The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-17
That's the Kind of Celebration
To Be Observed This Year.
Buying, Already On, as Heavy
as Ever, They Say.
FEWER WORTHLESS PRESENTS
Sammy in Camp and Trenches
To Be Remembered.
Boys in Army To Have Christ.
mas ''Like Never Before"

War and conservation isn't cutting
any inroads to the Christmas spirit,
according to local merchants. Maybe
there are less foolish knicknacks be-
ing purchased. Yet the merchants
anticipate a bigger trade than ever in
the history of Christmas.
True, much of the money is being
spent for the soldier boy in the
trenches He'll get more and better
presents this year than he ever did in
all his life. Uncles, aunts, cousins and
friends who never thought of the SOL
der boy on Christmas are thinking
of him this year and remembering
him with articles that cost money
and make business good.
Elaborate Christmas celebrations
such as have been in order in recent
years may be fewer in number. Those
saving money on a big Christmas are
spending it for the Red Cross, for to-
bacco for the Sammies and other gifts
for the soldiers. Thus, business will
not be curtailed one iota. A glimpse
at the third floor of Crosby Brothers,
where from fifty to a hundred wo-
men al @ sewing and packing packages
daily viii prove that hundreds of dol
lars are being spent for the Sammies.
e. H. Crosby was asked first whetf-
er the conservation drive would cut
down business.
Clerks Are Enthusiastic.
well, sir, 1 couldn't tell you" he
said. Lets go down among the
clerks who feel the pulse beat of the
public"
An energetic saleslady was called.
Bigger than ever" she said.
Fewer worthless articles. We have
mt any of those any more. But they
re buying now and the Christmas
spirit is more in evidence now than
ever before. 1t is strange but in the
last few years the spirit of Christmas
has been more in evidence. We're go
ing to be swamped two and three days
before Christmas this year the same as
last year and the year before and the
year before that.
People buy presents from sense
of duty until two or three days before
Christmas. Yes, probably some are
cutting down their purchases.
Expect Same Late Rush.
But, you just wait until Christmas
is nearly here. That's when the
Christmas spirit crops out. You're
looking forward to a good time your
self, you begin to like people better
than ever, you want to show your ap-
probation and you'll turn your peck
cts inside out before you finish buying.
There's the love of the mother, the
sister. the brother. the uncle. the aunt.
the cousin, the sweetheart, the friend
for the boy in the trenches to take
into consideration. Just think how
many hearts will beat the thought that
maybe this will be the last Christie as
all will be anywhere near together. Do
you think for a minute with this fear
beating in their hearts that Topeka
won't have a Christmas long to be re-
membered ?"
Will Be Big Christmas.
J. B. Walker at the Pelletier store
| is looking for a big Christmas. Goods
are rolling into the big store at Ninth
and Kansas avenue on every train.
w. w. Whitney at Warren NJ. Cros-
by's is as optimistic as the others.
1T will be as big a Christmas as
ever" said MI. Whitney today.