Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-20
MARKETS ARE BOWERS
OF CHRISTMAS GREENS
Good-Natured "Auntfes" Display
Holly, Cedar and
MistIetoe.
ELEVENTH HOUR
SHOPPING
Stores Arc Ransacked for Unique
and Desirable Presents OF All
sorts-Many People Make Clever
Gifts at Home.

"Ynss'm. lady! Any thing yuh want?
Yass'm. got 'em all--nice' red holly
berries. mistiss!"
Each Of the good-natured dolored
aunties along the sidewalk outside Of
Sixth Street Market held out her wares
convincingly to the passers-by: and,
sure enough. they've certainly got 'em
ALL" Never within memory have there
been &c many berries on a single branch
OF holly-and the mistletoe drops, re-
sembling many moonstones. fairly
weight the boughs.
Stunted Virginia pines and scores OF
other evergreens line the sides Of the
street In the vicinity of Sixth and Mar
shall, and the stands of flower vendors
near Broad looked more like Easter than
Christmas. Despite rather ominous
grayness in the skies and noticeable
rising OF the temperature threatening
rain, II was Enthusiastically Christmas
here. Even the polite fiction Of the
shoppers who has decided TO have pork
roast this year for the Christmas din
ner when replying to the man who was
trying to sell her n turkey. sounded
like holiday white lie"
MUCH ELEvENTH-HDUR
SHOPPING Is BEING DONE
mo. thank you. Mr.. Blank" she said.
smiling. Il am SO sorry not to give
you my order but have already given
1t TO farmer"
Yes. nam! Thank you MAN," said
he, and turning to O fellow clerk, AN
other down on her luck reckon. Well,
their little stories help 'em keep. up
their pridelike. She's got a boy in
college. Keeping him there herself.
That's why there ion't going to be a
turkey for her Christmas dinner!''
There is much eleventh-hour sohp-
ping being done. All day long until
tho doors closed the crowds damned
In and out OF the Broad Street shops.
The mons departments were filled
with pretty girls looking for his gift"
In a great many instances this proved
to be one Of the popular fancy boxes
containing a pair Of silk hose and two
ties to match. From all appearances
every young man In Richmond will
wear foot and neckwear of the same
tone for at least a month after Christ
mas-but that Is letting the cat out Of
the bag.
For her. the gift varies. Sometimes
IT is a diamond solitaire set In plati-
mum. II she is not quite 80 near as that
one of tile new little finger rings is the
thing Santa Claus has planned for her
around with seed pearls tiny d,a-
monds.
SOME UNIQUE
GIFTS BEING SHOWN
Then comes in order. the coppercha
mig dish. combined alcohol and cleo
trio: or copper vase. For the wom-
an who loves flowers one OF the favor
lite gifts is n basket of the water grow
ing bulbs, and an attractive stone or
crystal bowl. She will plant her lilies
on Christmas day and then long before
the first spring shoots of grass are
seen she Will have full blooming
plant of unusual beauty.
The wicker and leather garden bas-
ket fully equipped with tools is an
other useful gift for tho flower lover.
In Christmas shopping II must be re-
membered that the gift does not need
TO be seasonable in the strict sense Of
,he word. Something OF value for next
summer is just as appropriate as an
overdose of Christmas candy.
hospitality invoking gift is a brass
tea cRddy and a package OF Russian
tea In Richmond, in addition to the
usual places to find the unusual, there
is the Womans Exchange and numer-
Gus other little places where the indi-
vidual taste will be satisfied.
In the homes clever fingers are fash
ionlng wonderful things. Those who
are fortunate enough to understand
| rafiia weaving as we'll as fine sewing
are working against thine to be ready
| by Christmas Eve.