The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-12-21
XMAS BUYING
MUCH GREATER
THAN YEAR AGO
Bismarck Stores Crowded
From Early Morning Until
Late at Night
STOCKS STILL COMPLETE
Community Christmas Pro.
gram Thursday Eve at
Auditorium and Tree

bismarck was apparently the mecca
for holiday shoppers from the entire
section Of the state Saturday. All of
Bismarck's business houses, and es-
pecially the stores which carry any
thing that comes under the heading
of Christmas gifts, were crowded
with busy throngs of buyers from
early morning until late at night.
All local merchants agree that their
pre-holiday business this year has
been greater by far than in Deccm-
ber. 1924. The public is doing much
more buying this season and is turn
ing more towards the useful and
practical gifts and away from the
buying of knick- knarks and articles
which have no lasting value. even
though the first named class is usu-
ally more expensive.
But with commendable forest ght
Bismarck merchants prepared for an
exceptionally heavy Christmas trade
and even though there are only three
more shopping days until the great
holiday their stocks are still fairly
complete and last minute shoppers
will find Il wide variety Of articles
from which to make their selections.
Most Of the stores will continue to
remain open evenings until Christ
mas for the benefit Of those who are
unable to make their purchases dur
ing the daytime.
POstoficc a Busy Place
A glimpse behind the rows of boxes
in the local postoffice today will con-
vince anyone that the public is thor
oughly imbued with the mail early"
idea and is endeavOring to follow the
suggestions of Postmaster General
New in this connection. Every nook
and corner of the large federal build
ing is piled high with incoming and
outgoing Christmas mail. Postmaster
. Lundquist and his augmented
force of postal workers are handling
the situation very nicely, however
and all outgoing mail is being dis
patched promptly and prompt deliv-
cry is being made of all mail which
arrives.
Long lines Of local people were at
the two parcel post windows both
Saturday and today, mailing their
out -of-town presents, and it is be-
licved that the heaviest rush Of out
going mail is now over. as most Of the
Christmas parcels and cards for dis
tant points are now on their way
There remains only the mailing for
points within "a to 4S hours reach
of Bismarck. The peak of incoming
mail will likely be reached Wednes-
day. and city and rural mail carriers
will exert an extra effort to have il
all in the hands Of the addresses by
Thursday evening. There will be nc
deliveries, either in the city or coun-
try. on Christmas day and mail which
is not here in time for delivery
Thursday will have to remain in the
postotfice until Saturday. This, nat
urally, does not apply to mail which
is sent special delivery. For the
first time in the history of the postal
department all employees, except
those actually required for the dis
patch Of mails, are to be given Il full
holiday
Christmas greeting cards are be-
coming more popular each season and
the local postoffice has been flooded
with thousands Of them during the
past few days, including those mailed
locally for outside points and those
coming in on every train.
Community Christmas Program
Bismarck's community Christmas
celebration will take place at
o'clock Thursday afternoon, when q
short program of Christmas music
will be given at the City Auditorium
All children of the city are invited
to attend the affair. At the conclu-
sion Of the program the entire as.
semblage will follow Santa Claus t
the municipal Christmas tree in the
Northern Pacific park, where pres.
cnts will be given to the children
The community Christmas idea has
been very popular in Bismarck the
past few years and record attend
ance is anticipated at this years pro
gram.
The poor of the city will be wei
cared for this year through the ef
forts Of the "Good Fellows who
quickly answered the call and viii
see that every worthy family is pro
vided with Christmas cheer, either il
the form of baskets heaping will
food or supplies Of candy, nuts ant
toys to gladden. the hearts Of the kid
dies who would otherwise lose Their
faith in the genial St. Nicholas. Will
only couple of requests through tn,
press for members Of the Good Eel
lows" club, more than enough re
sponded to care for all the need!
cases on file with the communit!
council.
Wide Range In Value Of Gifts
4;csides the department stores, to!
shops, mems and ladies' clothing
stores, jewelry stores, book stores
and others where Christmas gift!
have always been found, other line!
Of business are being thought O.
more and more each year as place.
where suitable gifts may be pur
chased. These include hardwar.
stores. electric shops, drug stores
grocery stores, radio shops and gar
ages. A check-up Of advance pur
chases in the city reveals the fac
that Santa Claus will leave presents
in Bismarck on this Christmas ev,
ranging from five-cent handkerchief
to automobiles costing several thou
sands Of dollars. and gifts Of com
plete radio sets this year will be to-
numerous to count.
If you haven't thoroughly mbibet
the spirit of the season as yet. TAX,
a trip down town this evening. Sc.
the beautifully decorated windows
the municipal Christmas tree bril-
liantly lighted with hundreds o,
fro~ksr,,nl - ~onn Gao \