Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-04
CHRISTMAS JAMS
FINE ON A TABLE,
BUT NOT In STORE
Early Shoppers, Like Proven
bal Bird, Have First
Choice of Gifts and E.s-
cape Big Crowds.

Two obvious advocates of the shop
early crusade stopped at a 5o-cent table
In one of the shops where had been placed
q conglomerate collection of articles de-
signed especially to catch the eye OF the
Christmas shopper.
There were many tasty, dainty gifts
among them, but the women with tho un-
failing instinct that sorie people have.
pounced upon the verf ugllest in the
group. One picked up a glaring red to-
nato made of china. the purpose of which
was to hold pins. The other selected a
chemical glass tube affair disguised in a
cyochoted dress Of grass green-a hat-pin
holder
"Tbe very thing for Mary" said woman
No. 1.
"And see what I'VE got for Gweholden,"
said No. >.
Poor Mary, poor Gwenolden," said a
passerby; but there's no accounting for
tastes, as the old lady remarked when she
kissed the cow"
Being a street corner Santa Claus has
many disadvantages, particularly II the
Illusion of the little girl and little boy
pedestrians are to be preserved. The Kris
\Ningle individual who stands at the cor
ncr OF 18th and Chestnut streets was en-
bcrrassed today and the adorinR young
ster who stood silently watching him was
considerably shocked when a gust of wind
awirled around the corner and tore the old
gontlemans long white beard from its, in
secure moorings, thus Transforming
henefcent-looking countenance into one
of incredible ferocity The little boy
n. T..
Santa not a Santa? The answer is an
easy one. When he hasn't long white
beard.
BY their shoes and sensible clothes you
may know theml The sensible Christmas
shopper wears flat-heeled boots small
lightweight hat, a heavy topcoat which
can be removed in the warm stores, and
she usually carries shopping bag, so
that her small purchases need not be
iptrusted to the department store de-
livery.
Speaking of removing the outer wrap
while shopping, most of the big stores
provide a cloak and parcel room during
the holiday season for the convenience
of their patrons. Here women may come
and divest themselves of their heavy coats
and encumbering parcels and give them
selves over to buying their gifts, Sc
cure in the thought that when they fare
forth into tho cold streets again they
will not be inviting pneumonia by having
had to wear their furs and coats in the
feverish rush and tear of the Christmas
jams.
One of the best arguments that the
shop-early crusaders are advancing Is,
in the opinion of a foor-walker who Is
the presiding genius over one OF the bar
gain territories in a large store, the selfish
argument that the early bird has an In
estimable advantage over her sister who
procrastinates.
"Conslder the proposition from the view
point of health" said he. THE woman
who comes early avoids, to a certain ex-
tent the rush. The nervous strain of
shopping in a hurry with long waits for
change and packages cannot be over
stated.
lust look at the faces OF the women
as they crowd round the counters in
belated endeavor to complete their pur-
chases. elbowing each other with small
show of courtesy, and becoming for the
nonce primitive creature with all the 20th
century veneer rubbed off. Sec the lines
of tension into which their faces are
screwed and you have the best argument
that was ever advanced for an early,
ieIsurely Christmas shopping.
Leaving the poor tired saleswoman out
OF the question. there's another selfish
reason for getting the purchasing over
with, and that is the early buyer gets
the best bargains. She has the first
choice. The stock is fresh and crisp. the
clerks are not nearly so busy, and there
is time to decide between this and that
and the other thing. Many people are
beginning to realize it, but I suppose as
long as women are women there will
always be the latecomers TO contend
with"