The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-12-19
Hammond's Christmas Dis
plays Show Up to Date
Spirit in Merchants.
UP TO THE TIM ES
Exhibits of Local Emporiums Vie
With Each Other in
Attractiveness.

The best sign of progressiveness on
the part of the merchants of a city is
the manner in which their windows
are trimmed. Go into a town and look
the grocer has a display of dusty cans
of tomatoes in the window or the dry
goods merchant has ended his window
trimming by tossing few bolts of
calico into it. you can decide then and
there that the town is a dead one.
The best evidence of local prosperity
is the attractiveness of the window
displays and it is safe to state that
there is not a city the size of Ham
mond where the merchants are more
successful in making artistic show
lngs. The changes are frequent and
high class of goods is on display.
One OF the most attractive windows
in the city is that of the South Shore
Gas and Electric company. OF course
the electric lighting is beautiful and
the display OF electric table lamps
surrounding the tinsel-covered Christ
mas tree is very attractive. The old
fashioned fireplace with the blazing
logs makes the window doubly at
tractive. There could be no better ar
gument In favor of the use of electric
lights in window trimming
The Lion store always has attractive
windows and no pains or expense is
spared to make as alluring displays as
possible. The toy window is especi-
ally we'll trimmed and attracts the
attention of all passers by In the
furniture department the display of
mission furniture set around in a cozy
corner of draperies is unique. Three
or four of the windows are tastefulIy
trimmed in red and green and in them
is displayed haberdashery, mems suits,
and women's gowns. The great
amount OF window space enables the
trimmer at this store to avoid over
crowding. the mistake that is so fre-
quently made where the window space
is limited.
Across the street Ruhstadt's win
dow is attracting a great deal of
attention. 1t is almost impossible to
take a good look at it. This is per
haps the prettiest window of its kind
in the city. Besides this there is
display of handkerchiefs that is origi-
nal and attractive and illustrates the
skill of the trimmer in making an ap-
parently uninteresting article ev-
ceedingly interesting. There is also
the showing of furs and ladies' cloaks
and a window full of dolls to interest
the children.
Minas is another of the Hammond
merchants who realizes the value of
fe-f,.
medium His windows are high and
deep and there is apparently no limit
to the energy and expenditure that he
is willing TO make to show his goods
to the best advantage. Mr.. Minas
was one of the pioneers in the at
tractive window business and his dis
plays have always been noteworthy
This year he has a window in which
toys of all descriptions that appeal to
the Imagination of children are scat
tered in profusion around a big Dutch
windmill and a snow white tower
There is another window full of we'll
selected articles for Christmas gifts
and still another of beautifully decor
ated china. The articles in this last
named window are tastefully scatter
ed about the space allotted to them
and the lover of pretty things could
stand and feast for an hour on them
Just to prove that a large window is
not an absolute necessity to insure
attractiveness, the display of fruits
and nuts in Humpher's window is an
example. Charles Berendt has proven
by his windows that as unartistfc
things as meats and vegetables can
be displayed to great advantage
There are other attractive dis
plays throughout the city that are
worthy OF mention, such as Brennan's
tea store. and the various drug stores
in the city. and they all show a de-
gree of up to dateness of which Ham
mond people may we'll be proud