The Detroit times., 1910-12-22
TRADE
GREATEST EVER
Present Season Breaks All Records,
Local Merchants Say-Better Grade
OF Goods Purchased, Too.

If Jolly old Kris Kringle does not
have hump on his back from the
weight OF his pack this year it will
not be the fault OF Detroit folk, for
local merchants say that never IN
their business history has the buyins
of holiday gifts been SO large.
The buying OF holiday goods be-
gan early in November and~has Kept
up steadily ever since said the rep
resentative of one large Woodward
ave department store. And the class
OF goods purchased is OF a better
grade than ever before. People do
not want cheap things any more. Just
because they are cheap. They de-
mand good articles and OF course, the
lowest prices commensurate WIN
quality. The close observer knows,
100, that buyers study more ana
more the individual tastes OF those
for whom the gift is intended.
This increasing discrimination IN
demand has created a more discrin-
NATIVE supply and the manuiacluI'
ers are turning out far more artsuc
goods In every line than was the case
a few years ago There is less pure
" ornamental stuff in both personal
and household goods sold now IMAM
in former years, people seeming 10
prefer the practical and useful. IN
less an article has a distinct use IL Il
seldom purchased, and the old-tme
folde-rols which used 10 Clntter mp
the house have gone. no one knows
whittier but let us hope never TO re-
turn. And yet. the practical has not
superseded the. sentimental side OF
Christmas giving by any means. We
have sold carloads OF toys for the
children and | think merchants all
over the city who deal in toys or
( childrens goods generally, VIII agree
that the trade this year has been eX-
ceptionally good
! In the recent past Detroit has add
! ell TO her business enterprises many
small shops devoted exclusively 10
one or two lines of goods and these
places, too. say that the holiday buy
! ing of 1910 has been most satisfac-
tory.
People like artistic and unusual
goods. and if you can offer them
something just a little different TO
the ordinary store they jump al the
chance 10 buy declared the brisk
! woman owner of one OF these exclu-
sive shops.
The biz fur stores are enjoying the
briskest kind OF trade, thanks 10 Dame
| Fashion. who decreed that the present
| season should be one of 1urs. and that
| the woman who did not garb herself
! for the street in imitation of a bear or
| fox could not be considered strictly
f.. lin IT, Fur, too. must appear on the
most diaphanous of evening gowns, SO
yards and yards Of ermine. mink, lynx,
sable and the other expensive pelts
which appear on miladis gown like
wise enrich the cash register of the
| fur merchant The jewellers have
nothing to complain Of either. accord
| ing To their own testimony. In this
city OF millionaires many Jewels are
| bought. while gold and silver plate and
| elaborate china are found on many u
family buffet
The merchants who purvey Christ
mas table delicacies declare that the
best is none too good for their Gus
toners and Detroit's Christmas din
ner tables will be loaded with the
weight OF their good things.
In the midst of this prodigal pur-
chasing for those to whom gifts are
sent with affection is a strong and
thoughtful note OF remembrance for
the poor and the sick and the unior-
tunate. The delivery departments Of
the stores could tell many a story Of
packages that will find their way into
the homes of the poor through the
pf minimum erfvare Tho
Christmas gift of good will toward all
men seems 70 have loosened every
purse string. and the Christmas of
1910 will go down into history as one
of unusual good fellowship