The Washington times., 1920-11-24
SHOPPERS AID
XMAS RELIEF
Capital Speeding Up Purchases
and Taking Advantage Of
loW-Priced Stocks.

Splendid results have already
been accomplished by the shop-early
movement but a larger volume OF
the Christmas buying must be dis
tributed through these pre-Yuletide
days II the customary eleventh-hour
rush is to be avoided" said Joseph
ID. Kaufman, of d. j. Kaufman, Inc,
today.
SHOPPING SPEEDS UP.
There is no doubt that shopping has
been materially accelerated by the In
cessant cry OF Shop Early. tour
OF Washington's business houses VIII
prove that thousands are needing the
salutary advice, which is tantamount
to an adjuration. AS a result the
Christmas week crowds in the stores
will be considerably lessoned. but
when 1t Is remembered that ma
jority of Washington's $4,000 VIII
undoubtedly make some purchases for
Christmas II is obvious that this gar
gantuan throng must be distributed
through the stores during period
OF weeks rather than days.
"It is possible that some people are
delaying their Christmas shopping
are to be made in the price sof mer-
chandisa I cannot subscribe to any
such view. From my observation OF
trade conditions and prices in var1-
Gus lines, i am convinced that the
cost of some articles Of merchandise
Is due for ascent rather than descent.
This Is due to the fact that in the
general price reductions too heavy
a slice was cut off in some instances
and IN the sterilization of prices to
come later on increases must be made.
Many articles of merchandise were
reduced to below pre-war prices.
Obviously this condition cannot lonS
CAN'T REPLACE STOCKS.
"One thing the Christmas shopper
should remember is this: Few of the
stocks OF merchandise now in the
stores can be replaced at the prices
the merchants paid for them, because
prices have begun to rebound from
the low level in some instances and
In other cases the manufacturers are
not producing any further stocks OF
the merchandise turned out especially
for the Christmas trade.
I'm other words manufacturers in
many lines are simply marking time.
disposing Of such stocks as they have
ON hand and awaiting further de-
featuring again l am convinced it
will be on a basis of a readjustment
of the present price levels. My adj
wise to the men and women Of Wash
ington is to not only make their pur-
chases OF Christmas gifts now, but
while they are in the stores to pro-
vide for their own needs as well.
ALL KNOW ADVANTAGES.
The advantages Of early Christmas
shopping are known to practically
every man and woman in Washing,
ton, but many Of them have not sum
moned these advantages into the fore
front of their minds and kept them
there and crystalized the thought
into action.
EARLY Christmas shoppers undoubt-
eddy get the cream Of tho merchan-
disc offered by having first selection.
They can make their purchases in
ease and comfort and take a much
longer time in reaching decisions and
devote more care and thought to the
appropriateness of the merchandise
bought for gift purposes. Those who
have friends or relatives out of town
should by all means do their shop
ping now, so as to allow plenty of
time for delivery by mail and keep
their tokens of remembrance out Of
the Christmas mail rush. which very
often means that Christmas gifts are
not delivered until after December Is.
Tho early purchase Of large arti-
lies insures local delivery before
christmas. whereas late buyers must
run the risk of delivery after the
Yuletide. Buying now is virtually
insurance against bad weather such
as almost invariably visits Washing
ton during Christmas week.
Some thought should also be given
20 the comfort, convenience and ac
comodstion OF the great army of
Government employees and other
salaried men and women who have
only limited time in which to do
their shopping and who receive their
pay bi-monthly or at longer intervals.
Persons who are not dependent upon
salaries or who have money saved
up for their Christmas buying should
do their shopping now, so as to make
room for those who by force OF neces-
sity must postpone their buying until
Christmas week"
only seven more days remain be-
fore the close of The Washington
Times 5000 contest for the best 100
word essays on why Everybody
Should DO Christmas Shopping Early"
written by school children.
Essays have been received by tire
thousand practically every day since
the contest started, but the judges
will not make the awards until after
midnight December /.
The prizes are of such substantial
nature that every school child owes
IL to himself or herself to take shot
at lnvn rs writing 100 words or less
on the vital subject OF early Christ
mas shopping. The first prize is 500,
the second $50. the third 30 and there
are ten consolation prizes consisting
of orders for SO worth OF merchan
disc. The essayists must send in
their names. ages addresses and the
school they attend; limit their entries