The Washington times., 1907-12-08
Cheer of Christmas
In Nations Capital
Peculiarly Its Own
CongreSSmen Rub Shoulders With Clerks, All
Clamorng for Gifts for Yuletide Season.
Attractive Displays in Stores This Year.

shove your way in and out of the Eaily
bedecked stores, with their countless
bargains and gifts that go to make
Christmas a blessing and life worth
while.
Rush for Gifts.
Here you'll find the tot insisting that
every shop must surely be the home of
Santa Claus; then the maid and youth
more advanced in years and the sci
ence Of Christmas giving, each intent
upon WorminE out, in some manner,
what the other really wants RS a re-
mnder Of the holiday season; next,
perhaps. tho two heads of family. who
have a stupendous duty to perform in
providing for a bunch OF clamorous
youngsters-and who. perhaps. have
waited until the last moment TO do
the providing.
Bringing up the rear, their forms bent
and their step slow. one may see those
in the evenude Of life, their faces radiant
at the remembrance of other Christ
mas days and in anticipation for the
younger ones at home who have the
years and their Christmas joys before
them.
The same scenes may be witnessed on
G. street and on Seventh, two CT the
other principal shopping thoroug, fares
where the thronGs gather and push ana
shove amid the showers OF confetti,
the peals Of happy laughter OF young
and old. and the hundred and one nOise-
making devices, all tending % denote
resignation TO the spirit OF the occasion
and the Punishment of the time being
4
bles.
To those who have never mingled with
the Christmas throngs in Washington,
! IL is difficult to accurately picture the
peculiar attractiveness the city offers.
Washington s.orekeepers must cater to
! every class ard condition known in our
national life. so typically represented at
the Capital The stocking must be fiIled
at the White House as we'll as the
humblest back-street hut, and the
| Washington shopgirl may walt upon
! the belle of the alley one moment and
the wife OF the President the next. In
| deed, it has been said that II is a hard
matter for the Secret Service men to
/ watch the President about this time.
and on more than one occasion II is said
he has slipped of and mingled incognito
with the crowds who frequent every
store and linger around every gorgeous
show window.
Window Decorations.
And referring again 90 the latter
the mirrors Of what may be seen in
side, Never before perhaps has Wash
ington presented such artistic. such ex-
pensive designs In window decorations
I as for the present season. ~ Thousands
Of dollars have been expended in this
manner by the Capital merchants. who.
appreciating critical judgment of the
thousands who are upon Washington
streets every hour Of the day now, and
will be until after the holidays. have
spared no pains or expense in exhibit
ing in their windows the best the mar
kets of Europe and America afford.
The holly. the ferns. and the mistle-
toe give TO the stores the sweet and
wholesome atmosphere OF the forest or
countryside-the magnificent importa-
ticns Of suitable gifts from every mar
ket in the world lend 20 them the ap-
pearance Of a Fifth avenue mansion or
the palace Of a king.
Rush Expected.
| Washington merchants have been Just
as lavish in their purchases as the great
representative population Of the Capital
is in its patronage, and there's more
than enough to go around. This year
thousands Of visitors are expected from
afar and near TO participate in a real
Washington celebration. Already they
are arriving by every train and the in
flux is becoming greater day by day as
the joys and opportunities Of Christmas
eve draw nearer.
It's not an uncommon sight to see a
Representative or Senator from a near
by State grasp a visitor by the hand
and exclaim, Why, colonel, what are
you and Mrs. Smith doing here?"
=, Quick the reply comes. Just taking
in the sights of the Capital and doing
our Christmas shopping with you Con-
gressmen. Say. what's the President
buying for Christmas presents this
year?"
It's really good to know what it means
to breathe the real Christmas atmos-
phere as it is always kept on tap ir
Washington. Try il this year and SEND
in vote Of thanks afterward.