Evening star., 1934-03-31
NEW YORK RUSHED
BY EASTER BUYING
Sunny Skies Over Most OF
Section Bring Out Huge
Crowds.
BY JOHN A. CRONE.
Epe ial Dispatch to The Star.

BY JOHN A. CRONE.
Epe ial Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. March 3l-The pa
rade of Easter shoppers got under way
here early today, Under sunny skies
over most of this section, with mod
crate temperatures, the shoppers set
out{to make purchases that had been
delayed until the last minute before
the festival.
Department stores and specially
shops were jammed with buyers. Pro-
prietors reported individual sales as
well as total volume of business we'll
above the levels of year ago. Along
Fifth, Madison and Park avenues and
other smart shopping sections jeWelry
shops and millinery salons we're well
filled.
Down on the East Side most mer-
chants were too busy to talk about
business. Children's clothing. espe-
Cially boys wear, enjoyed an enor-
nous turnover, today being especially
favored because Of the East Side S
double celebration of Easter and the
Passover.
East Side bakeries were filled with
Neapolitan pastries or the traditional
Italian Easter bread, some of it in
the form of rabbits decorated with
eggs. Butcher shops contained a few
kids, but lamb, pork and beef rather
than goat meat seemed to predomi-
nate. The season is a bit too early
for kid, a delicacy among Italian
meats
Easter Lilies Higher
Hams and bacons offered here are
especially fine this year, say local
packers, who report that the unusu-
ally large hog slaughtering program,
under Government auspices, gave
them an exceptionally wide choice.
The finest cured hams sold here aver
age only cents a pound higher than
year ago despite the processing
taxes.
Easter lilies were high priced,
whether sought in tn, wholesale florist
district in lower Manhattan or on
Park avenue. Sudden cold spells killed
hundreds of these plants this year
and naturally advanced prices New
York City each Easter uses about
100000 OF the Easter or st. Joseph
lilies and around 100000 calla lilies.
1t also absorbs around 100000 bloom
ing rose bushes, 100000 azaleas, 1000
mimOSas, 5000 Camellias and 5000
orchid plants. Although gardenias
were offered on the streets at 10 or
Is cents, real quality flowers generally
sold at so cents.
The live pet business in most parts
OF the country was reported to be ex-
ways move briSkly at Easter, being
especially favored by Germans. Baby
chicks. bunnies, ducks, and puppies
also were in much bette demand than
a year ago. The stuffed chicks and
ducks, which some dear old ladies al
ways feel so sad about, are really made
of plush, glue. wax and buttons. These
toys, so closely resembling live chicks
and ducks, are much more cheaply
manufactured than they could be OBJ
tained from hatcheries.
Approach 1929 Volume.
Easter greeting card sales ap-
preached 1929 volume, with recorders
In the last 10 days so large that man
ufacturers were unable to meet retail
requirements. One maker reported a
so per cent rise in business thus far
this year. Christmas card lines,
opened a fortnight ago, already are
attracting orders at rate twice as
fast as the same period last year. One
of the newest ideas in birthday greet
ing cards is rubber animal balloon
bearing appropriate wishes for the
day
Confectionery has moved well in
many parts of the country. Candy
sales are regarded as an important
indicator of the degree of ease with
which people part with small sums of
money. The total spent for candy,
however. is no small sum-about
$3.50 100000 at wholesale.
Easter candy prices are higher than
a year ago owing to rising wages and
raw materials. Cocoa prices have
risen 25 per cent. sugar quotations
are somewhat ahead of year ago,
and paper goods. especially boxes.
have scared alarmingly, increases of
30 per cent being not uncommon.
The most promising increase in
steady candy demand at present is in
penny goods and low-priced bulk
items. Penny candy makers, like
manufacturers of Scent bars, are
stressing quality rather than size.
fCopyright. 1934D