The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-12-18
SHOPPING TRAGEDIES.

What The Duluth Herald says in the
following editorial applies as well to
Fargo:
II Is too late now to talk of early
Christmas shopping but there is one
thing more than every shopper who
has purchases yet to make can and
should keep in mind; and that is to
steer clear, so far as possible, of shop
ping on Christmas eve.
only those who come personally In
contact with the aftermath of the fear
full strain of the Christmas eve traffic
can realize how terribly it draws upon
the nervous and physi, al energy of
the women and children who serve the
public behind the shop counters. Or
dinarily, Christmas eve is an awful
experience for salespeople. When the
clock strikes tho last hour and the
doors are closed, many of them are in
state Of complete exhaustion from
which they do not recover for DAYS
In hundreds of cases physicians have
to be called in to minister to shatter-
ed nerves. Christmas, the sweet an
niversary Of the gentle Savior's birth.
Is made mockery by the thought
lessness of the shopping public.
Therefore, there is a move on foot
to tighten the burden of the salespeo-
pie of Duluth by allowing the shops
to close as early as possible on Christ
mas eve. How early they can close
depends almost entirely upon the pub
lie. These merchants and their en-
ployes are public servants. To meet
a public demand they have laid in
great stocks Of Christmas goods which
the public needs to make it's holiday
cheer. If they should close their stores
without warning thousands would be
deprived of their opportunity for buy
ing the stocks that. have been laid in
by them.
But it isn't necessary to shop Christ
mas eve. Shopping may as easily be
done before that time, and IL it is, the
dread and torture of Christmas eve
will be dissipated, and the salespeople
will have chance to go home in time
to rest up so that they can enjoy their
own Christmas cheer. 1t is a shock
ing thing that the thoughtlessness of
the public should create a condition
that makes Christmas day, for hun
dreds Of workers day of nervous
collapse and drug taking instead of a
day Of merry making and enjoyment
1t has been the practice in many
their employees the day before Christ
mas. This necessitates Christmas eve
shopping, and compels late hours in
the shops Christmas eve. This year
a large number Of the principal en-
ployers have been reached, and they
have gladly agreed to pay their en-
ployes two days before Christmas In
stead of one day before. Those who
have not been reached will help IL they
will voluntarily make this change.
Then it will be up to the public to
say whether the stores must be kept
open until late hour Christmas eve.
or whether the shopping shall be COM
pleted Thursday, Thursday night or
Friday, instead of Friday evening.
which is Christmas eve.
Keep your shopping clear of Christ
mas eve! Loosen the dreadful Christ
mas eve pressure upon the merchants
and their employees. They are having
1t hard enough as it is, without pro-
longing the strain until the public is
satiated at a late hour Christmas eve.
Let the clerks go free at an hour early
enough to give them decent nights
rest before Christmas. That will not
be possible unless every shopper
makes up his mind to do all his buy
ing before Christmas eve, and to steer
clear Of the stores on that evening.
You can do this, If You will, and 1t
will be a deed OF mercy and compass
sion quite in keeping with the tender
spirit Of Christmas.