The Washington times., 1907-12-22

Entering one Of the large department
stores last night several thousand shop
pers were confronted with an ominous
overhanging sign, which read:
DO YOU REALIZE THAT THERE
ARE BUT TWO MORE SHOPPING
DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS"
A person doesn't necessarily have 10
believe in signs 10 read the answer. It
has been apparent upon every street, in
every shop. and in every glance of the
passerby these past few days.
Crowd on F Street.
To ascertain If the Christmas spirit
was really abroad i'm toe land Times
reporter stroIIed down + street yester-
day afternoon. The stroll" lasted for
about half a block. and after the seeker
for information had been jostled of
the sidewalk several times by the
scurTying shopping throngs, he
was content TO join in the rush and
become one OF the countless hundreds
who jammed that fashionable thorough
fare every moment Of the day.
They were all there-the young man
and his sweetheart. each seeking d hint
as 10 what the other really desired
most; the doting parent and the enthu-
siastic yOungster, just becoming initi-
atcd into the wonderful mysteries OF
the time of Santa Claus; the widow
with her mite. and the millionaire with
his auto and his bulging pocketboOk
They besleged the tired girls behind
the counter, some buying. some pricing
and some Just looking today"
At all the large stores there was a
constant game Of hide-and-seek with
the panels of the revolving doors. To
one aged shopper the revolving door OF
an + street store presented a problem
In one hand the Old man, evidently a
grandfather from one of the smaller
towns nearby. held two chickens: IN
the other he clasped the chubby hands
Of two grandchildren; they. in turn,
clasped two dolls. There had 10 be a
separation, and the door revolved so
quickly that the general could not plan
his campaign. At last he planted a
No. 10 in the niche. and he and the
chickens occupied one compartment. the
youngsters appropriated one each amid
sundry yells. and with much eclat The
quintet finally landed within among the
bargains.
NuAASlAuds OlSuLS.
The day was replete WITH incidents
similar to this. seen perhaps only at
Christmas time. At the corner Of Flev-
entn and II the scenes changed fastest.
Two sides OF the street were lined with
improvised florist stands, where half
a dozen impromptu florists spelled the
relative superiority OF wreaths, ferns
and Christmas trees. with here and there
a bunch Of flowers lending a touch OF
red to the bank upon bank Of green
A Mexican in full regalia held forth
with divers strings OF beads Just across
the way. while perched upon the four
corners might be seen other street ar
lists, who offered some catchy toy OF
Christmas Joy producer. md the
crowds surged on and on and in and
out. laden with bundles Of eV eI.y con-
ceivable shape and hue, laden with ev-
erything, it seemed, except a heavy
heart
Dropping into the florists shops one
might, after a long wait, find Oppor-
tunity to pin the frantic proprietor down
and inquire about the demand for flow
ers.
Better than ever" came the reply
Got more than we can do. al Of US
Never saw such a demand for holly and
wreaths in my life"
One + street florist bore out this state
ment by saying th6t he had sold over
1000 wreaths. and the demand seemed
'just starting"
Center Market presented another ami