Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-12-26
RECORD XMAS
 BRINGS CHEER
 ID ALI. ]. HOME: 5
Gift-Custom, Charity and Even the Weather Were
 on Unprecedented Scale PRE-CHRTSTMAS TRADE
 ALSO REMARK A BILE
Shopping was Largest City Has Ever Experienced, Say Mer- chantS-1920 Splendid
 Business Year

With plenty for practically everyone, Pine Bluff yesterday eX- perienced perhaps it's greatest Christmas. From a standpoint of among all classes, from the thorough way in which those not prosperous were taken care of as a day of generous giving, Christmas of 1919 was unsurpass- ed.
 The weather, too, perhaps can not be equaled in records of the past.
 Reports from the various com mittees from organizations having charge of distributing holiday presents show that practically every name turned in received ample cheer.
 Capt. Will Nichol. chairman of the Christmas gift-giving pro- gram of the Central Christmas Committee, finished his work in true Xmas style, and pr. J. l. Nc<~is was kept busy yesterday until Ne middle of the afternoon.
 The Y, M. c. A., the Rotary club, theaters, churches, and many private individuals whose names will never be known brought a spark of brightness i'1 the lives of many of the city'3 lonely.
 The Volunteers of America Capt. R. D. Watts in charge, took Christmas : baskets Wednesday to more than 21 needy families These baskets were filled to the overflowing with good food, fruits and candies and every family wis tied was assured of happy Christmas dinner.
 The day also was noted for the small number of arrests, the very few accidents and it's genera tranquility. Without civic cele- bration, most of Pine Bluffs peo- pie devoted themselves to the time -honored Southern custom ol the Christmas call. Where gifts poured in during the forenoon 1T many homes, visitors followed them in the afternoon and even ing. Likewise, the theatres ant social entertainments claimed th' attention of many.
 The pre-Christmas trade wa; the greatest in the history o: Pine Bluff despite high prices merchants said last night.
 E. M .Schober, president of thu Retail Merchants Association speaking for the merchants, stated last night that Christmas weel exceeded any other week ever ex perienced here. "Although tn taking off of a number of train during the coal strike seriousl. affected local business, merchants came in on the home stretch am really did more business than the, expected to do." MT. Schober said During the Christmas of 191' we had the influenza epidemic { contend with. and the result wa that not much business was trans acted and many merchants ha' goods left on their hands"
 R. H. Stearns of the R. H Stearns Jewelry company believe that the past week of business il the jewelry line exceeded all prev ious Christmas weeks here, am business for the whole year, h says. exceeded that of other years A. G. Kahn and B. Gottlieb ex pressed the same opinion.
 Other business men also affirr that, in spite of the current hig prices, commercial prospects con tinue to be extra good, and it i forseen that the local territor will marvelously benefit from tn; flow of money.
 Notwithstanding the short co! ton crop in this county" s. ( Alexander said, "this year, from
 financial standpoint, has been tn most successful of all years. Al though some 35,00O bales of col ton should have been marketed 1 this county, only 23,000 hay been reported so far, but plante, have sold what they did sell g high prices, making up the shor' . age in large measure"