The Washington herald., 1913-11-23
SHOPPING
FOR XMASURGED
Retail Merchants Associa-
ton DweIls on Advantages
to Be Derived.
STORES WELL STOCKED
Work Of Committee Named to Try to
Obtain Better Lighting Of
Streets Commended.

There are twenty-six days to Christmas
and the Retail Merchants Association
\ las gotten down TO brass tacks" in its
campaign TO keep the buying public ad-
vised of the desirability Of shopping early
for Christmas.
/ The stocks of the Washington stores
are now at their best in comprehensive
ness of assortment and individuality of
display. Full lines are shown by all the
stores The public is waking up to the
fact that Il is desirable to make early
selection of Christmas gifts Recipients
are especially appreciative where indi-
yiduality is shown by the giver rather
than a haphazar1 last-minute selection
that may hit or miss in irs appeal on
Christmas morn.
| II is the constant aim of Washington
merchants to satisfy their customers.
and the proprietors and managers of
/ local stores never were better prepared
to do that very thing than now. Shop
ping at present can be made delight
| full experience. The retail merchants OF
Washington have expended thousands of
dollars in beautifying their establish
ments, which is made patent to All In
the beautiful offerings which have been
had during the month.
Efficiency is the watchword among
the members of the Retail Merchants
Association. The stores regard them
selves as the servants of the public and
aim 10 please in all respects. The shop
ping public can best be satisfied II II
shops early for Xmas"
The association has ordered 500 shop
Early for Xmas" pennants, which will
be distributed to members Of the asso-
ton, beginning tomorrow morning, for
use on their delivery wagons and cars.
These pennants are nine by twenty-five
inches in size, and of red felt with
white lettering
Members of the Retail Merchants As
ISOLATION wero greatly interested in the
activities of the special committee repre-
senting the association at a hearing be-
fore the District Commissioners Tuesday
morning November IS when the Com
missioners were strongly urged to take
immediate steps for the better lighting
of the streets in the heart Of the business
district-from Pennsylvania Avenue to
New York Avenue inclusive, and from
Seventh to Fifteenth Streets
The Committee, through oral argument
and letters, pointed out to the District
Commissioners that there is need for
more light in the section indicated. With
the great growth of the National Capital
the downtown section is more and more
becoming the rendezvous OF tine public,
not only in the day time but in the even
ings as well. This condition is brought
about by the very equitable climate that
Washington enjoys. bringing many to the
downtown sections for promenade, and
from the fact that in the section from
which lighting Improvements are asked
there are a great many activities in the
evenings that attract large numbers of
people.
1t Is declared to be a matter Of concern
to the citizens of Washington generally
that the streets in the heart of the city
are not better lighted. and 1t is expected
that the District Commissioners will take
early and practical cognizance of this
need.
The monthly report Of Secretary
Charles ]. Columbus on the operations of
the Retail Merchants Association, which
reached the members during the week,
has been heartily commended by the
business men. II is announced that the
credit and collection bureau has made
formidable strides and is a permanent
feature of the organization. The monthly
reports OF the association to its members
are brimful of detailed information of
each phase of the organizations activi-
ties, and are declared to be much appre-
ciated by the membership at large.
Special effort is being made to encour-
age the establishment of the proposed
government armor plant in, or adjacent
to the District of Columbia Its estab-
lishment mere would not only be a dis
tinct advantage to the government. but
to the city Of Washington as well, with
the consequent outlay of thousands of
dollars annually for the maintenance of
the plant.