New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-22
SANTA GOES SHOPPING
Department Stores and Street
HuCksterS Reap Harvest.
SPUGS IN EVIDENCE
Staple Goods, Such as Cloth
ing, Furniture, Etc, More in
Demand than Ever Before.

Santa Claifs. as eNcmplliied by bundie-
carrying fathers and mothers and sisters
and brothers. had glorious time yestcr-
day. The saint had money. for II was
payday. and he scattered his chcer-givlng
shekels about the large department stores,
and then, when he hal finally braved tho
jam to the swinging doors leading TO IN"
street me- fell an easy prey to the toy
hucksters.
Inside the biz stores there was scarce
lv breathing space. let alone space TO
turn around and this was doubtless why
It seemed TO one standing on the side
walk that everybody was going Tn AMI
nobody coming out. Just inside the door
Of one Of the biz establishments stood
placid Individual patiently directing the
throng which surgcd around him.
"How's business this year, he was
asked
Third aisle over. TO your left" he re-
sponded. "Er-oh. business? Fine. fine;
couldn't be better. Never anything Ike
Il before. See that stream coming in the
door? Well. they've been coming like
that all day. Looks TO me as II they'd
keep coming all night Enamel ware?
Rear Of the basement-stairs by the e'e-
vatcr.
What arc they buying most? Well as
! stand here. II seems as II every third
person who comes in wants either leather
goods or burnt wood articles. Why they
should be after burnt wood 30 ravenously
Is beyond me-"
A little further on at another OF the
Zig stores the head of the merchandise
department was approached.
business he repeated. IT'S the best
year on the street. Nothing has ever
touched It. except perhaps 1905. Means
prosperity.
THAT Spug movement seems 10 have
touched 'em, too. They're after the sta
pie articles -furs. clothing. blankets.
linoleums and furniture. ! guess the late
ness OF the season has something 10 do
with that too"
II wasn't only the big stores that were
doing business, either. The little ones In
between were all alight with activity.
Sidewalk stands, which had sprung up
overnight. were retailing postcards. toys.
suspenders and even furs for fair hands
and shoulders. One enterprising mer-
chant had a booth hung with steel spring
eAercisers.
Here v arer he called. "A complete
two-and-a half outfit. builds you up.
makes you strong; take your exercise be
Tor. treakfas;-all for IS cents
over in the corner OF one OF the five
and-ten-cent stores in the district, close
by the door that let Ia a never ending
throng. stood tall. thin figure In the
blue-gray OF a private officer. Ills hair
WAS white and his face tanned with many
summers. but his eyes betrayed him 10
be philosopher. Some one mentioned
trouble To him. He chucbed.
Two or three" he answered vaguely.
"One woman ! caught going out of the
door with several things all I'm one bag.
| spotted her right away. because every
article In this store must he wrapped up
separately. II was 30 easy II was
shame / took her back and made her
sign statement that she was mo-
torious thief That scared her enough
let her 90 after that
Most OF EN- are too happy spending
money TO steal You know, ! THINK
person has to be little insane TO really
enjoy himself Look at 'em there They're
all crazy about spending and they're just
as happy as YOU make EN-. They tell me
they can count the people In New YORK.
don't believe H. They've been coming
like that all day. and this Is only one
store. Think OF ali the stores there are
i'm New York. No, sir. you couidn ever
count cm-not If you TOOK year at It,