Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-24
CHRISTMAS.
SHOPPING IS
NEARLY DONE
Santa Claus Reported to Be
More Munificent Than
Formerly.

The high-water mark Of Christmas
shopping In this city apparently was
reached last night, but in spite OF this
all the stores in Grand Forks con-
tinued to be thronged with holiday
purchasers all day today. Merchants
tonight practically all shopping will
have been completed. and added that
the season seems to have been one of
the most prosperous in the history of
the city. -N,
With usual foresight Grand Forks
business men had stocked their ware
houses betimes - had sent north,
lions that belong to a we'll equipped
Christmas market and yet reports
were received to the effect that there
was a shortage Of quite a few articles,
notably Christmas cards and some
toys; dolls, for instance. were almost
impossible to obtain late today, and
many other playthings had disap-
peared from the local market.
All this despite the fact that even
larger supplies than usual had been
brought here in anticipation of a gen.
erous holiday buying. Merchants could
assign only one reason for this phe-
nomenal occurrence-namely, a ten
dency to put into the hands of benevo-
lent Santa Claus much more good
things than ever before.t
~ No Lack of Money. ;r
"Grand Forks is a good little town.
one merchant said, land when the
ever since the war ended, they show it
in numerous ways-notably in a dis
position to make others feel glad and
happy. For that reason, I think. more
money has been spent for useful or or
namental gifts than has been the case
for many seasons back. We have
much to be thankful for, and aside
trade is gratifying to any business
man, I think it is even more satisfac-
tory to know that the people of this
city and the whole Red river valley
are so prosperous this year that we
never hear anything spoken about
tight money.
"All this is remarkable, also. in
view of the fact that u people have
been called upon to supply all kinds
of money for patriotic purposes. And
still they don't seem to be short. This
speaks we'll, not only for the prosper
ity of our section of the country, but
also for the prudence and thrift Of our
citizens"
This business man. it was found,
general among all the merchants OF
Grand Forks today
Activity Decreases.
There were signs hat the feverish
Christmas activity was somewhat
abating; one of them. was the con-
s%picuous shortening of the line of PEG.
pie who for the past few days have
been waiting patiently at the parcel
post window of the postoffice. II
looked as though nearly all the i'm.
portant mailing had been done
Throughout the stores conditions
were far from normal, but not quite
as rushed" as yesterday and las,
night. The thousand-times repeated
admonition to do your Christmas
shopping early has been needed in ar
almost literal way. and the result is
that all the heavy trade has beer
disposed of.
The day before Christmas was one
of the most beautiful days of the win.
ter so far, the sun shining brightly
and merrily from the early morning
hours, and all the trees along the side.
walks in residential districts were sea.
sonably decorated with frozen snow
on every branch and Dough, as though
Mother Nature herself had made ur
her mind to present a masterpiece Of
decorative art for the occasion of the
great Victory Christmas of the people
of this part of the United States.