The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
Christmas Shoppers Close a
Busy Week in Lively Spirit.
THRONGS ON ALL STREETS
Full Pockets and Feeling of Pros
DeFity Inject spirit of Good Eel
iOwship Into the Holiday Rush.
Many Strange Things Happen in
the Final Buying Crush.

perity accompanied the merry Christmas
shopping crowds last night, as never be-
fore. The streets and the stores were
crowded until late. Il was a Saturday
and three days before Christmas
Pennsylvania avenue, F. and Seventh
streets and various other thoroughfares
in the downtown district were lined with
people from O'Clock until nearly mid
night On Seventh street there was a jam
that would do justice TO the preserving
season during the summer months.
The rich and the poor. the naughty and
the humble, all rubbed elbows and seemed
To enjoy the opportunity. Everybody for
got their troubles and went from place
to place searching for their hearts desire
for some one else.
The people with the full purses and
courted by prosperity were good-naturel
All We're looking for some gift OF some
remembrance for the little ones. or some
friend or relative.
Walk In the Streets.
The crowd was largest on Seventh street.
from the Avenue 10 f street. between 8
and o'clock. The sidewalks were un-
able to hold the crowds and thousands
walked in the street In front of one
store the crowd was so dense that il was
impossible for any one to get through ex-
cept the very thin people. On the out
side Of the edge Of this crowd were sew
eraI fat women. Running back and forth
they tried to make Roadway through the
throng, but it was DO use Finally they
went away discu--r1
The f.~tu-1-fll=s -t-..-rllv1rre F7.sr,~,r-- s-r
lucky crowd orderly There was 10
rowdyism. no blowing of horns or throw
ing Of confetti. bat every ere had "a good
time. twenty-five extra policemen from
the outlying districts were stationed In
the shopping section. and in the stores
during the evening. There was little or
nothing for them 10 do.
Tie horn blowing nuisance has been
prohibited by the police. The merchants.
the people who sold horns. and other
noise-maling Instruments are glad that
the nuisance has been done away with
t:--s. Hartley, Of the First precinct sta
zion, slIo Hast night that he had never
seen d more orderly and well-behaved
crowd on the streets of Washington.
Extremes Are Plentiful.
The p~overbial small man and the great
big woman were in evidence. The tail
man and the short woman We're also 20
be seen. Bun last night they were more
numerous than ever. At one store there
was d bargain sale Of sweaters for boys
only. The great big woman spied the re-
du-ed price sale and dragged he- nus
band TO The counter TRY one Of those
~, il viii just fit. she said.
The clerk explained TO the woman that
tho sweaters Wero for hoys only. The bis
i. women became ildtcuanJ-she wanted one
the garments Tor her little husband.
This IS ms son, said the woman
les only boy
y The CLERK looked him over. Madam,
he replied. politely. "the boy seems 10
have WHISPERS.
Those are not whiskcrs.' answered the
woman They are simply Few hairs
on his face"
Surrounded by Bundles.
4 woman walked uD the Avenue looking
for a ear Size wanted ia get home. She
was loaded with bundles from head TO
foot She couldn't have carried another 10
save her life. They were tied TO ner some
OF them, both hands were more than full.
and as the woman moved she looked more
ike a female Santa Claus than anything
else
Ia fact. nothing but the woman's nat
could Doe seen emerging from the dozens
Of bundles. And the presents we're all for
her own children. Finally she hailed a
car Sine was fully five minutes getting
aboard. with the aid of the conductor. the
motCrman. and several passengers. How
she ever got or the car no one knows.
Awaiting her az home was little heart
for every package.
All Enjoy the Toys.
Children We're not the only ones who
enjoyed looking at the toys i'm the depart
ment stores. Hundreds of old men and
their wives joined the crowds last night
and spent the evening inspecting the play
things made for the amusement Of the
young ones.
The toys of the present generation are
different from those of only Il few years
ago. and on this account are as interest
ing to the grandparents as they are TO the
little ones. The mechanical automobile.
the jumping animals and a Thousand and
one other toys are all a revelation to the
xged. VINO never heard of such inventions
when they were young
Have Only one Pair.
TWO little girls-sisters- strolled along
the Avenue enjoying themselves gazing
NJ the toys in the windows. The longing
Look for Injuries and the eager desire for
s9nething in their eyes attracted atten-
10. People stopped and looked at the
cRildren. Among others who talked TO
4 them was a big policeman. He asked
them where they live. In + street" the
pair replied
Have you hung up your stocking for
Christmas asked the officer
we amt got no stockin's, 'cept what
we got on, one of the little girls an
swered our Santa Claus. our papa,
died two weeks ago, and mamma says
for US not to expect any presents. This
is our Christmas"
And the two little, poorly clad children
stoiled on up the Avenue. The big po-
Iceman thought Of his little ones at home,
turned. and walked down the Avenue in
the opposite direction
4 man with fake camera amused the
crowd in the busy shopping district
Wherever the people We're the thickest he
would attract their atte1tion By setting
his machine and pretending that he
wanted to take "a photograph. The crowd
was willing. The fakir would get sew
eral dazed people in a bunch and request
them 10 pose. He took his time and
amused those looking on by his different
directions When the crowd became i'm
patient he pressed a button ana allowed
the people To go their way. But he didn't
take any pictures
Southern Examines Employees.
AS the result of rumors that their
telegraph operators were under age, the