Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-22
MYSTERY IN THE AIR
Christmas Gift Secrets" Be-
ing Well Kept.
ALL STORES ARE BUSY
Streets Crowded With Shoppers of
All Glasses.
ACTIVITY OF EXPRESS CLERKS
Post Office Also Kept Busy With
Holiday Packages-Big Vol
ume Of Business.
ACTIVITY OF EXPRESS CLERKS

Mystery, Mystery! Everybody is hid
ing secrets of some sort from everybody
else There is hustle of activity and
a-yoing and a-coming in every household
that has not happened for a twelve
month.
Little folks wonder at the many eva
sions of questions regarding strange
packages brought home by mater and
pater and elder brother and sister. They
wonder why they are so much in the
way these days. They wonder at locked
doors They wonder why they are not
wanted around and are put to bed SO
early.
Some of them suspect. And these wise
ones know that the spirit of Christmas is
abroad. and that the seeming neglect OF
these pre-holiday days will be amply COM
pensated by the surprises of "Wednesday
morning next.
Streets and stores in the shopping dis
trict were crowded yesterday and last
evening. The markets are thronged.
Presents and good cheer for material hu-
mainly We're being collected for the day
of days of all the year.
The early shoppers have done their full
gty, but having spent themselves out
sly in the Christmas buying game.
T. enjoy it, and find somewhere
my or so TO buy something for some
is who might have been forgotten had
A sence of "Spugs' Noted.
There are apparently no "spugs" in
Washington. The Society. for the Pre-
rention of Useless Giving is a New York
variety of thrift and practical selfshness
Lat has not hit the National Capital.
Everybody is giving every body else who
lives in this kindly city of generous peo-
PIE, and whether they are children or
whether they are grown-ups doesn
count.
Yesterday wa sanother ideal day for be-
Ing out and about looking over the display
of Christmas gifts. And good weather
has been given to buyers and merchants,
with few rare exceptions, throughout
the pre-Christmas season.
The stocks in the department stores
look fresh and attractive, despite the
crowds that have been lowering about
the counters and handling desirable pur-
ehases for DAYS and days, and weeks and
weeks. There are many novelties; many
things never seen or heard or Defore TINS
Christmas; many new toys, many new
sim-cracks and gew-gaws, many new
sorts of finery and massachusetts all
the good old things the same year In
wear out that have persisted because
there is nothing better of the sort.
Christmas trees mistletoe and holly
green and plants are plentiful in the mar
kets for Yuletide decoration. Tne moran
display is profuse. And the goodies are
calculated to make dySpepuc mouth
water with appetite Some of the Things
10 eat cost lot of money-yeS; but
everybody seems to have all the money
that they need to get what they want
Scenes of Bustle.
Comparatively speaking, "Its all going
out and nothing coming in at the post
office and express offices. incident to the
Christmas rush.
? BY Tuesday the volume of business Will
be reversed and 1t is estimated that to-
morrow the packages coming In ana
going out will be about the same in guam
tity. Tomorrow it is expected, will be
the heaviest day of the season, both Tor
the postmen and the expressmen.
Business so far this year is per cent
heavier in the post office than at the same
time last year. Mail and express VIII pile
up in the office over Sunday but accord
ing to the present outlook 1t will be
cleared out in anticipation of the final
squirt Tuesday.