package would be
cropped and If IL were lady there
would immediately be- Il scramble to pick
II up. IL man he was left TO manage
his own affairs as best he could. and so
IL wont. hurry and hustle and scramble.
AN lighting for the bargain counter
Everybody wanted To be waited ON at
once. cant You wait on me MOVE"
WAS the eternal question. I'm sorry
there is s0me one ahead of vou-iiist a.
few minutes" so. but I've been bers
sn HON. and haven't been waited on
yet How much" But the shop girl
was gone. and The Indignant sbonr.,~
who eouSnt Nnderstand VIM src
shouldn't De waited I'M ahead 80 every
body else. turned to another girl to l..
given tie Same answer.
AT some counter a sruartlv s-arbc7
woman was bargaining FOR some ribbon
at five cents "a ward o~e,,f,,,, .r,t XIX.
should get 10 for four and on--haIf ,ants
Five cents was entirely too much At
her elbow factory girl bought laces
With her salr-von savings at s. "a ward
10 was the eternal feminine. Inconsistent
petuleut hrt sweet. each irving Ia pe+
ahead of the other. IaVishin.y nor r,or,.,,
ON q haublr and buying q skirt for 81 4S
The men stood by patiently. knowing
that AN the kings horses colldn.t dr,,.
away their wives from tha bsrqafr, o.o,,,,7
ter. They were wise in their generation
CLoDor;-1s T~o...II
= w -
we cnii'iei' Gifts Tor
''.'"i 1. '9o4heJnng Tor your
VIZ A smoking jacket Tor your
''N9"'"-' were ule IeseHds everywhere
1oo nuns 20 lnc department sto-es- C"-
"C' nest "Scil puohs the myers strove
- "o' ''"s 'leS Coulu get lie tnlnE
ms ""i''eu- II W1s cohthu"l
hu1~. Il ml.l uproar OF pleading and bar
The ljffi. ano. boxes t,r' Jr,ieNi,s + oi
wires from the shop girl to the cashiers.
whose def augers We're kept continually
busy making the change and asserting
the bills All the while no orc seemed
To think Of these girls. growing faint
and vci.Fr with the long davis STANDING
Perhars they have learned tc be- ma
tent. ~ they can't stop the voariness.
the ache and pain Of which lie
buyers never dream
There is alWays n fov and "a satisfaction,
in buying. bat who would wish to et.,nd
behind the counter and seu2 The sbop-
pel-s hail the coming OF Christmas win g,
feeling OF iubilaton. but the .bonqirl-
wait only for IL to pass
While mothers and fathers were nelins,
early purchase for friends who i've far
away. waiting until a few davs beforo
Christmas TO make the purchases that are
% mn the stockings before the hrenla.e