Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-11-22
A HOLIDAY FOREWORD
Some Pertinent Suggestions to the
People of Winneshiek
County.
WHAT DECORAH HAS TO OFFER
Bf1ef Review OF Preparations Made
For holiday Trade by the
Business Houses OF
the City.

1t is an old saying, do your
Christmas shopping early" and If
PEOPLE could only realize the adyant-
ages to be gained by following lis
advice, the bulk of the shopping for
the hol days would be over by the
middle of December, but most peo-
PIE wait until the last week before
| Christmas, and then they have to
take wlsafeyer the busy clerks offer.
There is no time to look over the
stocks, which by that time become
! depleted, and in the rush customers
often purchase Things they other
wise would pass by. This is not
Satisfactory either to the merchant
or the buyer, and often much un-
| pleasantness arises.
The local merchants have purchas-
ed large stocks of goods for the noli-
day season, in anticipation Of a ban
ner Christmas trade. Goods have
been coming in for several weeks
rast and are still arriving. Most of
our merchants have been to Chicago
and other markets to give the buying
OF holiday goods their personal at
tention, and all stocks are new and
/ OF better quanty than ever before
shoWniin Decorah. Many of the re-
cent purchases have arrived and are
| DelnS nlsplayed on shelves AMI in
| snow eases, and they range from
hye cent toys to the most expensive
furs, suits, and jewelry. This years
stock OF holiday goods shows lack
or cheap and shoddy goods, and all
offerings are se2sonable and of the
best make.
TIE clothing stores never contain
ed such stocks as they are showing
this season, and in addition to the
ready 10 wear clothes. fur coats. ears
and hats, they carrv a large line of
useful articles. such as handker-
chiefs, 'es and other goods suitable
Tor Christmas presents.
The dry goods scores carry dress
goods of many different styles and
qualities, together with suits of ey-
cry known description. street dresses,
travelling dresses, and in fact dre sss
for every occasion. Never before
nave been shown here such rich furs
as the Decorah dry goods merchants
are displaying. Then there are
large stocks of coats, cloaks AMI
Jackets Uf the best quality and all
are so priced that one need loon no
further for bargains. Besides, they
carry full line of Christmas gifts.
The jewelry stores of Decorah will
compare favorably with those in
cities of 100000 population, and not
many stocks in the larger cities will
equal those of the FOCAL merchants.
diamonds, watches, rings. pins and
novelties in jewelry are TO be had at
prices to suit the customers purse.
Never before have there been shown
such stocks of silverware and cut
glass. all of the latest design and OF
the best make. A visit to these
stores will convince anyone that they
need look no fuluaer for rich and
elegaits goods for Christmas pres
entS.
The shoe stores are stocked TO the
limit with the finest footwear that
was ever shown in DecoIah and the
dealers are offering special bargains
for the holiday trade. They carry
only the best makes and all goods
are new and up-to-date. Shoes are
always desirable present, and all
such wants can be supplied by the
Decorah merchants.
Now, as to furniture, there is no
city four times the size of Decorah,
where such large and elegant stocks
are shown. We do not believe that
there are any better stocks in Iowa.
Our dealers are old in the business,
and know the wants of the people,
and have bought accordingly, know
ing that their patrons want the best
goods to be mad, and that the de-
S'gns must be of the latest. Such
goods you will find in the furniture
| stores of Decorah. They also carry
large stocks of the richest carpets,
rugs and tapestry, and these goods
are all new and OF the latest designs
and the best quality. They have a
large assortment OF beautiful pic
| lures. framed and unframed, and TO
accommodate their customers who
wish to have pictures framed, they
have added new equipment for do
ing the work. as we'll as large stocks
of framing material.
The drug stores are we'll stocked
with holiday goods. both useful and
ornamental. thai VIII make delight
full gifts. These articles range from
cut glass and toilet requisites 10
TOYS and novelties. The local drug
I SAStS navy HcNcI Cdl iltu SuCli a
assortment OF holiday goods. and
Christmas shoppers will find that
they can have their wants in this
line supplied satisfactorily and at
reasonable prices.
In the hardware stores will be
found many things that would de-
light men and boys. The dealers
have stocked up with heavy line of
cutlery, guns, skates, sleds and trap
ring outfits, and the ladies, in buying
Christmas gifts for the male mem
bers of the household, slould not
overlook the hardware stores. In
addition TO the articles named, these
dealers carry full stocks of shelf and
heavy hardware, as we'll as tools.
that might come under the head of
| luxuries.
! AT the variety stores there are TO
be found the largest stocks of goods
OF the class kept in such places. ever