The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-25
LAVISH PRE-WAR
SPIRIT DOMINATES
CHRISTMAS TIDE
Buying in ProdigaIity and In
creased Good Cheer Seen
in Memphis First Peace
Christmas Since 1918.

NOT q white Christmas, vet one pc
CuhaflE singular, one entirely different
Iiom any Memphis has ever passed
That, in Hpttome, describes this Yulv-
tide day in Memphis,
AS for years past and as they will for
Years to come, children aWoke Thurs
daN morning to find that the Jolly old
chap who rides ON the winds Of the
night each Dee u had clambered down
lhelr chimney and opened his bag.
santa Claus visit and thu carrying ont
or numerous traditions long linked with
me holiday season alone reminded Of
the ChriStmaSCs Of Yore
Celebrations Christmas eve and
Thursday followed lines Of the pre- war
period. Evidences Of the spirit dom
lhant six years ago everywhere were
seen In the buying OF gifts this was
more than pronounced OF the larger
department stores and firms along Main
street not one failed to encounter it's
largest season of transactions and
prosperity,
Wednesday afternoon saw the peal,
OF the Christmas crowd come and pass
SO QUICKLY as TO be astounding when
uue consideration is given the fact that
Tor nearly two months shoppers have
been treading the business avenues.
~ nlghttall tho shopping crowd was
reuuced TO minimum ana at II o'clock
downtown districts had an ASPECT Of
extreme lonesomeness in their empt.
ness, Save for mn occasional late
worker or policeman impationtlv
awaiting the hour that would relieve
MN OF duty from special assignment.
nor soul was In sight Even hotel
lobbtes whore formerly conVivial per
sons gathered were deserted
Buying Is Lavish.
., so brisk was the buying for the past
tnree days numerous Christmas sun
pies were exhausted. jewelers. early
were turning every hand but to no
aNail that they might secure presents
espee1ally requested Thursday morn.
ing heads of several department stores
declared their stock of many eommodi-
YES had run out, Christmas cards we're
lot 70 be mad IN many houses. other
artirles on which Il large. demand IN
MADE also were unohtainable.
~, special cars as early as o'clock
thursday morning began@their JOURNEYS
70 the church district. bringing hun.
dreds Of early morning worshlpcrs.
decorated IN evergreons and festooned
YIN Tile customary Christmas setting,
llese religious ndEfipes welcomed
u ~ 4 Es.laA afQlaaalN ttBer thau IN many
AlEs lgtsla Asse slehraiea hit.
tss f'atFnllc gl4tifsiitA 10 u n ei0cks a Ill
ai1 rerefunntes were carried nut ana
services augmented bp specially ar-
ranged Christmas music, rherc were
inc hoty communion seryicea In Epls-
copa churches aud special services in
houses of worship Of other deuumiua.
tinns.
Many charitable organizations planned
lteeS, dinnors, and other forms of OBJ
serving the day The great majority
nn
chief among the latter VAS thc ROY
scout tree Vt central police station.
where good turns of all troops resulted
IN santa Claus visit to over 300 ohl-
dren. knights Of Columbus visited or,
nhanaEes, In keeping with their annual
custom and carried cheer
Possibly the firat observance Of
christmas day proper was AT Baptist
Memorial hospltak When chimes pealed
the hour OF 2 nurses at this institution
passed through the Railways of every
story singing christmas carols Add~
tiohal celebrations were the order for
later Thursday
As 70 the good conduct of Memphis,
the police blptter at central station
mutely speaksTor itself Noon Thurs
day saw few names covering arrests for
n period beginning Wednesday night at
O'Clock. Charges were, save IN one
instance, only minor tn character
Drunkenness was never before 80 con
sptcuous by its absence, In the palaces
of brass and mahogany, where In sea.
sons past all hard riders and hard
drinkers were wont to gather on Christi
mas eve and celebrate by paying hon.
age to the flowing bowl filled with
golden fluid the only yestage OF former
days was the white jackets worn now
by dispensers Of soda aud nut sundacs
Joe Fitzgerald, desk sergeant, AS he
toasted his heels on the radiator at
Dpliga aul1,,nrtarg p,J t,.,l,.l ,.,,t