The San Francisco call., 1909-12-21
HOLIDAY TRADE
IS GREATEST IN
CITY'S HISTORY
PrOdigaI San Francisco Is Pre-
pairing Gigantic Task for
Poor Santa Claus
More Shoppers Are in Market
Than Ever Before and the
Sales Are Phenomenal

Prodigsl san Francisco has the hoIi-
day spirit with a vengeance. Poor Santa
Claus is already bemoaning the fact
that he is d tired man. for his work this
year is going to be greater than ever
before in the history Of the city.
Phenomenal sales are reported by the
stores dealing particularly in holiday
goods. All the merchants assert that
the holiday business this year is the
greatest san Francisco has ever known
The shopping began earlier than usual
and has increased steadily until now
the shoppers have reached the stage
of mad buying, as one of the depart
ment mana gers aptly put it.
Money seems to be freer than for sew
eral years past and the nature of the
gifts being selected indicates that the
people OF San Francisco are enjoying
unusually good times. From early
morn until 10 o'clock at night the shops
are crowded The weather last week
was ideal for shopping but the colder
weather yesterday did not serve to
lessen the ardor Of those selecting
gifts
RECORD BREAKING CROWDS
The Christmas spirit is abroad
Preparations are being made in the
shops 10 handle record brea king crowds
In fact. it was remarked yesterday by
several merchants that the shopping
crowds this year are the largest in
The citEs history.
AT the Emporium nearly 1000 persons
are employed as against normal force
of L20Q- Business in this great store
is greater than il was last year and
Infinitely better than in 1905 the last
year before the fire. This is the most
prosperous holiday season in the his
tory OF the Emporium.
The toy market is good index of the
Christmas trade. From Hale Brothers
comes the information that the sales in
this department are unusually heavy
tins year. The volume of business al
Hale's this wear has never before beer
eQualed. At the rate toys are moving
IL is expected that the department will
have very little in stock by Christmas
eve. And 50 il is with the other de-
partments Of this store.
Roos Brothers also assert this is the
best year the firm has known, with a
disposition on the part of the people to
buy earlier than usual and to be freer
than heretofore with money
We have had half again as many
people in our store this year as we
have had IN previous holiday seasons .
say Newman & Levinson. 1T is our
greatest holiday season and we are
mighty pleased with the outlook
EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS
Business is far ahead of expectations
according TO Samuels' lace house. with
the firm more than gratified with the
number Of people visiting the store and
the character of the purchases.
The unusually large number Of shop
pers was also commented on by the
city OF Paris, which reported business
far better taan last year.
Shreve & Co. assert that the jewelry
business is keeping pace with the other
lines in this phenomenal holiday season
Immense sales are being made, the
thousands of dollars rolling in for gems
and ornaments giving voluble testimony
TO the prosperity OF the new San Fran
cisco.
And so il is with store after store
each reporting the greatest business in
its history. Is 1t any wonder Santa
Claus heaves a sigh as he looks forward
to the gigantic task that is being laid
out for him by the generous people OF
this prosperous city?