Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-12-17
XMAS SHOPPERS ARE
SPENDING FREELY;
BUY COSTLY GIFTS
SPENDING SHOWS PEOPLE HAVE
TASTES FOR LUXURIOUS Ar
HEAVY TRADE

Santa's pack will be heavier AMI
Nlled with more expensive gifts lhan
ever before on Dee a when he ~:
rIves IN Ottawa. A canvass OF The
loop stores This morning bought
form this fact from all the meienani
that people We're buying heavier:
ILtr SHOPPING earlier than ever -
the history ii the city.
The stsres have taken on Il gala al
IRE. decked in tnelr lnristmas green's.
and WerchantS are vieins TO see whIch
can decorate the most deliberately
the WINDOWS are aDiaAe Win Deal'
iul gifts OF all kinds, and seldom. i
ever, were there 80 many Oeautliui
ar,icies on display in the shop via
uuwS Ot the Guy.
All Nicely Decorated
The decorations are varied, bat Tn"
req and green Ui he CHRISTMAS season
lIedOmnates. Holly, miaIetoe, ~
green bells and red ANA green slitaln
,,rs are the decorating motifs used Ii
most u, Tue stores, All nlnus 81 oead
lilul articles, ranging, III ptlce Il ON 4
few cents TO hundreds o dollars. a.
Dn display. The business men IA
spared neither trouble nor expense '
make their Christmas siiowihss p
iractlVe.
III you show the people two article
one cheap and the Ithet eXpeIlsiF,,
they will select the latte. every time,
4 ma ta., n ,iIa hI;tlfjtuf
every loop merchant To-Day. TIL
shoppers seems to have pienty ~
money and hey are spending Il
freely" they would continue, and 3 }
on to explain how The people wer"
willing To pay the price Tor whateNrt
they D0ugiu. provided ii suited them.
Price No Object.
IT isn't a question Of the prize
Witn most people said one deait',
It's nave YOU got wha, we wan, :
Most people nave made up their mindS
rs 10 what they desire Tor gifts ana
40 not want to take substitute.
Another merchant explained that me
heaviest sales were no; made to the
wealthy residents OF the city and tie
surrounding country or to the pooreE
class, but to the people IN moderat 4.
circumstances; who were working ara
earning good salaries, and were Win
ing to keep the money OF the conntr
in circulation.
Jewelry Sales Heavy. ri
The sales at the local jewelry stores
are very heavy and are varied. rev
haps the majority OF people purchas-
ing gifts there are paying between 50
and So, for tnem. The sale OF the
smaller and cheaper articles. nor or
the real expensive things, is not so
heavy as those averaging around S4o
In price. Cheaper chains beads. locA-
cts, etc, are selling, but not nearly So
quick as their better goods. i.ocli
iewei.ymen as merchants OF ever
Other. line, predicted that the 1919
Christmas sale would be their heaI'
lest since entering business.
For MiIady.
Gloves. fancy handbags. silk ar !
satin camisoles and teddies, beadS'
silk hose, collars, seorgette crepe
waists are being sold in large mum
bers at the local dry goods stores, anu
each and every one OF these auicle~
make as attractive gilt as could De
given, 50 well have the local me-
tHuttS StOChtu up Gil vi t'''' 'i''~
Anent the Men.
Probably more Ottawa men VIII re
ceive neckties than any other kind o,
presents, from the early indications
OF the sales at the clothing stores
although silk shirts, cllb bags, hand
kerchiefs, mufflers ana bathrobes are
being sold to many purchasers. me
7 lies are more attractive and are
higher lhan they ever we're in prev
iOus years.
In Furniture Stores.
AT the furniture stores the leading
sales seems to Je cedar chests and
smoking sets, but many Ottawans VIII
receive chairs, electric lamps, tea
wagons and other attractive articles
Expensive articles in these stores are
going, Will the cheaper things VII
remain for the last minute shoppers.
The sale of talking machines. rec
ords and framed pictures has beer
very heavy during the past few day"
while dozens and dozens of OttaWan.
have had their photographs made t,
send to their friends as gifts.
Novelties Go Big.
In the drug stores the gifts that arc
being purchased run pflnclpaliy IRON
81 to $40 in price. Stationery, books
toilet sets. kodaks, ivory toilet a.
ticles, leather goods perfumes, toile
waters and hand painted Christina
have been sold in quantities.
Shoe stores are selling evening slip
ers, house slippers and in many in
stances expensive shoes.
Although candy and cigar purchase
are usually left until the day betor'
Christmas, local dealers have ha,
uuite II heavy trade. The candy l.
more expensive than In 1913, but th'
public has better selection and bet
Ter grade to choose from. One looi
candy dealer has sold dozen fame,
boxes of candy ranging in price from
81 TO Ss. which has been an unsuall
heavy sales record for the week "
fore Christmas.