South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-20
Public "BraUes''
Cold To Finis h
Christmas Lists
Late Shoppers Feel Sting of
Winter as Mercury Hovers
Around Zero Mark.

South Bend shivered TO work
Tuesday morning; II shivered home
again last night. Shop workers,
merchants. clerks. professional mon
and women alike huddled in high
coat collars. Fingers played with
the lowest depths OF pockets. Co
Ioshes felt good.
And South Bend public might
have shivered even more had IL
known that the needle in the Wy
man store theumOm eter registered re
70 at 8 o'clock Tuesday morning.
The cold still air spelled the first
real sting OF winter and the warm
ness OF the office and the shop gave
relief as industrial ana professional
South Bend began its days work
Crowds Brave Cold.
Mercury rested at the zero mark
at 6 o'clock Monday evening. It how
cred there until after midnight and
then suddenly dropped TO 4 below
II began its upward climb about
dawn and was back at zero in the
middle OF the forenoon. Suns rays
gave warmth and relief from the
bittern ess. But with evening the
chill returned and Christmas shop
pers felt the sting OF Is above as
gloved fingers were exposed TO the
night. At midnight the thermometer
was continuing 10 drop. despite the
promised increased temperature
for today. a cold wet snow filed the
air for a time.
Late Christmas shoppers noticed
the sudden winter and expressed re-
greet that they had not taken advan-
tage Of the fair weather of other
days Of the pre-holiday season.
Crowds braved the cold, however, to
buy Johnny his sled ana Mary her
doll and sister her gift and brother
his.
Stores Open at Night.
Merchants were reporting in
creased shopping as the week pro-
crossed. Stores in the downtown dis
trict are open each evening this
week 10 accommodate those who
were forced to wait until the last
minute to buy gifts and others who
find it impossible to shop during
the day.
The buying public ia investing its
money in Necessities this year more
than ever before, according to To-
cal merchants. Clothing and other
useful articles are being bought
even for younsters instead of toys
and non-essentials. Jewelry is in
great demand.
But big dents have been made in
the car loads Of toys that had been
ordered 10 make South Bends
toyland complete The little tots will
find them banked around the Christ
mas trees. merchants report. add
ing. however. that toys were not in
the demand this year that has been
evident in other years
Furniture i'm Demand.
Candy stores announce heavy
sales. Of Christmas sweets. Fruit
stores have felt the demand for
fruits.
Furniture dealers report buying
heavy. Many gifts this year will be
in something for the homo and
range from bed room suites and
living room suites 20 sewing cab;-
nets and smoking stands Extra
men have been employed by most
local furniture firms TO help In the
Christmas deliveries. Shipping clerks
declare the furniture deliveries to
be the heaviest IN years.
The weather adds TO the spirit Of
the season, merchants declare,
pleased with the increased business
in prosperous South Bend.
At the pOstoffice an extra force
Is employed in handling the out
going mail while a force equally a.
large Is used IN sorting and distri-
buting the incoming loads Of Christ
mas packages. Postmaster ]. y.
Hunter warns that packages should
be mailed today 20 insure delivery
before Christmas.