The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-23
BIG CHRISTMAS
TRADE IN
STORES
That Of Saturday Was
Greatest Ever in the City.
Crowds Out Today Too.

Because of the pouring rain there
was an easing up in the Christmas
buying in the big and small stores this
morning, but shortly before 1880
o'clock the rain let up and in a quar-
ter of an hour the sidewalks in shop
ping streets were crowded with peo-
pleNon foot, while others used carriages
and automobiles to go to the depart
ment and jewelry and other stores.
They did not go out Saturday because
they knew the stores would be over
crowded.
Proprietors and superintendent of
three department stores and other
stores said the trade Saturday after
noon vas tremendous and that at night
it exceeded in volume anything ever
known in Newark before in their ex-
perience.
1t proved that the working people
have money saved, for they made nr
the big Saturday night crowd. They
did not buy very costly articles, but
all bought presents.
Oscar Michael, of L. S. Plaut & Co.
owners of the Bee Hive. said he believed
the Saturday trade was the largest fol
stores ever known in Newark. He was
sure that all kinds of retail dealers bene.
flied by the rush to buy.
THE jam was awful In our store in the
ef'ernoon, and at night 1t was worse" he
said, and 1t was made up of people who
were out to buy and not look at Christ
mas goods. The truth is that Newark
has had all along a good Christmas trade,
in spite of the money stringency.
II believe there will be plenty of cur
rency in the hanks early next month. for
the hundreds of merchants who have done
a good Christmas trade will deposit their
receipts. We look for n very big trade to-
morrow whether the weather be pleasant
or not"
Theodore S. Fettinger, advertising man.
ager for Hahne & Co.. said 1t was true
that the Saturday trade was enormous,
and the big store never was so crowded
as it was at night up to the time of clos
ing.
'Some of our men figured that there
were 1900 people in the store for more
than two hours he said. There was a
very big crowd, but ] do not think as
MANY as $1,000 could be In, 1t at once,
though our aisles are very wide and very
long. We sold a vast amount of articles,
but | do not think people bought as costly
articles as in former holiday seasons, but
they purchased more articles for gifts. We
can't tell now how big the business was,
for a great many things were shipped C.
O. d., and 1t will take some time to figure
I'M on them. Our nearly 1000 employees
wore very busy.
1.-THE scarcity of currency has not at
fected our holiday trade. for Newark peo-
pie and those from outside cities and towns
appeared to have a suf1iclency of cash.
I believe there will be a big trade tonight,
and that tomorrow 1t will be tremendous.
1t slowed up this morning because Of the
rain, for people from outside towns did
not come in"
The superintendent for the David straus
Company said the Saturday trade was GER
talnly great, and at night their store WAS
so crowded that it was difficult to move
/ 7nsShs assles.
And the people who came all bought
something, though I do not think they
purchased such expensive goods as In some
former seasons. We are sure of a very
big trade tomorrow. the last day of the
Christmas holiday season.
of women will come out to do their
Christmas buying early tomorrow morning
they will get more attention from sales
PEOPLE la stores. for the big GROVE come
out in the afternoon. and we look for a
great lam tomorrow night, rain or shine.
No we have not felt the stringency in
money. for all who bought here had cur
rency and to spare
Jewelry stores, like those OF Hartdegen
and of Wiss, were filled Saturday n this
afternoon with purchasers.
At Kings clothing store, at Market and
Halsey streets. the holiday decorations are
we'll done. They consist of ropes of Christ
mas greenery looped from the ceiling OF
the big store, dozens of red electric lights
and fine window displays.
Alexander Neuman, the manager Of the
store, said they had dozen a good holiday
trade and got their share of the rad today
after the rain let up. He said useful men
tors are given to men and boys, consisting
OF toys for the lads and boxes of handker-
chiefs and other articles for the men. Mr..
Neuman also said they have fifty statesmen
on duty and one has been dropped. The
store is open Saturday evenings.