The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-21

InlS is the letter sent out:
"WiH you join in a movement on a ma
tional scale to modify the hardships Incl
dent to holiday shopping?
observation might show many of us
that Christmas is a time of hardship for
those who have to do with supplying the
needs of Christmas shoppers. Authentic
| records from the lives Of clerks. delivery
boys and drivers of wagons show that,
while we are keeping the Christmas fes-
tival, while We are feeding the lame and
halt, the blind and friendless, we are light
ly reducing to illness and exhaustion the
us, seen and unseen.
Every year the celebration of Christ
mas grows more elaborate. More presents
are bought; the crowds are greater; the
decorations are more splendid. The prob
lens of the merchants are correspondlngly
more complex; the supply has to be in
creased; the pressure at every point In
tensihes. On the one hand, public opinion
~disapproves long hours and late work,
particularly for young women. girls and
children. On the other hand, merely
through thoughtlessness, many shoppers
defer their purchases until the last possi-
BILE moment at the cost of unnecessary
strain upon ~salespeople and delivery forces.
by joint effort of editors and mer-
chants, the idea can be brought home to
millions of customers that they can benefit
themselves n every one concerned II
early in the season and early In the day.
This will lengthen the Christmas shop
ping period and reduce the disadvantages
l UAAACAA ~ AAA 0-AoOIos l14NC jill
the Christmas crowds. Sincerely yours,
Jacob A. Riis,
MARK Twain,
Richard Watson Glider, editor the Cen
Edward Box, editor the Ladies' Home
Leigh Reilly. editor the Chicago Even
Lyman Abbott. editor the Outlook,
"Adoiph 8. Ochs, publisher New York
S. w. woodward, of woodward &
Lathrop, Washington, d. c.,
Nathan Strans, of r. Fl. Macy & Com
Edward Filene. of william Filene,s
Sons Company, Boston,
FLORENCE Kelley, secretary National
Consumers League,
Edward T.. Devine. editor
Mrs. Florence Kelley, secretary of the
National Consumers League, which has a
membership Of women in every city In the
country pledged to work for the safe
guarding of women and children In indus
try. says of early Christmas shopping;
Never before In any month OF. November
mas so large O number of merchants noti-
fed their customers that the Christmas
goods arc at hand, ready for inspection and
purchase. Never have SO many Consumers
Leagues mailed to their members appeals
to shop early in the season, early In the
week and early in the day. In some cities,
postal cards carry a printed personal APP
peal. In others, cards in the street cars
and store windows bear the legend.
Everywhere however, the most effec-
tive pressure upon the thoughtless public
comes from the merchants and the press
through daily advertising and friendly edi-
torials.
1T is an astonishing number Of people
who profit by this vast concerted effort to
abolish the Christmas cruelties. The shop
pers themselves find now Ia the stores good
air and goodwill awaiting them, which
t~slnlster thonghb will grow less every day
as Christmas approaches. The clerks are
still unwearied by the ~jostling crowds. and
can extend courtesy, which will grow day
by day more difficult, II not more scant,
These, however, are merely the visible
part OF the army OF workers concerned,
Unseen and alasi aforementioned are the
shipping and packing and wrapping forces
the deliverymen and boys aud, remotest Of
all from the gay holiday throngs of mid
December, are the candymakers. toymak-
ers, boxnakers, the innumerable Workshop
and factory employees whose overtime
work follows the beiated orders and care
less delays of the shopping multitude.
"Since the last holiday season the need
for voluntary effort to discourage eleventh.
hour shopping hns greatly Increased. For
the highest court IN The state Of New York
has pronounced unconstitutional the stat
ute which for twenty wears has forbidden
the employment n that State Of boys undui