Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1913-12-24
LITTLE FOLKS AWAIT
ARRIVAL OF SANTA
Old ST. Mich, With Bundle on
Back, Bound This Way.
JOYOUS SEASON ON HAND.
Weeks Of Preparation at an End,
Business Has Been Good, and
Everybody Is Happy.
JOYOUS $50 on HAND.
Nc Is Christmas Eve.

I uSnef IN Inc greatest OF al days IN
the year, and the unspeakable JOY
/ that has been rampant for weeks will
have reached the point of efferves-
cence by tonight. The spirit of the
season has pervaded every sphere.
It's greatest JOY is that which comes
to the hearts of the children, but
this is spontaneously conveyed to the
older folks until it becomes a general
| iubilation in anticipation Of the fes-
tive occasion.
The weeks Of preparations that
have been made by hundreds of resi-
dents Of the city saw the ssmi-cli-
max today, for in spite Of the "shop
early and avoid the rush slogan,
there were many who had delayed in
procuring a remembrance for some
relative OF friend and as result the
streets were crowded with the belat-
ed shoppers throughout the day But
the finale comes tonight, when the
little tots, bubbling over with their
joyous anticipation, will be tucked
away in their downy little beds TO
await the coming of SsiAt Nick"
that grand old fellow, who is out
on his annual pilgrimage, and will
visit their households tonight.
Hundreds of stockings will be dang
ling from mantle pieces, bed posts or
the walls, as the case may be, wait
ing for the coming of Santa, and re-
ceiving their allotment of candies,
fruits and other good things, not 70
mention the bob-sleds, carriage 8,
baby dolls big beds. hobby horses
and other things.
While there We're many belated
shoppers vending their way back
and forth among the stores, buying
additional presents, most of today's
preparations we're devoted to provid-
ing for the feast of good things that
go with the Christmas dinner. The
Christmas rush began weeks ago,
and if the crowds on the streets dur
ing the past week can be taken as a
criterion, those of the merchants who
! were venting a not unusual complaint
Of a dull season, were wrong in their
calculations.
Inquiries of several of the leading
stores today, in fact, brought replies
Of satisfaction over results of the
holiday business. There is no dis
claiming the fact, however, that
many of the city's residents did much
Of their shopping in Baltimore. But
the local stores that have toy de-
partments, did a rushing business.
/ A glance at the display windows
of these places will substantiate
this They were sold out days ago.
Down in the market, there were
signs of much activity. And it was
we'll stocked with all kinds Of poul-
try, and other ioodstuffs that com.
bine to make Jack" have a long.
ing for that Christmas dinner oi
turkey plum pudding and the trim.
! mings. There was plentiful supply
of turkeys in the market, and the
country folks, as well as the buck
sters, found ready sale for the fowl,
at prices ranging from % tC
to 32 cents per pound Those
| whose means. or taste, were not {
ward the holiday fowl, found plenty
of chicken, ducks, rabbits. ETC., from
which to take their pick for the mair
/ dish of the big feast
1t is needless to mention the quan.
tity of greens. There was plenty Of
mistletoe, as we'll IS holly, and sl
far as trees are concerned. there wa,
a multitude Of cedsrs and pines, anC
those who glory in decorated tire,
! at Christmas time, had no difficulty
in making the desired provision.
Tomorrow will be generally OBJ
| served as a holiday. Very few, Il
any, Of the business houses viii
open their doors at all during IN,
day. The drug stores will, a.
usual, be open, but even the pro
prietors Of these dispensaries vii
close their dours for at least
portion of the day. The postofiic,
will observe the usual holiday
hours. State, ooanty and municipa
Offices will be closed. so that ell {
the working forces may rave thr
full day Off.
| Christmas gifts, in the way d
| turkeys, money or other forms 81
remembrances, were today distribute,
BY the proprietors Of many business
establishments among their en-
ployees, and the latter did not for
get their bosses'' either. At tai
Naval Academy the holiday will b,
general. Not only will all of thD
midshipmen be given the usual libei
| ty privileges, but there viii be gener
al cessation of operations along 81
lines at the Government reservation
This means that all employee IS
| except a short working force, tha
viii DO duty in shifts, will be able (
I Evail-themseives Of the holiday. tn
exodus Of members of the first elias
Of midshipmen who have been give
most liberal holiday. began thi
/ afternoon AN seniors who measure,
up to the requirements, both ia de
pertinent and efficiency, have bee
1 PERMITTED 70 leave the city 10 visf
relatives and friends until eseoinl
roll call Sunday. snd there was scarce
Is handful of the class who did 40
qualify.
Religious services will be held i
ths Chapel In the morning, but uno