The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-23
Broad Street One Great Mass
of Swirling Humanity. Form
ing Largest Crowd Wide
Thoroughfare Has Ever Seen
Display of Fashions
One: of Rare Beauty
Mayor Ainslie Sets Off Big
Rocket Giving Signal for
Flash of Myraids of Lights
all Blending into One Great
Dazzling Flare Illuminating
Surging Throng
Dame Fashion reigns,
Fashion Show Week is on,

Dame Fashion reignsi
Fashion Show Week is on!
simultaneously with the rise of the
giant rocket set in motion by Mayor
George Aiuslie just as Big Ben tolied
the first stroke Of 8 last night, red
fire cleaned from every corner in the
retail shopping district on Broad and
Main streets. and curtains to myriad
shop windows rolled up. while count
less sidewalk showcases. screened all
day from observation, were unveiled"
AS the official rocket cleft the sky.
leaving it's 1urid trail of fire. the great
multitude which pressed close to the
spot where the official ceremony took
place cheered to the echo. and then
surged on up Broad and down to Main
streets to see the show and do win
dow shopping" for the stores were
not opened for trade,
Broad Street Throngcd.
Broad street never held a greater
crowd-men, women and children,
They surged to and fro restlessly up
-afsa-aeWh t sidewalks long before
the hour appointed for the inaugu-
ration of the show, and before Mayor
Ainslie had performed his official act,
the crowds had packed the middle OF
the thoroughfare for many blocks in
a seething but good -natured mass of
humanity. that congested traffic and
held up street cars for a mile. 1t was
sight not soon to be forgotten.
portion of the crowd waited
around the Official corner to see
the finish Of the fireworks display, but
no hull 5f t.yap Ia1 " rf.@
to the glare of red fire and the lights
of the Great White Way---lt was no
use 10 be In hurry-up Broad street
to see what Dame Fashion had pre-
pared for them in the shop WIN
dows.
Traffic Congested.
A perfect procession OF automobiles
and other vehicles--most of which
brought Richmond's country cousins
10 town-helped to congest traffic and
the traffic policemen. for once were
nom plussed. For an hour or more
the Broad street congestion continued.
and then the pressure was relieved by
the gradual easing of the crowds down
into the Main street shopping center.
The crowd seemed never weary of in.
specting the windows, and long before
the early window shoppers had wend-
ed their way homeward the theaters
were pouring their audiences into the
streets to add to the congested con-
ditions and to the gayety of the scene.
And the theatergoers fingered to look
TOO.
When ii comes to shop windows and
styles. Paris has nothing on Rich
rnond--at least not this week The
stores have prepared shows that are
not only delight to feminnity but
one upon which the eyes of mere man
may feast with longing
Many Visitors Here.
The advance guard of visitors be-
gan arriving early yesterday morning
and the hotel registers show that they
are coming from every nook and cor.
ner Of the State. Hundreds will come
today and tomorrow and while there
is no officials registration list. 1t Is
expected that during the week Rich
mond will entertain thousands OF
visitors.
All the big stores and all the smaller
ones are in holiday attire. The win
dow dressers have done their work
well and with rare taste, and the wish
tors will find many novel and unique
designs in the decorative schemes.
What appeals most strongly to the
feminine heart, however. is the fact
that in everything TO adorn the per-
son or the home the down to-the-
minute styles are shown in the most
appealing way.
"The big show has started off
splendidly" said Secretary W. A.
Clarke. of the Retail Merchants as
ISOLATION. last night, land all indica-
tons point To its entire success and
a realization of our fondest hope.
do not believe any city OF near its
size in the country could make finer
showing or one that Is attracting more
interest than the Richmond stores
present tonight. The indications are
that the crowds Will be larger even
than we anticipated and l think the
vast majority of these people are
coming not only to see but to buy"
Expect Heavy Sales.
The merchants expect quick sales
following the opening. Both the local
people and the advance guard of the
visitors will have time to look around
today and then buying will begin tn
earnest. BY the end of the week the
pick OF the fall and winter styles will
probably have been disposed Of.
Richmond is the sixth city in tina
United States to have a fashion show
week The idea originated in Los
Angeles and was SO successful that
Providence. Kansas City. Dayton. In-
iianapolis and Cincinnati are now i'm
augurating them. The central idea.
OF course. is that all the retail stores
in every line shall have their fall and
winter openings during the same
week for the obvious mutual dement's
accrulng TO 10th customer ana ner.
chant.
The Fashion Show Week win come
To an end with more pyrotechnic1 gA1I
midnight Friday. In the meanttun4
both the local and out-of-town sAApsa
pers have the feast offered ~ -
marta Of trade spread out et