The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-12-20
CHRISTMAS WHIRL BEGINS
NEW YORK SHOPPERS JAM STREETS
AND STORES.
Thousands OF Christmas Tres and Tons
of Greens Distributed In Resi-
dence acknowledgements
Also Gladdened.

New York, Dec. 1s.-(SpeciaL with
holly-wreathed trees and greens peep?
ing from every window and caravans
of wagons loading each door with
packages of presents, all Gotham has
today been caught up into the widest
Christmas whirl that Its people have
seen for many a year.
While joyously rioting shoppers jam
every street and store, full fifteen
hours in the twenty-rour. the glitter
ing districts of the night crowds are
fairly choked with constant process
sion OF merry makers from early eve
ming until early morning. About the
home sections Of the greater city 200.-
00o Christmas trees and tons of holi-
day wreaths and ropes are being dis
tributei together with bushels of tin
selled ornaments.
Even In the poorer quarters the tene-
ments are being frightened with
sprigs OF holly. while the kettles OF
street scouts for the charity organi-
cations are heaped high with silver
bounty that promise a Christmas feast
for every hungry unfortunate In town.
1t is many years since New York city
has shown as ready a spirit or as full
purse for the joys OF the Christmas
season.
Tremendous Theft.
That one million dollars worth Of
property has been successfully stolen
from the people of this city during the
past year by the horde OF thieves that
are infesting every turn of town. has
been shown today from police records,
Of which the public has just obtained
knowledge. On the pages of the mys-
terious green list by which the
sleuths try to trace this booty to q
few pawnshops, the startling story of
the prosperous activities OF this city's
crooks is set down in good round fig.
Mres. In the last month alone a Sc
leeted list of the most conspicuous
hauIs of BURGERS and thieves shows a
total of over $4,000.
From the petty pilferings of the
humble sneak thief up to the choicest
booty of the expert crooks, these rec
ords OF the proceeds of thievefy show
losses OF thousands of dollars each
day to all classes of citizens here. I'm
less emergency measures are taken at
once TO check this alarming spread OF
theft, the city authorities are con-
WINGED that the possession OF property
all over this island will soon cease to
be either safe or sure
Taft's Touch.
Shaved, soaped and shined to point
of personal elegance hitherto unknown
on the Bowery, scores of the down
and-out men, to whom Taft talked here
at a mission house q few days ago.
are today really heartened up and try
ing for jobs and brighter futures.
The erect OF the smile and hearty
encouragement of their distinguished
visitor is declared by those who keep
track of these human bits of flotsam
to have been a general bracing up OF
their limp spirits to face the world
once more.
What wonders Taft worked by this
bit of Frightening contact with the
unfortunates of the Bowery. 1t Is be-
lieved can be kept alive, IL other big
and cheerful men will follow his
example. Life in the lodging house
of this abandoned quarter is to be
Iightened more in the future by bring
ing from the cherrier spots more mel
with messages OF hope