The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-05
CHRISTMAS NOW
SPIRIT OF HOUR
THRON0s OF PEOPLE. YOUNG AND
! OLD, RUSH TO MAKE
PURCHASES.
STORES ARE CROWDED
ALREADY THE ADVANCE BRIGADE
OF EARLY SHOPPERS IS
PREPARING AND
BUYING.

Queer bundles and curious children
are the order of these early Decem-
Der days, for the sisters and brothers
and cousins and the aunts. to say
nothing OF the king and queen OF the
festival. jolly old Santa and his wtfe.
are beginning TO do their Christmas
shopping. and thereby hangs the tale
in which mystery. thoughtfulness and
the Christmas spirit and cheer play
the leading roles. The stores are
filled with novelties and with the
stand bys, that, through the crises OF
former years, have proved their JOY
giving quality as Christmas gifts. and
have come to bear the same relation
to ones gift list that bread holds to
the grand ensemble OF the Christmas
dinner.
Manifest Good viii.
1t IL an acknowledged fact that the
crowd Of Christmas shoppers each
year is a merry. good-natured throng.
Perhaps this manifest good will IL an
echo OF the heart beats OF the three
Wise Men OF old. who brought to the
infant Christ their gifts Of gold, and
frankincense and myrrh. or II may be
the sense Of giving in the spirit that
the poet Lowell sang oil ~nen Ae
wrote those lines. mot what We give.
but what we share, for the gift with
out the giver Ii bare"
"r'.t whatever may be the cause,
whether It be either Of the former or
the knowledge that 'hs who feeds the
poor feeas three, himself, his nun
gering neighbor and Me-" the good
will of the yuletide shoppers. who are
now thronging the stores on Broad
street, Ia both apparent and infections.
Children Shoppers.
Foremost from the human interest
standpoint among the buyers Is the
little child, whose purchases are his
own selections, paid for from a caro-.
fully boarded store OF pennies, nickels
and dimes, whose possibilities to his
youthful mind are unlimited. With
what deliberation and secrecy he
chooses the articles that are to be
such pleasant surprises to the folk
of his family! His selections may
seem unusual to the grown-ups, but,
II viewed from every side. they nearly
always show some point that seemed
fancy, either because Of Its usefulness
or its facilities for play. and hencA
pleasure, to the little hopeful.
Next come the merry troup OF school
girls, who have Just 30 much that they
have saved from their weekly allow
ances for the long list of friends. that
includes Mary. because I sit with her
at school," or Sally because We al
ways play dolls together" or Louise
because we study together" and % or
through the list Of gtrlhood chums
Much care and planning II shown b,
these demure little maids, who otter
by making thnir presents with pain,
box and brush or the ever trusts
needle and thread Half hours are
skilfully saved from study and play
and little fingers run q race with tn,
twenty days or 30 that are left before
the tongues. that chatter 20 gaily whils
their owners sew. will call out Christ.
mas gift"
Grown Ups Shopping.
Now come the grown-ups ant
Santas, and great IL their number
Some have lists a. long as the shee
OF paper will hold Of toys their son!
bring. The drums. and guns, ant
hobby horses and horns. and dolls
and fire engines. ana trains, and 81
on through the list that one hear
every vera, are again In popula
favor The stores are regular toy
lands, and Jack in the boxes and til
soldiers nod their welcome to tn,
merry throng.
Mechanical toys. that have prove,
| 70 dear to the youth, and 20 prolin
| q field for he inventors genius, ar
aeain in the limelisht. There are en-
| gines large enough for baby boys 4
| ride In, and electric cars that ar
realistic in every detail The menag
| eric OF stuffed animals. wooden AMI
mails and tin Gnimals bears q strikinl
| resemblance to the really, truly xot
| and the collection Of species woul'
| put to shame any known animal shov
| In the country.
Busy Before the Rush.
| While enthusiasm In Christmas pur
| chases 10 not yet It its height, It 1
| pretty we'll advanced. ana secret con
| ferences at home. locked cupboard
| and doors, and lonely pilgrimages {
| Broad street are prevalent. Holly rib
bons, Christmas scala. and other yule
| tide accessories are scattered In con
fusion about my lady's sewing roor
| or boudoir. ready to add the finish
| ing touch to the various conceitx, sh<
| Ike all her sisters. II busy buyin
these days before tho rush begins.
l