The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-25
HAPPY AND TIRED, SANTA
 CLAUS FINISHES HIS WORK
"A Quiet and Beautiful Christmas Eve Was Given Him for His Days Work. and Merchant
 Was Satisfied With His Business.

houses are beautified in th.s gentle
 observance of the day.
 Santa Claus the children may be
 interested in knowing. bought his
 goods early this year. He bought them
 earlier than any year yet. good deal has been said and written of early
 shopping. The theory this year was
 put into practice. This is shown by
 the fact that the express office and
 the postofiice had their busiest days
 on Monday and not on yesterday Chrfstmas eve. The total of the busi-
 ness done in Montgomery on Saturday
 or Monday was larger. perhaps, than
 that of yesterday So much had been
 said of early shopping that its ad-
 vantages had been driven home.
 Still Santa Claus had mighty busy
 time last night. Tired clerks again and again were called to wait on him.
 They were at this until the midnight
 nour had struck. Each corner in the early hours of the night had a knot
 or Christmas buyers with a nondescript assortment of merchandise about them,
 waiting for the car home.
 The roisterer was not so muchlin evil dence last night as he has been on former Christmas eve nights. It is not dry Christmas. nor yet Is 1t wet Christmas. The barkeepers complained more of the poor business than any other man and with some reason. The merchant had no complaint to make. Business was much better than he ex- pected. But wet goods were not sold so readily as they were last year. The out-of-town trade to the dry sections of the State, however, continued in all It's former strength. Plainly the side4 board habit is maintained in many dry communities and in many places where prohibition prevails, the egg nog will be foamy today. But the crowd of roisterers in Montgomery go- Ing from saloon to saloon as in other days was conspicuous by its absence.
 Perhaps no place had more of the Christmas spirit than the passenger station-for the Christmas spirit means happiness. Perhaps no place of the city had more happiness in 1t during tn g day than the depot. There were no through the gates went through with firm and buoyant step. They were fearful partings. Those who went going away for Christmas with loved ones in other towns. And the waiting rooms throughout the day held a happy and eager crowd. The family circle was to be completed. Loved ones who had not been seen for months. perhaps Tor years. were coming in on the trains. many Joyful reunion did the old de- pot witness yesterday
 The day closed the season of Christmass business. The merchants were we'll satisfied. Some of them were more than satisfied. The business had been so much better than they looked for. The panic was fresh in the mem ory Of the people and bank script. the sign manual of hard times. was abroad in the land. Naturally the nner- chants shared in the general alarm and naturally they feared that Christmas this year was going to be a period of blueness and dullness. But the fears were not realized. The post office. for instance. reported that this years business showed an increase of 70 per rent over that of last year. The ex- press company reported an increase of huatness. In each circumstance there was just cauHe for surprise. But the private statement of some of the mer- chants were no less surprising. A num- Der of them reported increased business. All said that the trade was better than they were looking for.
 Teh crowds this year were not much given to buying costly presents. The trade was Q bit economical But the presents bought were more numerous. The merchants who were disappointed were the merchants who had bought heavily of expensive presents. The man who laid in a more economical grade 1ad his stock raided by the buyers of he past week.
 Montgomery has no reason to. feel other than gratified over the excellent Christmas business. And Santa Claus his business a very tired and ! very happy mau.