The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-24
HOLIDAY CROWDS
THR0KG STREETS
Thousands Of Busy shopperl
Spend Entire Day in Broad
Street Stores.
BIG CELEBRATION TONIGHT.

Christmas Eve Revelry Will
Continue Until Late Hour.
Cheer for the Poor.
Christmas shopping reached its acute
stage with the opening OF the stores
yesterday morning, and until late
hour tonight tho shops will be filled
with busy purchasers and tho streets
will be crowded with people OF all &
ages and conditions, loaded with bun.
dies
: Seldom has Christmas been cele-
brated with more genuine holiday
spirit. To Judge by the flood OF eager
purchasers In the markets and stores,
the recent money stringency has az
fected Richmond but little. Merchants
carried heavy stocks. yet rarely. IL
over before. have they been so near
selling out completely, with to-day, tia
greatest rush day In the year. still TO
be figured on.
AT the closing hours tonight will
come the well-earned rest for the army
or shop girls and store employees, who.
during tho last few weeks, have been
iaboring at all hours, and, what is
even more ttresome, have been meeting
all kinds OF unreasonable demands.
Thousands OF inane shoppers without
the faintcst idea OF what they wanted.
nave inquired helplessly Of the store
glris for q suggestion as to suitable
present Tor cousins and aunts until the
REFER Of tie saleswomen at receiving
direct request for this or that article
auvert!sed Is sometimes ludicrously
Busy Scenes ON street.
During yesterday and late into last
night Broad Street. In the retail ,hon.
ping district. was thronged with sion.
pers, and some whose forethought had
enabled them to spend the last dav m,
Two pelore Christmas In ncrrymakinr
io-night Will see a sight which. for
reNeiry, noise and holiday spirit rivals
awning the sfardi Gras can show.
Broad Street will be crowded to ,he
.iacks with merrymakers. and TIN
horns and .orDedoes viii have ,,,,i
sway Until late hour the froifcklne.
WI go on. and while some regulations
lof the safety OF the people vii, hara
20 be observed. the police viii hn 5,s
icnient as possible. and only those VIII,
Tested. !" - We mo-
But not alone In the stores were
.. preparations being made
Yesterday. In thousands OF homes T.,
richmond 1t was shown that yirg,r,a
housewives have not lost the nrt ~
making good things and in MANI
pantry the plum pudding and tho rove
.. mince pies stand ready nm tic
sha eve, Tor the coming OF the holiday
ING markets. reflected q gorgeous
,se. tile stalls piled with the good
,nInSs OF the earth. and decked vii,
DO wers OF evergreen In whicf I'LL VII
mingled the red berry of the nolIv ana
Ihe white of tho mistIctoe. Old ,vomnu
Win running cedar and great miles ~,
Shrlsnias treee We're crying their.wares
5,o"is are said to be high for this sea.
son. but there Is evidence that they
re plenttIui, and Furthermore. thar
they arc being bought. II would bc
interesting 20 know Just how mani
turkeys viii be served up to the Rich.
mond public Tomorrow. tile wholesale
dealers figuring on 1900 as a mini
mum.
For the Poor.
Over 400 families will have occasion
to bless the organized charities for a
hearty meal or Christmas Day. Tho
Salva"on Army has kept the pot boil
Ing on prominent corners, and has
raised several hundred dollars with
wilichAit has undertaken to supply $50
baskets to poor families. Most OF The
supplies were received yesterday af-
ternoon. and the platform at the Sal.
walton Army Hall was stacked with
good things for distribution. Christ
mas morning at o'clock the baskets
VIII be given out, and a pleasant sight
1t will be as the poor and the hungry
of the city come forward aid receive
an abundance.
An even more comprehensive plan
of Christmas giving. Is being worked
Sisted sna e By tho EiSa the shrners
Camp Auxiliary, the Methodist instl
tute ind various private charitable or
CARNATIONS. After striking from tho
tion Army. the Associated Charities
will attempt to supply every poor fam.
lily in Richnond--about LOO In al;
for and r,iVg a d few prompt eontributions
sent this morning to the Associated
Charities will enable the Organization
TO see that no poor pers2nin EtGhmond
Christmas day.
At the Post-Of1ce.
The Richmond post-ottice has SO far
met. the stress OF Christmas ma l}with
excellent regularity, and Postmaster
the prompt handling of the enormous
number Of letters and. packages which
congrcgate at the holiday season. Al
peahy the expgsss wagons are going
with the run Of their business. and
from now until Thursday or Friday
Santa Claus willride an express wagon
or on mail carriers pack through
the streets of Richmond.
Postmaster Cabell issued yesterday
the following schedule OF holiday
hours for the Richmond post Office ON
Christmas Day:
Main Office.
Executive division viii be closed.
Stamp window will be open for sale g
of stamps from $40 a. NJ. to 1870 "a.
M.
Money order division Will be closed.
Registry division will be open from
$3.50 4. M. TO II $40 A.. M. Registers will
be delivered by substitute curriers'. who
Will also make delivery of packages
as far as prac ticablc.
Carrier's window will be open from
S 40 TO 1880 a. NJ.
General delivery will be open from
$3.50 to. 1880 a. NJ. S
Especial arrangements have beer
made Yor delivery OF packages to the
public, both at the main office and sta :
tions.l a 3s
stat,ons will observe Same hours :,