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

Ushering In mass Christmas
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. q
check of the large stores showed.
were the biggest Of the year, and
some officials reported they were
larger than last years.
/. With school out and most work
ers on vacation. crowds were
packed around Christmas windows
Of the big stores throughout the
day. And-while there's no hint
Of . reform In last-minute shop
ping-the number 0f package
laden arms proved yesterday was
buying and not just q 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 glances over the
toy counters.
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 1000
families here will receive Christ
mas food. and about $500 toys
will be distributed.
Department store officials, mean
while. anticipated q good business
period to Offset below-normal
drops in sales during the fall sea-
son. While business was about
normal for the year so far, sales
during October were about Z per
cent under that month last year
according to q 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 customers
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 it
won't all last.
Holiday Game Sales.
A visit to toy departments found
a larger supply of children's furni-
ture and large wheeled toys than
last year. Officials noted heavy
sales on games and mechanical
items. Stocks of electric trains
still probably are behind demand
officials said.
Mr.. Talbot said there are nc
holiday plans for night openings
Eby the large department stores
The practice was abandoned after
the war, with most Federal
workers and others having Satur-
days available for shopping.
Representatives Of a large group
of speciality merchants. however
will meet at noon tomorrow to
discuss q drive for permanent
Thursday night openings at the
smaller stores.
At the meeting. to be held at
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