The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-22
ALL EAGER TO SEE
BEFORE THEY BUY
Shop Windows Catch a Multi
tude of Eyes During the
Evening Hours.
CROWDSSWARM EVERYWHERE
Men and Women Exercising for
That Christmas Eve Parade
by Night.

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Naturally enough one wants to see
before one Will buy Therefore there
is nothing surprising in the fact that
Broad and kindred streets are packed
these nights The windows of the va
rious shops offer attractions of SUN
cient interest to bring out almost any
one who Is at all interested. And who
Is not interested at this time of year?
Gift buying has largely developed
into science. II one has bought, onc
wants to know whether one has
bought wisely. The fellow who feels
that he has won a place forever IN
the affections OF his lady fair flnns
peculiar delight in taking her be-
fore the window of the shop in whieh
Is arrayed in charming elegance the
very gift he has purchased and BY
subtle methods securing an express
sion Of opinion before the gift is ac-
tually received.
Lights Offer opportunity.
The added lights offer magnificent
opportunity. Nothing is hidden from
view. Just as evident as under a
MONDAY sun are the myriad things
which an artist in his particular line
of work has displayed with care and
trouble. so that the unwary and the
unsuspecting may Heed, Therefore.
again, no wonder that the streets arc
crowded.
No moth was ever more attracted
b. the proverbial candle than are the
people of Richmond by the added lus-
ire to Broad Street. They walk and
walk and walk. and just to add lit
tie variety. they walk some more. Of
course. there are side trips to the
aforementioned alluring windows.
Some time Is always spent IN front OF
these windows Then comments are
in order
Did you ever notice the manner In
which any given object was led up 10?
With marvellous dexter'ty the only
girl-iu-the- world is diverted from the
hurrying hordes and literally planted
in front OF a window. Then she is
pointed out everything in that win
dow least related 10 what Will be
her gift on Christmas morning. Final
~, with diplomatic precision she is
shown the thing which VIII be hers.
Then follows a moment OF mental tur-
buiency. during which the "onliest
only" is framing her opinion.
Easily Led Around.
On the other hand, was IT ever your
in which the girl who really likes you
win ind the leading forgery or the
most popular cigar store attractive
She doesn't tell You that your gift Us
in the glass Enclosure. but she usually
has brother who has bought some
thing at that store. and she wants
your expert opinion as to whether his
selection has been wise. Take = Up.
fellows. and follow the girl. and take
i. H., o., 1Ir od init "a
whatever she points out is pretty and
just the thing for man-about- town,
Tor just as sure as fate she is going
TO get around TO what will be yours
on Christmas morning, and also she
Will regard you as man about-town.
Always be on the safe side--if you
want the girl
That, or those, are some OF the rea-
sons why the crowd was SO thick on |
Broad Street last night. Then there are
others Some have forgotten to buy
when they should have bought They !
are bringing along the very same sort |
and are endeavoring in the very same
manner-even as they have since
Christmas first was-what VIII be
your pleasure or what you will most
highly regard. Be easily pleased. and
like all you look at. You will save !
yourself lots of trouble, whether you !
be sister or Drotner. mother OF lalHeF, 1
steady company or occasional visitor.
Old Kris Is the Crowd.
Old Kris must have his fun. and he |
usually picks the youngsters His !
sleeve must be abnormally large II it |
is 10 hide all the laughs he earns !
with his pranks. lie always comes In
advance, and lie stays until the show |
is over. The whole gamut of life's af-
fections are his without the asking. |
Palace and howell pride and poverty, /
rich and poor. lover and forlorn-all I
come within his ken. and he smiles
or signs. laughs or sheds tears, COM /
miserates or conSratuIates. with equal |
facility as the occasion demands.
He dominates the crowd. He is the
crowd Though manysided. he is tho
most compact individual in the world.
He IS everything and nothing. And
among the hundreds of people who |
thronged the streets last night,
observing, but unobserved-thoug !
strongly felt-he was In evidence. and
he guided the hand of the "onliest
only" and the diplomatic lover with
equal agility. Though the iingling of
his bells are felt rather than seem he
Is the most potent factor IN bringing I
out the crowd, and he will continue :,
in power until with pleasure-lader
feet the Christmas stocking is reached
and the mysteries, no longer mysteries
become the realities of Christmas Day.