Evening star., 1951-02-23
Stores Report
Record High in
Holiday Sales
Business Surpusses
Previous Best Day
By 10 to II Per Cent

Dy ~ 10 IL TeT Nent
Washington Birthday sales yes
terday reached an all-time record
for the big buying event, mer-
chants reported today.
Leading downtown department
stores saw sales soar 10 to IL per
cent over the previous best year
of the annual spending spree.
Radio and appliance stores re-
ported increases up to Is per cent.
One department store said yes
terday's business was the biggest
per hour of any day in it's history.
Most stores were open only three
and a half or four hours, but in
that time served as many custom
ers as it was possible to do.
Saturati0n Nearly Reached.
Another department store noted
a 20 per cent increase over last
years business, held down at some
stores because of rain. The in
crease was 10 per cent over that
stores best birthday sales day two
years ago.
Some store managers believed
the saturation point was almost
reached in the number of sales
possible within the limited time.
Almost every store was jammed
from opening to closing time, and
there still were lines outside some
of them when weary salespeople
called it a day.
Most of the shoppers went for
the advertised bargains, many of
them incredibly low compared
with everyday prices. But one
department store said there was
a gratifying sale Of better goods.
especially in mems clothing and
ready-to-wear.
Furnishings Get Big Play.
Department stores found GUS
toners going for all types of mer-
chandise with equal zeal. Furni-
ture, children's clothing and home
furnishings got a big play at one
store.
At the radio and appliance
stores, televlsion sets, refrlgerators
and washers were the most-sought
items. One store observed that
most buying was in less expensive
items, since higher down pay
ment is demanded now.
Most Government employees and
other holiday observers were back
at work today, some with aching
feet. For District public school
children, it was another day of
freedom.
Many Patriotic Events.
Despite the sales day attractions,
the area found time for many
patriotic events yesterday, marked
by parades, speeches and wreath
laying at the shrines of Wash
ington.
About 1000 visited Mount ver-
non, and more than 5000 rode
or walked up the Washington
Monument to view city bathed
in sunshine. An estimated 10000
watched the annual parade at
Alexandria, with bands and
marching units, and screaming
fire trucks.
The Columbia Historical Society
observed the day at the old Peter
House. 2618 F street NV, where
Washington slept August S, 1899,
just before leaving the city.
Old Coach Displayed.
Walter Carter. II, of SO P street
NV, drove to the house coach
once owned by Matthew Gait
Emery, the Districts last mayor.
In the old days, Mr.. Carter drove
the coach for the mayor. Now
owned by Leo M. Bernstein. the
coach will become a part of his
collection of Washingtoniana.
The Old Union Engine House
at Nineteenth and H streets NV.
was the scene of the Oldest In
habitants Associations annual ex-
ercises.
Senator Wiley, Republican, of
Wisconsin, said the values of
Washington life will strengthen
us to meet the challenges of this
present period
These values he named as hon.
esty, vision, common sense and
self1esSness.
I'VE must look to the qualities
that this man possessed" he said.
HE was honest, moral, hard
working. If the people of the
world today were all possessed of
those simple qualities, many of
our problems, personal and ma
tional, would go out the window" !"