Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-13
TWELVE DAYS LEFT
IN v HIGH TO Do
CHRISTMAS BUYING
10 YOUR SHOPPING EARLY" IS
THE SlOGAN-OTTAWA STORES
OFFER THE BEST THAT THE
MARKET AFFORDS - BUY At
HOME.

II may dawn upon the conscious
ness OF the average citizen as he
wakes in the morning that it is only
twelve days that be will open his
eyes upon another Christmas morn
ing. The corollary to this fact is
that he must not delay in preparing
tor The eventual day by making instant
plans for his gift.pivinp.
As in former years Ottawa stores
will offer and are offering the best
that the markets afford in the way Of
holiday merchandise, of useful and
beautiful kinds, and the fact that they
are drawing their trade from a wider
scope OF territory this year than ever
before is evidence OF the fact that
this is appreciated.
Early Shopping peases Clerks.
Shop early in the day. shop early
in the week" is the golden rule for
the Christmas shopper that every mer.
chant desires patrons to heed. Not
alone the merchants. but the hun.
drcds Of obligng statesmen and sales
ladies who are ready 10 give their best
10 the patrons who come to the stores
before the final Christmas rush be.
gins. Humanity dictates that this
plea of the salespeoplc be heard. Be
cause many shoppers are th0ughtless
and delay their shopping to the last
moment before Christmas many other
folks suIich
The patrons do not mean 10 be
cruel. They each have personal
friends among the hundreds OF men
and women behind the counters. Not
one of the thouehtless shoppers who
rush in a store on December "a and
want immediate attention would will.
nely cause any one OF the clerks
physical discomfort. Yet because the
last minute in the day shopper has
put OFF buying until the jingle Of
Santa Claus bells are in the air, hun
dreds OF tired CLERKS are forced to
try and wait on four and six custom
ers at one time This is a severe trial
on the strength and nerve OF the
clerk. An experienced saleswoman
said last year after the doors we're
closed on Christmas eve, wonld
rather face a spell of sickness than go
thru another day like this"
A Help to Clerks.
In fact many of The clerks 20 thru
the day OF discomfort before Christ
mas and are i'll on Christmas day, the
one day when all people should be
glad Thong is the cause.
mere thoughtlcssnesS Not one out Of
a dozen shoppers who crowd the
stores on Christmas even could not
have made their purchases earlier
Peace and good will TO man is The
spirit of Chris''s natal day Is there /
Il better way to show good will to
man" than to buy your Christmas
presents tie week before or two
weeks before the holiday and save the
strained nerves and tired bodies Of .
the salesman and sllesW0man
Get Better Selections.
From a purely selfish angle the
shopper who buys early in the week .
and during the morning hours has
every advantage over the late shop.
Ter or tn patron that comes in late
in the afternoon when al stores are
cIowdcd In the morning hours the
stock is undiStWbed Every item OF
goods is in lis proper place. The +
are fresh bright aud
lcrt. They appreciate the early shop
per and every service Of the store is
waiting to care for the patrons wants.
The early shopper can command that /
personal attention that every
one likes There is not an m4isttnt
crowd OF buyers CrowdinE about the
and demanding immediate
attention The eaHy shopper is the
'oIWnate shopper, the patron who can
make selections at leisure and not
EEL that other customers are being
Kept in waitnl
No Excuse for Late Buying.
These sane array of facts apply 70
patrons who shop early in the week
L Is the latter days OF each week
hat the stores are crowded. There
$ no logical reason for this just al
Quirk OF human nature
n 4 majority of cases some patrons
ire forced to shop late III the week
.Ccause thny are compelled TO await
pay DAY check But this reason dooa
lot govern the great majority Of Gus,
tmCrg.
Especially in December is early
hopping profitable. From now until
he stores close on Christmas eve
he stores viii be searched for the
est and newest OF Christmas gifts
he man or woman who plans to buy
'hrstmas gifts today or any day this
,cek viii have the pick OF the shops
O select from. The early shopper /
,ll have the largest assortment 10
elect from The exact sizes in many
rticle8 to purchase. the very shade
r color IN many commodities to