Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-19

.Marshalltown is truly the HON OF
Santa Claus. He is here now, and Is
making great preparations to start out
on Christmas eve to gladden. the hearts
OF young and old. The funny little old
fellow is going to make this a banner
year in staple lines, nj the useful
presents are all the rage.
Last year the holiday season in Mar
shalltown was characterized by record
breaking sales. 1t was the best year
merchants had had in years. This sea-
son merchants in practically every line
have found that, despite the tightness
of the money market, people are doing
practically as much buying as they did
last year. Nearly every dealer, When
questioned, replied that sales were up
to last year, and in several instances
they naa surpassed last year.. Others
were a trifle under a year ago on the
18th, but the amounts were so nearly
the same that there was practically no
difference. There Is still almost a week
before Christmas, and by the time the
shopping is over the merchants think
they will have exceeded the high mark
OF last year.
People Buying Good Stuff.
The people this veal are buying
high-class merchandise In all lines.
That is the universal opinion. This Is
always true when there is a tendency
toward financial stringency. Instead
Of spending their money for knick-
knacks, buyers are investing In all sta
pie products, something useful, and
something that will last and give serv-
ice.
Some Of the merchants believe mat
so far the volume, while eminently
satisfactory at this stage, is not up to
the same time last year.. This fact is
believed to have been due to the ain
weather early in the month. Nearly all
Of the holiday business so far has come
from the city, the general opinion Is
that the country trade has only fairly
well begun. 1t is expected that a big
volume of trade from the country will
keep the stores filled from 10Y up to
Christmas eve.
In the Dry Goods Line.
The dry goods line Is one that US
ually shows but little effect at holiday
time from a lack Of ready money. This
is true because it is a staple. and
much Of it can be bought by mothers
to make new dresses for the little
folks. Dress goods of all kinds have
moved rapidly, as have also waist pat
terms, table linens and napkins, towels,
etc. AT the same time fancy articles
kept in these stores have had big
runs. Among some of the. leaders in
these lines are leather goods, in hand
bags, purses, etc. shell goods, such
as combs and hair ornaments; furs
and many expensive ones, too; hand
kerchiefs, belts and collars. fancy hos
iery, gloves, fancy neckwear, silk pet
ticoats, fancy outing night robes for
ladies, etc. In fact, a maj buying for
his wife or grown daughters would
hardly have to go outside of a dry
goods store to spend his money, so
complete are the stocks.
With the f Furniture Men.
In the furniture stores buyers find
a staple, line hat appeals to them.
Dealers report a high class of goods
being purchased, and sales equalling
those of last year at the same time.
Among some, Of the fine gifts obtain
able in the furniture stores are rock
ing chairs, sideboards, china closets,
book cases, odd dressers, leather
chairs, rugs, Morris chairs, couches,
dining room extension tables, library
tables. buffets, music cabinets, jardi-
Mere stands, and framed pictures.
Some Of the latter are exceedingly ar
tistic, and make a fine gift. A clever
novelty in the furniture line, which
makes a nice present for a man, is a
cellarette, a little device similar in Up
pearance to a small music cabinet, In
which the man Of the house can keep
his cigars, smoking tobaccos, pipes
and matches.
Pretty Things in Ladies' Furnishings.
There are some beautiful, and at the
same time inexpensive things in ladies'
furnishings offered by dealers. Many
novelties have been placed on the mar
ket. and many of them are truly useful.
Among the more staple goods in this
line are fine kid gloves, reacing to the
elbow, on which there has already been
a large sale; fine linen handkerchiefs;
fancy ribbons, hosiery, leather goods in
purses, hand and shopping bags, etc.
Are Buying Dress Shoes.
At the shoe stores the same report
comes from all dealers; to the effect
that people seem to have turned to use
full gifts and more fine, high priced
shoes for men and women nave been
sold for Christmas gifts tina ever be-
fore. In fancy slippers, Indian moe
casins, infants fancy shoes, leggins,
etc. there has been the usual Christ
mas trade. 1t seems to have become
a general notion that a fancy, dress
shoe for regular wear makes a beauti-
full present.
A World of Toys.
Toys, toys, toys. Such a world Of
them as is being displayed in the shops
this year surpasses other season.
and the ingenuity displayed in their
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