The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-20
MADAME RICHMOND
|. ON CHRISTMAS TOUR
sRoPs AND STORES HAVE BEEN
SCENES OF GREAT ACTIVITY
ALL THE PAST WEEK.
GIFT BUYING GALORE
STORES FILLED WITH EVERY
IMAGINABLE ARTICLE FOR THE
ANNUAL OFFERING DE
sCRIPTION OF SCENES.
GIFT BUYING GALORE

Such a gay and excited crowd Of
shoppers as Broad Street holds these
crisp December days! Madame or
Miss Richmond land even sometimes
Mr.. Richmond) is out to find the very
prettiest gift for the verX best friend
In the world, and, wrapped in the
warmest of furs and dressed in the
smartest of clothes, all the big stores
and the dainty specially shops are
searched.
And such an aliuring outlay as
there is this season from which to
make a selection. do your Christ
mas shopping early may be a wise.
sensible siogan-but who wants to be
wise and sensible at the most exciting
time of the year? Without the hustle
and hustle. the wild scurry to manu-
facture a git at the last moment for
some overlooked cousin or friend. the
sitting UP until the wee sma' hours
finishing some bit---wtthout all these,
who would enjoy the holiday season
nearly as much: and who ever saw an
ilf-humored Christmas crowd? one
asks advice from total STRANGERS and
lauEhs at overheard conversations In
true and joyful holiday spirit. and a
feeling of fellowship and good will Is
manifested between the little newsie
asking for pennies for the fund" and
milady in sealskin coat that is not
shown at any other season.
Happiness Is Catching.
From the crisp out-of- door crowd
one enters the shops, crowded also.
and with the same cheerful happy
folk. And who could help being
happy, surrounded by the many beau
tiful things of every kind and descrip-
ton that tempt one to reach Just a
wee bit too far down into a shabby
es cent purse or a heavy gold mesh
bag, as the case may be?
Coming down Broad Street we are
afraid to pass a single shop; each
might hold the evry gIt wanted for
that best friend in the world.
AT a florists shop they are show
ing most attractive gift--a potted
plant called the Ardesia. little known
except to those well-versed in fiori-
culture. and cultivated by these for
lists Just for the Christmas season. II
is small plant with glossy green
foliage resembling holly leaves and
In iivid with clusters OF scarlet berries
Radiance roses, Of a new and glori-
GUS shade of pink, with stems as long
as the American Beauty rose, and
Rheinneck violets made an
ton here against background of
giant ferns.
Wonderful China Creations.
For those who feel they wish to
give something of more lasting value
than flowers, at store a little below
the florists. the most wonderful pat
terms in English Minton china are
shown. This china is very durable.
consisting of ninety per cent bone,
- -
the patterns is most artistic. Be
sides this they have the old Chinese
Bird" pattern in dinner sets. which
was originated in 1870 tthe design OF
which translated means love. peace
and happiness'D, and William Adams
blue and white sets. In the quaintest
shapes, Old decanters. vases and
glasses In Bohemian glass of deep
ruby color with crystal engraving also
make the eager shoppers gasp with
pleasure.
That Longing Look.
small boy was looking so yearn
ingly in the window of one shop that
curiosity impelied one 10 find out whas
was interesting him. A number of
bicycles in Ill the latest makes, wit
improvements. and a large. powerful
looking motorcycle, were displayed
in the window. One could almost pic
ture the hubby legs of the envious
youngster reaching for the pedals of
the shiniest bicycle. If Santa Claus
only saw him looking. 4 set Of toy
wicker furniture in another window
would make any little girl wild with
joy. as would one OF the character
dolls whose faces express every emo
ton ever seen on a "really-truly"
baby's face. Then there are trunks
for the lady dalfs wardrobe, COM
plete even to the hat boxes. and. by
the way. the most adorable French
millinery for these same lucky
ladies'" in all the latest coIors and
designs.
For the Debutante.
For the debutante daughter there
are the daintiest and cheapest dane
Ing frocks in one little 'ready-made
clothes shop. One that was quite
reasonable and entirely fascinating
was fashioned OF Nile green louisine
silk, the skirt being formed by num-
bers of tiny ruffics and flexible hoop.
actually. around the cotton. The
waist consisted OF a tight camisole Of
the silk, with shoulder straps OF the
same. and . garland Of French flowers
finished OF the bodice The same shop
is making a feature Of scented afti-
fcial flowers that look SO real and
-
hardly believe they are OF silk. An
other store Is showing such odd, mid
winter suits OF covert-cloth in a sand
or putty color. and little hats for tea
dances and theaters In transparent
gold lace erimmed with touch of
fur or one bright flower. which any
member Of the fair sex would like to
haze of the Christmas tree.
This Is just Too Lovely.
One jewelry store has bangle
bracelets. consisting Of four or five
small bangles fastened together by
clasp. and cigarette lighters in gold or
silver that really light. Another has
cigarette holders in amber and gold.
octagonal shaped gold opera watches
featured by their thinness and light
ness, and full dress watch chains In
platinum ana pearls for the fashions
able dilettante, For the traveller q
clock and perpetual calendar COM
bined In compact leather case 10 Z
most acceptable gift, and may be had
at this Same shop very reasonably.
The most original gift idea is BEING
shown in one Of the art stores. It ID
considered the thing for the moment
to disguise ones phone-so tor this
a simpering lady with . slim waist