New Britain herald., 1919-12-16
Sister Susie:s Stopped Sewing Socks For Soldiers, So Papas
 Paying For Popular Paltnes

ming to take a peculiar interest in seeing what people buy for their Christmas presents, have noticed that this year. in marked contrast to what happened last year the shoppers arc spending their money for com paritively useless gifts. In a word, they arc going back to the old pre- war methods of buying what they like and think others will like. in stead of debating for hours over the serious and gloomy problem of get ting sister Anne or brother John som cthis really and truly useful l No Time Last Year.
 ] Last year. and in the year pre- ceding it. when the talk and tho thoughts of everybody centcrcd around what was being done over in France on the battlefields, there was very little time spent in Christmas shopping. Sister Susie was sewing socks for soldiers, and knitting sweat CTS and helmets and making a bit of candy on the old kitchen stove to wrap up in a tiny parcel which would be accepted by the United States post office for delivery to her khaki claad hero doing duty Somewhere in France" or in America.
 Instead of spending money on neckties and cuff buttons, mother was relisiously putting every coin into war savings stamps and Liberty bonds and tucking them safely away to her sons account in the bank, and father-well. father was out hustling for the bacon as usual and didn't have much time or money to spend
  Der of the family would want for Christmas. It was a war Christmas, and Santa Claus was probably very much dissruntled over the fact that few people had either the time or the money to spend in preparations for his annual visit.
 Changed Now.
 But this year-it's all changed. Sister Susde's visiting the Jewelry store or the haberdashery concern and getting all sorts of pretty things for "her feller,' back again and very ready to receive any gifts ill the way of clothing that might be forthcom- ing. Mothers determined to make up for lost time in the Christmas shopping line, and consequently is charging presents and provisions with astonishing rapidity and unconcern, while the other members of the fam fly are following suit with the same abandon-excepting father. perhaps who has his nose to the grindstone as usual and is trying not to chirp too loudly and spoil the fun.
 Real Christmas Buying.
 This is a season of real Yuletide buying, and a glance at the crowded D ,;t prove it. In spite Of all the angles to the high cost of living, everybody seems to have plenty of money to spend, and they aren't showing any backwardness about it. Of course there are the usual number of com plaints about the high price of things but and the merchants tell this secret with d wink--if things aren't high in price, the buyer doesn't want it. ..#
 Nc Slump in JcweIry.
 The jewelry market was expecting a slump this year. But whoever made that prediction was all wrong. Go in the jeWelry store and see who is buy ing the precious stones, the value of Which have nearly doubled since the beginning of the war. The man in overalls pulls out 8 roll of bills big enough to bridge the gap between the Republican and Democratic parties and pays for diamond ring with all the cheerfulness and unconcern usual ly pictured in the movies. for the action of the hero" under the same circumstances.
 Few German Toys.
 There are few, if any, German made toys in the shops this year, although the scarcity Is not caused by any pre- judice on the part of the buyers The average litle boys cares not whether his steam engine comes from Berlin or St. Louis, and the trade in Ger handmade toys probably will have been resumed when that country IS on her feet once moro and exporting these articles. Although there is a marked antipathy to anything made in Germany at present, the custom CTS attention is usually centered about the value of the article, and not it's manufacture. Japanese toys arc being sold this year, and there has been some concern over their solidness and durability. American made toys, naturally are in greater demand than ever before.
 Demand For Greens.
 There IS a demand for greens, holly, spruce, pine and mistletoe, of course. showing a tendency on the part of everyone to decorate. Although the demand is great, the price is not necessarily high. Express charges have added somewhat to the cost of the greens, however.
 The Christmas dinner this year probably will exceed in cost the Thanksgiving meal of a, month ago, and the one served last year at this time.
 Cranberlies are the only articles which have not increased in price, ac- cardifap fn q Incal dealer This is in