The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-11-22

Exclusive service OF The Sunday
Press Bureau.)
Christmas was In the air. The
frosty, starry night turned golden IN
the city avenues. Up and down the
pavement the crowds swept, laugh
ing. talking, jostllng---cheeks ruddy
with the weather, eyes sparkling with
lights. AS they moved, there unroll-
ed beside them the endless film OF
brilliant shop windows, crammed with
riches and through the swinging doors
eddies of people were sucked IN ana
elected. AT the curb the toy-peddlers
shouted, the chestnut stands sent up
their smoke. 1t seemed as II the NIL
lions of the city had poured out to
mingle in street festival OF JOY
and brotherhood. People laughed at
one another, wine OF good humor
drenched the air, II was u Sal or
this night hate and strife and greed
had been sloughed Off, as II the race
said, Come, elt us be happy with
one another We are all here togeth'
er. Let us meet and mingle In JOY
and good will and peacel
1t was the Night OF the Children!
Far through the sleeping city the MIL
lion children we're in their beds and
1t was for them tnat these people
met. For their children they were
sweeping the shops, that Christmas
morning might dawn with the can
dies of the pine, and hanging bull
Nv stockings and the mysterious new
toys. And II was the thought OF the
children, possibly, that made these
men and women SO light-footed, so
bubblingly joyous, so irnocently hap,
py. 1t made children Of them ana
they mingled with each other like
laughing rolicking boys and girls.
There was one vast department
store, nearly a block square and SIX
stories high, which sucked in vast
masses of the crowd. Pendant from
It's ceilings hung white moons OF llght
and under these density OF human
ity slowly swirled about the sparkling
laden counters. The air was over
warm with breathing, and Mingled
with the excitement of shuffling shoes
rattle of packages, and q hive hum
of talk and exclamations. The place
was electric with the push OF many
wills, the clash of desires, the imped-
ed hurry, the drawing near of closing
time 1873 had come and gone, and
yet the crowd was unsatistled; ~
hungered and strained ard ciamored
and struggled to get its fill.
One counter especially was besieg-
ed. AT this was sold little five cent
packages of snow" for Christmas
trees. Behind this counter stood Ma
mie Riggs, seventeen years old, thin,
emaciated, bloodless her face pale
and drawn ard wrinkled, her eyes
bloodshot, her lips trembling. AS she
made out checks, and received and
made change, and handled the enyel'
opes her hands yisibly, shook. Faces
crowded near her, leaned close, arms
lifted, fingers ierkeu near her eyes
"This snow?"
"Yes, ma am.
How much2"
Five cents"
"Only one for flye?'
Only one"
How much IN q package!
Idont know. ma'am.'
Don't knowl'
At least five voices Interrupted.
See here, want half dozen OF
these" Where's my changer" u
can't wait all night Isn't there
any one TO walt on me2" Say, III
speak to the floorwaiker II ! don't
get proper attention."
Mamie answered as best sne could
"Just minute. You said five
Six? Change hasn't come, cant heII
II, ma'aml Yes, it's five packagel
Snow, yes III wait on you In min
ute,
She spoke evenly in monotone
But she was doing her work mechani
caly In fact. Mamie wasn't "all
there" Her fingers, her lips kept
working but the real Mamie seemed In
trance Sunburst after sunburst