Evening star., 1949-11-27
Thousands Crowd
Stores as Buying
For Yu|e Begins

USherlng IN mass christmas
shopping. thousands of Washing
tonians trekked to department
stores yesterday to look and buy,
as the downtown area began to
take on a festive air.
AS far as the stores are con-
cerned, the Yuletide season began
Friday, with the city returning to
its traditional habit of shopping
in earnest as soon as Thanksgiv-
ing Day is out of the way.
Crowds yesterday and Friday, a
check of the large stores showed
were the biggest Of the year, and
some officials reported they were
larger than last year
Win school out and most work
ers Oh vacations crowds were
packed around Christmas windows
of the big stores throughout the
day. ,And-while there's no hint
FM q reform in last minute shop.
Fping-the number of package.
laden arms proved yesterday was 9
buying and not just window.
shopping day.
Santas Busy.
Inside the stores, most of them
already gaily decorated. business
appeared brisk in all departments
AS usual, the busiest man in town
was Santa Claus. AS line after line
of children formed to confer with
the old gentleman, their parents
cast experienced glapces over the
toy counters. 49,.
On downtown streets, one more
evidence of the approaching sea-
son came with appearance of the
Salvation Army'S kettle houses.
Through its fund drive. the Saliva.
ton Army estimated almost 1,00(
families here will receive Christ.
mas food, and about $500 toys
will be distributed.
Department store officials. mean.
while, anticipated a good busines.
period to Offset below norma
drops in sales during the fall sea.
son. While business was about
normal for the year SO far, sale:
during October were about Z pei
cent under that month last year
according to a national survey.
Slight Price Reductions.
P. M. Talbot. chairman of the
department store division of the
Merchants and Manufacturers
Association. said he thought the
sustained warm weather through
October discouraged customer:
from buying the fall merchandise
which usually picks up that
month.
Store officials said shoppers will
see slight price reductions under
last year "across the board" but
that improved merchandise quail
ity is the biggest boon to the Gus.
toner this Christmas. =.
Gift items-including toys-are
in good supply, officials said, but
they issued their usual warnings
to last-minute shoppers that II
won't all last.
Holiday Game Sales.
A visit to toy departments foune
a larger supply of children's furni.
ture and large wheeled toys thar
last year. Officials noted heavy
sales on games and mechanical
items. Stocks of electric train:
still probably are behind demand
officials said.
Mr.. Talbot said there are nc
holiday plans for night opening:
fby the large department stores
The practice was abandoned aftel
the war, with most Fedora
workers and others having Satur.
days available for shopping.
Representatives of a large grouI
of speciality merchants, however
will meet at noon tomorrow te
discuss a drive for permanent
Thursday night openings at the
smaller stores.
At the meeting. to be held al
the Chicken Hut Restaurant, plans
will be made to urge the smaller
merchants to remain open Thurs
day nights through Christmas and
to discuss special events downtown
to attract crowds Thursday nights
after the holiday season is over
TIL - Ma. Val